2019: Moghalu emerges YPP presidential candidate

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOFEm_saPTV8TSPCPRExEYu0UKV8fij5V9yl9Ix6HKHnPR2Mauq5P5RVv_J-ot2Y7O9FiApPz9Vl3LqkeAEBdanstNrf5MhLOFPCylLYQ9SQUhDw8rBfhkEG7hxCQA35jDAWSYcvKhlkT/s1600/Kingsley-Moghalu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="450" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOFEm_saPTV8TSPCPRExEYu0UKV8fij5V9yl9Ix6HKHnPR2Mauq5P5RVv_J-ot2Y7O9FiApPz9Vl3LqkeAEBdanstNrf5MhLOFPCylLYQ9SQUhDw8rBfhkEG7hxCQA35jDAWSYcvKhlkT/s400/Kingsley-Moghalu.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, has emerged the presidential candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP).<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Moghalu, who was a former UN officer, emerged through delegates election at the party’s first National Convention and Presidential Primaries on Saturday in Abuja.<br /> <br /> Moghalu scored 243 votes out of 253 accredited delegates, after his only opponent, Mr Donald Igwegbu, steped down for him.<br /> <br /> Igwegbu, announcing his decision to step down, said he took the decision not because he was not qualified to contest in 2019 but because Moghalu shared the same vision with him.<br /> <br /> Igwegbu called on party members and his supporters to support Moghalu, while urging other politicians to emulate his spirit of sportsmanship.<br /> <br /> He said: “Let us embrace spirit of love and patriotism.”<br /> <br /> In his acceptance speech, Mogbalu said Nigeria needed a leader of international repute, not politicians that had failed the country.<br /> <br /> “More than ever before, Nigeria needs to be driven by a vision, informed by a worldview that determines everything else.<br /> <br /> “Up till about 40 years ago, China was viewed as a basket case; overpopulated, unproductive and ruined economically by policies of the decades prior to that.<br /> <br /> “Today, they snap their fingers and nearly every single African Head of state shows up in China with their hands out, eager for Chinese largesse. That’s what a country driven by a worldview can achieve.<br /> <br /> “In accepting the presidential ticket of this great party, I stand here before you to say that Nigeria is fully capable of achieving greatness at home and abroad in our lifetimes.<br /> <br /> “But this cannot happen with the normal way of doing things, the so-called Nigerian way.”<br /> <br /> Moghalu said that he joined the YPP because he believed the party would live up to its name of being progressive, as well as be an agent of raising standards across the board for politics and policy.<br /> <br /> He said that it was time for the country to close the era of waste, corruption, and incompetence that held Nigeria back from achieving its potential.<br /> <br /> “It is a choice between remaining a mere fractious assortment of ethnicities and religious on one hand and building a real nation on the other.<br /> <br /> “It is a choice between freedom and slavery under our recycled and corrupt politicians; between poverty and prosperity for our masses of the poor, and the unemployed, and between stability and continuing instability of the Nigeria state.”<br /> <br /> Moghalu also expressed worry about non signing of the Amended Electoral Act Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari.<br /> <br /> Earlier, YPP National Chairman, Bishop Amakiri said that Nigeria did not suffer from want of resources both natural and human.<br /> <br /> “As a party, our policy thrust shall revolve around developing the rich human capital that is in abundance in Nigeria.<br /> <br /> “In pursuit of a knowledge economy, education shall be the hub of our development quest since no nation can grow beyond the quality of her education.”<br /> <br /> He said on the debate of restructuring, the position of the YPP was crystal clear that the present structure was not sustainable.<br /> <br /> “The key to running a globally competitive economy rest entirely on restructuring our present socioeconomic and political system to empower component units to operate maximally.<br /> <br /> “Our party will take a bold step of an all-inclusive engagement with critical stakeholders to immediately see how the exclusive list can be decongested to relinquish more responsibilities to the States.”<br /> <br /> He said that the party was ready to take over the country’s leadership.(NAN)

Latest-News 2019: Moghalu emerges YPP presidential candidate

Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, has emerged the presidential candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP). Moghalu, who was a former UN officer, emerged through delegates election at the party’s first…

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APC not threatened by PDP’s noise - Lai Mohammed

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="612" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1sSfSaHewvqjwKrCef47QWkzmcrXsBl9S0sA51TL61tfeVlHLLQoENygagsa9gI8vfLuvE7ncnOeSszyKgBPVWUGsSPm-pppXrI_bF9OeEU4VrZsK9Q5fmX71Ymr-AOVjFJeDXiv_kGIZ/s640/lai+mohammed+w.jpg" width="640" /></div> <br /> Nigeria’s Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was not threatened by what he termed the noise of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Alhaji Mohammed who insisted that the APC would win the 2019 general elections said there was no viable opposition to the ruling party yet.<br /> <br /> The minister spoke in Bénin City at the wedding ceremony of the son of Edo Commissioner for Budget and Economy Planning, Hajia Mariam Abubakar.<br /> <br /> Alhaji Mohammed noted that the PDP that would have provided a “kind of opposition” is in disarray.<br /> <br /> According to him, “I don’t see fear of opposition in the elections. The opposition is in disarray.”<br /> <br /> “We believe that the people will vote for performance and to that, we are very confident; government has not stop working, we will continue to work for Nigerians to see.<br /> <br /> “Basically, I don’t see any opposition from the PDP, it is a section of the media that has constituted themselves to the opposition party.”<br /> <br /> Speaking on the issue of fake news, the minister said the war against the menace was being won.<br /> <br /> “We have seen fake news gone under, we have been able to drag it under the table, bring it to the open.<br /> <br /> ” We must not forget however, that fake news is a global phenomenon. It is not peculiar to Nigeria. If not checked however, it will pitch the people against themselves.<br /> <br /> “Federal Government launched the campaign against fake news because it realised that some very unscrupulous elements, have been exploiting the frontline of ethnicity trying to put a wedge against the government and the people,” he stated.

Latest-News APC not threatened by PDP’s noise - Lai Mohammed

Nigeria’s Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was not threatened by what he termed the noise of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Alhaji Mohammed who insisted that th…

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2019: Not too young movement decry high cost of nomination forms

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="800" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9p_FC3depzmOhjolF6wvs9spwPld7HWnJUec-iarsGjx5RYJF4wviZMy5xWzbS9A0qkytTUpDS84f7Ue514HDhlAai5120EEFXv3IpLzEYBzEYwmGmKH3blO8WWNZ-RkE2CcxfIyThDS/s640/NotTooYoungToRun4-800x470.png" width="640" /></div> <br /> Political stakeholders led by the “Not Too Young To Run Movement” in Gombe state on Monday decried the high cost of forms for expression of interest and nomination for the 2019 general elections being sold by political parties in the country.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Hamzat Lawal, a national leader of the movement told newsmen in a press conference in Gombe the state capital that the high costs of the forms would make youths and qualified politicians to shelve their ambitions.<br /> <br /> He said, “the whole idea of paying exorbitant rate for nomination form smacks of a grand conspiracy to keep the system only for the moneybags and shut out those with less financial muscle.<br /> <br /> “The movement notes with concern the announcement on the cost of nomination forms by various parties which presents a major impediment to youth participation in politics.”<br /> <br /> Hamzat also decried the manner at which some state governors hijacked the process of the sales of nomination forms to thwart the aspirations of young aspirants and perceived political enemies.<br /> <br /> The group recommends that the cost for nomination forms by various parties should not exceed, N2 million for presidential aspirant, N1 million for governorship, N600 thousand for senatorial, N400 thousand for house of representatives and N200 thousand for state assembly.<br /> <br /> They further appreciated the leadership of the various political parties that have reserved party tickets for young men and women with character, capacity and competence as well as parties that have adopted open, transparent and direct party primaries in the candidate selection process.<br /> <br /> The group also urged political parties and their candidates to engaged in issues-based campaign and shun comments that could incite their followers during campaigns.<br /> <br /> They called on the people to use the period of the campaign to assess the candidates and also shun any form of financial inducement from the candidates or their agents.<br /> <br /> He assured that”, the movement will host a public dialogue series with political parties to address some concerns relating to candidate selection process in all the political parties”

Latest-News 2019: Not too young movement decry high cost of nomination forms

Political stakeholders led by the “Not Too Young To Run Movement” in Gombe state on Monday decried the high cost of forms for expression of interest and nomination for the 2019 general elections being sold by political parties in the country. Hamzat…

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Visionscape explains sack of 18 area managers

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="891" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnD_qNNJAiVFUd_hFdW6RmVGfNxQAVhFtjusMeuBuOTgkWeCW-rTFDC_aB7kHrgqcLA0w1gh9TVBDjUn0bv5L5qoVnwJ42L8h57tWTCvCF-9amiwqWNeSvTIhXo2fYC_eb_FySiwKJ-j-/s640/Visionscape-Sanitation-Solutions-891x470.jpg" width="640" /></div> <br /> Visionscape Sanitation Solutions (VSS) Ltd. on Saturday attributed the termination of appointment of 18 area managers of the organisation on April 13, 2018, to business restructuring.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The Chief Executive Officer of VSS, Mr John Irvine, gave the clarification in a statement in Lagos, explaining that there was a cohesive change in the scope of the company’s contract, and in turn, its modus operandi.<br /> <br /> Irvine said that the organisation had keen emphasis on performance and sustainability of the business, in the current operating environment.<br /> <br /> He said that the waste management company evaluated every employee in all functions of the business, using individual performance assessments as a basis of decision-making.<br /> <br /> According to him, this methodology highlights the core individuals that needs to be retained, considering the resizing and right-sizing of the business.<br /> <br /> “Unfortunately, in tandem, some employees were affected by the process. We reiterate that the decision to terminate the area managers’ employment was purely a business decision.<br /> <br /> “This is as management reviewed the manpower requirements against the backdrop of the delivery of our current scope,” the chief executive officer said.<br /> <br /> Irvine said that all salaries, entitlements and emoluments due to the 18 workers upon termination of employment had been paid in full.

Latest-News Visionscape explains sack of 18 area managers

Visionscape Sanitation Solutions (VSS) Ltd. on Saturday attributed the termination of appointment of 18 area managers of the organisation on April 13, 2018, to business restructuring. The Chief Executive Officer of VSS, Mr John Irvine, gave the clar…

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AFCON 2019 QUALIFIER: Super Eagles trash Seychelles

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="902" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUw_7-daj5mmATRrQIuMzQ7yOJo13ph0yA8rhaB4wx-AXEEFCLMs7tDWanndlXQlsepY7IWbzoPZ21wSiCI3lZNNo791cMW1m2whkz_MXPJANL_wr9UjB4Ycr1Dycv1x9iNbH4FOp_g02d/s640/super+eagles+new+2018.jpg" width="640" /></div> <br /> It was a stress free outing for Coach Gernot Rohr and his technical crew on Saturday as the Super Eagles won their first Group E match, in the AFCON 2019 qualifiers beating Seychelles 0-3 in 93 minutes.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The Eagles enjoyed for what could pass for a cruise control maintaining 72% possession to Pirates 28 all through the encounter.<br /> <br /> The goal feast for the Eagles started with a super strike by Ahmed Musa who was equally impressive at the recently concluded World cup in Russia. Prior to the match the Pirates coach Jeane Garvin cautioned his team mostly made up of non professional footballers to keep a tab on Musa and company as they will not hesitate to do damage, and indeed they did.<br /> <br /> Odion Ighalo who was lampooned in some quarters following his poor run in Russia, converted a penalty.<br /> <br /> At the end of the first half the Eagles were already two goals up and looked as though they were seeking to re-enact the 5-1 defeat which the Pirates had earlier suffered in the hands of<br /> <br /> The Mediterranean Knights, in the opening group match.<br /> <br /> The match could easily be dubbed a tea party for the Eagles, with the only minus being the injury to Chidozie Awaziem who was quickly replaced by Semiu Ajayi who is making his debut for the senior national team.<br /> <br /> Oghenekaro Etebo and Henry Onyekuru all had their time replacing Kelechi Iheanacho and Samuel Kalu respectively

Latest-News AFCON 2019 QUALIFIER: Super Eagles trash Seychelles

It was a stress free outing for Coach Gernot Rohr and his technical crew on Saturday as the Super Eagles won their first Group E match, in the AFCON 2019 qualifiers beating Seychelles 0-3 in 93 minutes. The Eagles enjoyed for what could pass for a c…

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AFCON 2019: Super Eagles Pummel Seychelles to pick first three points

<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/AVvXsEiwdlbTaMdKHzZoNikvazWShlEHk9z_nnKqcmBYYrSyRD4ytgvKmjzqUSB6Zah8LUvvV2O9us_s5UKqQPMThOOkSRGnZZ9MGPJwwoUbUzo2JuY9E5rOJ-oEpmacap1DL-82V-AaHHiEuSI3/s1600/Ahmed-Musa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdlbTaMdKHzZoNikvazWShlEHk9z_nnKqcmBYYrSyRD4ytgvKmjzqUSB6Zah8LUvvV2O9us_s5UKqQPMThOOkSRGnZZ9MGPJwwoUbUzo2JuY9E5rOJ-oEpmacap1DL-82V-AaHHiEuSI3/s320/Ahmed-Musa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> Ahmed Musa of Nigeria during the 2019 AFCON qualifying match against Seychelles. Nigeria won 3 - 0.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The Super Eagles picked up their first points in the qualifying campaign for the 2019 African Cup of Nations after defeating Seychelles 3 – 0 at the Stade Linite on Saturday.<br /> <br /> Goals from Ahmed Musa, Chidozie Awaziem and Odion Ighalo saw the Super Eagles pick their first win of the qualifiers, with debutant Samuel Kalu causing havoc to the Pirates defence.<br /> <br /> Musa and Awaziem handed the visitors a two- goal advantage in the first- half and Ighalo added the third from the spot after one of Kalu ’ s numerous teasing runs was halted in the box.</div>

Latest-News AFCON 2019: Super Eagles Pummel Seychelles to pick first three points

Ahmed Musa of Nigeria during the 2019 AFCON qualifying match against Seychelles. Nigeria won 3 - 0. The Super Eagles picked up their first points in the qualifying campaign for the 2019 African Cup of Nations after defeating Seychelles 3 – 0 at the …

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Former Super Eagles coach reveals how he cursed Nigeria football

<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/AVvXsEgz8-1ZXyQIpXWfYjvgH5t7oBiPli_kSTXtMGTzT0vCHVetcbi4fFiOpt0ZnU7WGxeMLByReai68QH6T39kwME6CwdiYdCfd3WHrcnykiH3i3WMQrqxh2hc9B0WjB9gu_9pWXdiAQyCZOmZ/s1600/Former-Super-Eagles-goalkeepers-coach-Joe-Erico.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8-1ZXyQIpXWfYjvgH5t7oBiPli_kSTXtMGTzT0vCHVetcbi4fFiOpt0ZnU7WGxeMLByReai68QH6T39kwME6CwdiYdCfd3WHrcnykiH3i3WMQrqxh2hc9B0WjB9gu_9pWXdiAQyCZOmZ/s1600/Former-Super-Eagles-goalkeepers-coach-Joe-Erico.jpg" /></a></div> <div><br /></div> <div> <div align="left"> <div dir="ltr">Former Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles, Joe Erico, has revealed that he placed a curse on Nigeria after he was sacked without being paid in 2002.</div> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /></div> <div dir="ltr"><br /></div> <div align="left"> <div dir="ltr">Erico, who was a goalkeeper during his playing days, insisted that the troubles in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will continue until he is paid his outstanding salary and allowances.</div> </div> <div dir="ltr"><br /></div> <div align="left"> <div dir="ltr">The veteran coach worked with late coach, Shuaibu Amodu and Stephen Keshi, to qualify the Super Eagles for the 2002 World Cup.</div> </div> <div dir="ltr"><br /></div> <div align="left"> <div dir="ltr">“I swore for them in the NFA or NFF when we came back in 2002. They treated all of us; Amodu, Keshi and myself just anyhow.</div> </div> <div dir="ltr"><br /></div> <div align="left"> <div dir="ltr">“The thing is that they can’t handle the truth, speak it and you’d get blackballed.</div> </div> <div dir="ltr"><br /></div> <div align="left"> <div dir="ltr">“What basically happened was that I was very angry at the time. I was an angry person. So I went back home, stripped naked and put a curse on Nigeria football,” Erico told Brila FM.</div> </div> </div> </div>

Latest-News Former Super Eagles coach reveals how he cursed Nigeria football

Former Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles, Joe Erico, has revealed that he placed a curse on Nigeria after he was sacked without being paid in 2002. Erico, who was a goalkeeper during his playing days, insisted that the troubles in the Nigeria Foot…

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Alleged contract scam: EFCC begins investigation of Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3L0FF3QsVbYkQ4EdyXPOcXiLZIPFJZwYLcSJuZHdr1w0ZrwMBdxM44Mdu53L3dxgPKjpTVe1FhfICDBqi20wBYw9g16rMxl8Adl4tC38yL0tMRNWkt03AomYBnKJbwdwEWA_3dTlCOhPP/s1600/Abba+Kyari.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3L0FF3QsVbYkQ4EdyXPOcXiLZIPFJZwYLcSJuZHdr1w0ZrwMBdxM44Mdu53L3dxgPKjpTVe1FhfICDBqi20wBYw9g16rMxl8Adl4tC38yL0tMRNWkt03AomYBnKJbwdwEWA_3dTlCOhPP/s320/Abba+Kyari.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The Spokesperson for the anti-graft agency, Wilson Uwujaren, told newsmen on Friday that the commission was not sweeping the matter under the carpet.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The petitioner, Bako Waziri Kyari, who claimed to be a nephew to Abba Kyari, had during a popular radio programme, Berekete Family, on Human Rights Radio 101.1FM in Abuja, said that Abba Kyari and Sani Ado, whom he claimed worked with the Bureau of Public Procurement, allegedly collected N29.9m from him in order to facilitate the award of a contract.<br /> <br /> He also said during the programme that he had written a petition to the EFCC but the commission refused to treat it, insisting that it could not investigate the President’s aide.<br /> <br /> But in its reaction, the EFCC spokesperson said, “The petition by Bako Waziri is being investigated by the commission.<br /> <br /> “Any serious investigation takes time and it is presumptuous to conclude that the EFCC is non-committal simply because you did not receive instant result. This is how investigations are done.”<br /> <br /> Bako, an indigene of Bama, Borno State, had told Berekete Family, “Abba Kyari asked if I had a company registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission. I told him I did and so he asked me to come down to Abuja.<br /> <br /> “We met at least four times at Caledonia Hotel on Gana Street, Maitama. We discussed there. The hotel should have CCTV and this can be confirmed.<br /> <br /> “Abba Kyari collected the documents of my company. He said I would supply 15 Toyota Hilux vehicles to the Presidential Villa. He gave me an agreement to sign and I signed two documents.<br /> <br /> “He collected two letterheads from me, 12 passport photos and introduced me to Sani Ado and Alhaji Ibrahim.<br /> <br /> “He said anytime they needed money, he would let me know so that I could give the money to Sani Ado.<br /> <br /> “Ado began collecting money from me to process the contract. Before depositing money into Ado’s account, I always alerted Abba Kyari and he would tell me to go ahead.<br /> <br /> “All the money I transferred to Ado summed up to N29, 950,000. The total contract was worth N300,725,000. They promised me 30 per cent profit of the total contract which is about N94m.”<br /> <br /> He said Ado called him later to tell him that the money had been paid.<br /> <br /> Bako, however, said he never received the funds as Ado continued to give him flimsy excuses.<br /> <br /> He said he got frustrated and then wrote a petition to the EFCC.<br /> <br /> The petitioner, however, said he was disappointed by the response of the EFCC.<br /> <br /> He added, “Some officials loyal to Abba Kyari refused to help me. I went to meet an official petitioner at Block C in the EFCC. He is very close to the acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu. The official asked me to bring the petition to him but by the time I got there, he had called Kyari to inform him of my presence.<br /> <br /> “Abba Kyari called me on the phone to tell me that he knew I was at the EFCC.”<br /> <br /> Bako said he quickly changed his mind and decided not to use the EFCC any longer. He, however, said friends from whom he borrowed money began to pester him.<br /> <br /> He said a friend decided to report him to a policeman, DSP Tijani Bulama.<br /> <br /> The petitioner said he explained the matter to Bulama and even gave him Abba Kyari’s number to prove that he was telling the truth.<br /> <br /> Bako said Kyari promised to return the money in a few days but never did.<br /> <br /> He added, “The policeman threatened to make the matter public, but the following day, men of the DSS stormed Tijani’s home and arrested him.<br /> <br /> “While in detention, the policeman under duress, called me, asking me to meet him at Eagle Square. On getting there, men of the DSS arrested me and took me to their office. The DSS men asked if we had informed anyone and we said no.<br /> <br /> “They took our statements and Abba Kyari later came to the DSS. He, however, refused to speak to me. The DSS officials forced me to lie that I gave the policeman N250,000 to blackmail Abba Kyari but I refused. So they detained me for two weeks while the policeman was detained for a month.”<br /> <br /> He said it was Kyari that asked the DSS to release him and promised that the matter was a family one and would be resolved internally.<br /> <br /> The petitioner said he waited for another seven months but Kyari never paid him his money.<br /> <br /> Bako said he decided to approach the EFCC a second time but through another official, Nura Buhari.<br /> <br /> He added, “Nura Buhari then told me that if I wanted my petition to be attended to, I must remove Abba Kyari’s name. So, I removed Abba Kyari’s name and put only Ado.<br /> <br /> “Bashir instructed that the investigation must not include Abba Kyari. They took my statement at Block B but moments later, Abba Kyari called me again. When I picked up, Kyari told me he was told that I was at the EFCC but I denied being there<br /> <br /> “All of them at the EFCC began to feel intimidated. Even Magu is afraid of touching the case file.”<br /> <br /> Also speaking on the programme, the policeman who was detained by the DSS, described the entire incident as a case of fraud.<br /> <br /> Tijani, who spoke amid tears, said the DSS officials arrested him in the presence of his children and harassed his entire household.<br /> <br /> He said, “Initially I didn’t believe. I thought it was a fraudster impersonating the chief of staff. I called Ado and he said it was the chief of staff that asked him to collect the money. When I called the chief of staff, he denied it and said it was a mix up.<br /> <br /> “The next day, I sent a text to Ado telling him that the matter would be made public if he did not repay the money. Before I knew it, armed DSS officials in 10 vehicles stormed my home in PENGASSAN Estate, Lokogoma, and arrested me. They didn’t even allow me wear my shoes. It was on March 27, 2017, there were eyewitnesses there<br /> <br /> “They blindfolded me. My child was even crying in the house and they even pushed the little boy to the floor. It was at that point I realised that it was the chief of staff’s handiwork. Even the IG would not send the DSS to my house. I knew that only someone as powerful as Abba Kyari could do such.”<br /> <br /> The deputy superintendent said he was brought before the then DG, Lawal Daura.<br /> <br /> He added, “Daura said, ‘you are the one trying to intimidate the chief of staff, you want to become a whistleblower’. When I asked if it was true that Abba Kyari duped the man, he asked me to get out of his office.”</div>

Latest-News Alleged contract scam: EFCC begins investigation of Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari

The Spokesperson for the anti-graft agency, Wilson Uwujaren, told newsmen on Friday that the commission was not sweeping the matter under the carpet. The petitioner, Bako Waziri Kyari, who claimed to be a nephew to Abba Kyari, had during a popular r…

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New minimum wage: TUC reveals plan to enforce compliance

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLc5RxxQGcaiEmAaHL-Xx29YAb-_3Ij6CDn1LEdoc1rgrxVt3GKdXvHhRn6sKhholgaJnwKueZGy8izIxyxbxm0qHdwQIZKQtIP9gauqqX5mG6KiWjA7uwmExWnmbzcbHFfU0yX1qPk48/s1600/TUC.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLc5RxxQGcaiEmAaHL-Xx29YAb-_3Ij6CDn1LEdoc1rgrxVt3GKdXvHhRn6sKhholgaJnwKueZGy8izIxyxbxm0qHdwQIZKQtIP9gauqqX5mG6KiWjA7uwmExWnmbzcbHFfU0yX1qPk48/s400/TUC.jpg" /></a></div> The President of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Boboi Kaigama, has lambasted the federal and state government for failing to implement the new minimum wage.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> He disclosed that members of organised labour across Nigeria were already proposing the abrogation of security votes.<br /> <br /> The reviewed salary was expected to take effect in September.<br /> <br /> Speaking after he picked his nomination and expression of interest forms for Taraba governorship election at the National Secretariat of the APC, in Abuja, on Friday, Kaigama said it was unfortunate that government was still giving excuses.<br /> <br /> Kaigama said: “The issue of minimum wage is legitimate to the Nigerian worker. It is expected that five years down the line, employers are supposed to sit down with their employees represented by trade unions to review their wages.<br /> <br /> “We are two years behind schedule on this. The dollar rate when the last minimum wage came into being was N150. It has now more than doubled that figure.<br /> <br /> “Governors are complaining about the proposed minimum wage, but the fact is that you cannot sit down in your own house and be waiting for allocation from the federation account and think you can pay minimum wage. You have to be creative and develop your own resources.<br /> <br /> “There is no state as far as the working class is concerned that will say they cannot pay the proposed minimum wage. The money is there but corruption and incompetence would not allow them to pay.”</div>

Latest-News New minimum wage: TUC reveals plan to enforce compliance

The President of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Boboi Kaigama, has lambasted the federal and state government for failing to implement the new minimum wage. He disclosed that members of organised labour across Nigeria were already proposing the abro…

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Davido, Daddy Freeze react as bullets ‘fail’ to penetrate Anambra pastor

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnL6m5ubEoWfXx1vmKcO8sjaDaWK2zLDj0flLmTWZiYgnC8v5QvhiQ8JI3PyjugpeHl3z6OaiYTjirfCoYmuE-RsDCktV7mjpsGvSMOAF6vOlYRHylQegIJm6ccCx9Sbdu26t-oR4OXOHf/s1600/freeze.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnL6m5ubEoWfXx1vmKcO8sjaDaWK2zLDj0flLmTWZiYgnC8v5QvhiQ8JI3PyjugpeHl3z6OaiYTjirfCoYmuE-RsDCktV7mjpsGvSMOAF6vOlYRHylQegIJm6ccCx9Sbdu26t-oR4OXOHf/s320/freeze.png" width="320" /></a></div> Popular Cool FM On Air Personality, OAP, Daddy Freeze, and Nigerian frontline afropop star, Davido have reacted to the claim that bullets failed to penetrate a pastor in Anambra State.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> It had earlier been reported that the pastor, whose name was given as Elijah, also known as Miracle Pastor was attacked and shot by unknown gunmen at his Grace and Power Prophetic Ministry in Awka.<br /> <br /> The prophet was said to have rushed to a nearby hospital following the incident which happened a few metres from the B Division of the Anambra State Police Command in the state Secretariat area of Awka.<br /> <br /> The pastor was said to have had his legs hit by bullets.<br /> <br /> However, subsequent social media posts claimed that the bullets failed to penetrate the pastor.<br /> <br /> Reacting on a Twitter post, Freeze wrote, “Bullets burn clothes, they don’t tear them.<br /> <br /> Brother go and sit down.”<br /> <br /> On his own, Davido described the pastor’s escape as ‘odeshi’, meaning ‘charm.’<br /> <br /> He wrote, “Odeshi.”</div>

Latest-News Davido, Daddy Freeze react as bullets ‘fail’ to penetrate Anambra pastor

Popular Cool FM On Air Personality, OAP, Daddy Freeze, and Nigerian frontline afropop star, Davido have reacted to the claim that bullets failed to penetrate a pastor in Anambra State. It had earlier been reported that the pastor, whose name was giv…

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Ekiti extends holidays for primary, secondary schools

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegDIX_lzK0WIKJ5-fXoPC3yHpBxrmGjrHMRPb_Nn-83rxBVzPYjxR5LUw-E0iXaRkObF4zkuT60Qa-52VkIPDiCm3-Aj0VlKCOYAmqPOB5je9Kny-J37uiIrijAZV0DsflBAtj7j5-mxA/s1600/af.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegDIX_lzK0WIKJ5-fXoPC3yHpBxrmGjrHMRPb_Nn-83rxBVzPYjxR5LUw-E0iXaRkObF4zkuT60Qa-52VkIPDiCm3-Aj0VlKCOYAmqPOB5je9Kny-J37uiIrijAZV0DsflBAtj7j5-mxA/s320/af.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Ekiti State Government on Saturday announced an extension of the current third term holidays for students in public and private primary and secondary schools.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> This is contained in a statement by the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Jide Egunjobi, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, in Ado Ekiti.<br /> <br /> The commissioner said all schools would now resume on September 24, as against September 14 earlier resumption date.<br /> <br /> According to the commissioner, the extension of the holidays has become necessary to allow various schools conduct interviews for fresh students across the state.<br /> <br /> Besides, he said the extension would also allow for consolidation of the school system before the resumption of students.<br /> <br /> Consequently, all parents, guardians and other stakeholders in the education sector are urged  to take note of the extension and disseminate the information appropriately.<br /> <br /> The commissioner implored teachers and workers in various schools to brace up for better service delivery as they await the new resumption day.</div>

Latest-News Ekiti extends holidays for primary, secondary schools

Ekiti State Government on Saturday announced an extension of the current third term holidays for students in public and private primary and secondary schools. This is contained in a statement by the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Tech…

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Fayose backs out of presidential race

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6qnP6x8SkYhU4T3kZutD0qumQI3jnVag0bOrEZ3xcbAIkc5YhzACJorL6HhTVw6NpCFndyLOunvbG0O8E8PFxNUfOLV3VD-TiOYegny3ZBBqnhfW4weEMWgw88fQNle4g_PmyqBkpLJM/s1600/af.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6qnP6x8SkYhU4T3kZutD0qumQI3jnVag0bOrEZ3xcbAIkc5YhzACJorL6HhTVw6NpCFndyLOunvbG0O8E8PFxNUfOLV3VD-TiOYegny3ZBBqnhfW4weEMWgw88fQNle4g_PmyqBkpLJM/s320/af.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Faced with the reality of the bigwigs presidential aspirants of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), outgoing Ekiti state governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, the first to have indicated interest for the office, has dropped his ambition.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> He said on Saturday that he was discontinuing his 2019 presidential ambition.<br /> <br /> The governor was one of the earliest persons in the country to indicate intention to contest for the nation’s number one position early in the year, in spite of warnings that the party zoned the position to the North.<br /> <br /> He dropped the hint on Saturday when he received the duo of former governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and former minister, Kashim Taminu, (both presidential aspirants) who came to lobby him and delegates in the state PDP.<br /> <br /> He said he had to drop the ambition as mark of sympathy and concern for his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka who lost in the last gubernatorial election in the state.<br /> <br /> ” I dropped the presidential ambition because of the stolen mandate freely given to my deputy<br /> <br /> ” As a good leader, I cannot abandon my loyal deputy whose mandate was stolen by the APC and be pursuing another ambition<br /> <br /> ” My posters are there in a room. I am committed to the recovery of the mandate for now more than anything else”, he said.<br /> <br /> It is recalled that before now, Fayose had not only opened campaign offices but also came out with retinue of branded vehicles with which to campaign for the presidential slot.<br /> <br /> The two visiting presidential aspirants boasted that PDP would regain power in 2019, and urged the Ekiti delegates to consider their candidature so as to make the dream become a reality.</div>

Latest-News Fayose backs out of presidential race

Faced with the reality of the bigwigs presidential aspirants of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), outgoing Ekiti state governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, the first to have indicated interest for the office, has dropped his ambition. He said …

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2019 Presidential Election: Assessing the Possibility of Electoral Fraud - By Omoshola Deji

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdv1U3AVfg4sAFkmxjWwxfiM7hrupNKEkCii57i6vZCeBJLj4JH7rIMWy6Z4b3O_jlBlnD6rbIj9zLHASYLYIo76atk4uLBvm1Bdn1qVr78xx6dZili1x4mbEHZD9lMimWiPiOTfyd-e4G/s640/OM.png" width="640" /></div> <br /> <br /> After about thirty years of stern military rule, Nigeria re-embraced democracy in 1999 and five elections have produced Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo (two term), Umaru Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and the incumbent Muhammadu Buhari. 2019 ushers in an opportunity for Nigerians to elect another president or return Buhari. Buhari has promised a free and fair election, but the opposition parties and some observers cast doubts on his commitment to ensuring transparency in an election he is contesting. This piece examines the allegations and influence of nepotism on the credibility of the electoral process, as well as the effects of underage voting and vote-buying on election results.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Nigerians are criticizing President Buhari’s appointments as nepotistic, especially his choice of the heads of security agencies and the electoral commission. The prevailing argument that this is a clever style of managing the electoral process in his favor steers us into an appraisal of such appointments by the previous governments. Ensuring the successful conduct of elections in Nigeria involves the collaborative effort of several agencies - including the Civil Defense, Army and State Security Service - but Police and INEC are the most crucial. INEC conduct elections and police leads the provision of security. The appraisal thus focuses on these two outfits.<br /> <br /> Individuals referenced are classified based on their states of origin and geopolitical zones as currently defined in Nigeria. The zones are abbreviated thus: South-West (SW), South-East (SE), South-South (SS) North-West (NW), North-Central (NC), and the North-East (NE).<br /> <br /> Is President Buhari’s appointment of the 2019 election handlers nepotistic? In the first republic (1963-1966), President Nnamdi Azikwe, a native of Anambra State (SE), appointed Louis Edet from Cross River State (SS) as the Inspector General of Police, IGP. Eyo Ita Esua from Cross River State (SS) was appointed the head of the Federal Electoral Commission. You would note that the president and the heads of FEC and police were not from the same geopolitical zone. The military seized power in 1966.<br /> <br /> To conduct the election that’ll usher in the second republic in 1979, then General Olusegun Obasanjo from Ogun State (SW) appointed Chief Michael Ani from Cross River State (SS) as Chairman of the Federal Electoral Commission. Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu from Katsina State (NW) was appointed the IGP. The head-of-state and the heads of FEC and police were not from the same geopolitical zone. Obasanjo transferred power to Shehu Shagari, but (Nigeria’s incumbent president) then General Muhammadu Buhari seized power via a military coup in 1983. General Ibrahim Babangida later ousted him in 1985.<br /> <br /> After being pressurized by a national campaign for democratic rule, Babangida promised to conduct elections and hand over power in 1993 – the third republic. Babangida, a native of Niger State (NC) appointed Professor Humprey Nwosu, an indigene of Anambra State (SE), as the Chairman of the National Electoral Commission. Aliyu Atta from Adamawa State (NE) was appointed the IGP. Please note that the military-president and the heads of NEC and police were not from the same geopolitical zone.<br /> <br /> To conduct the election that brought on the (Obasanjo led 1999-2003) fourth republic, General Abdusalami Abubakar from Niger State (NC) appointed Justice Ephraim Akpata from Edo State (SS) as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Ibrahim Coomassie, an indigene of Katsina State (NW), was appointed the IGP. Again, General Abubakar and the heads of INEC and police were not from the same geopolitical zone.<br /> <br /> Ex-President Obasanjo’s second term was the fifth republic (2003-2007). The election that earned him the term was handled by then INEC Chairman Abel Guobadia (Edo, SS) and IGP Mustafa Balogun (Osun, SW). Appointments of the two crucial election handlers were not only allotted to the South, the police IG was from Obansanjo’s geopolitical zone, the SW. This is not the case now in Buhari’s government. Buhari, a native of Katsina State (NW) appointed Mamood Yakubu (Bauchi, NE) and Idris Kpotun (Niger, NC) as INEC and police heads. Although Buhari dispensed the appointments to northerners, he and the two appointees are from separate northern geopolitical zones. In essence, Obasanjo’s appointment of INEC and police heads when he was seeking reelection in 2003 is even more sectional than what we have now.<br /> <br /> It is appalling that facts about an issue that could diminish Buhari’s votes, especially in the South, stay unutilized. Why is the work of presidential aides being left for independent analysts in an election season? Buhari’s aides are either unmindful of the harm negative public perceptions could do to their principal or they are simply overconfident he would win. But on a second look, why was Obasanjo’s appointment not criticized? Why are people afraid that Buhari’s appointments could breed electoral fraud, but weren’t troubled during Obasanjo’s rule?<br /> <br /> The issue is best explained empirically. When Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan increased petrol price from 67 to 87 Naira, people protested because his government was widely rated as corrupt. They didn’t trust him. But when President Buhari increased petrol price from 87 to 145 Naira, the protest was very minimal because Nigerians see him as a non-corrupt person. Trust is the keyword here.<br /> <br /> People never protested against Obasanjo’s more sectional appointment of INEC and police heads because they didn’t see him as nepotistic and chauvinistic. His other key appointments (of national security adviser and heads of civil defense, army, the state security service etc.) reflected Nigeria’s ethnic pluralism. That cannot be said of Buhari. He is more sectional than national.<br /> <br /> The heads of all the above mentioned agencies are from the North. SSS is currently being led by Mathew Seiyefa (Bayelsa, SS) due to dismissal of Lawal Daura (Katsina, NW) and there are reports of ongoing moves to replace him with a northerner. Nigerians are pessimistic about getting a credible election in 2019 as the influence of these outfits’ activities on election results cannot be undermined. Does nepotism breed electoral fraud? We must resist the appetite to digress. I’ll dissect the issue after concluding the ethnic and geopolitical appraisal of individuals appointed to handle the conduct of past national elections.<br /> <br /> The election that ushered in the (late Umaru Yar’Adua led) sixth republic was conducted by the Obasanjo administration. The poll was handled by then INEC Chairman, Professor Maurice Iwu (Imo, SE) and IGP Sunday Ehindero (Ondo, SW). In this case, Obasanjo’s appointment of non-northerners can be argued as ensuring fairness and transparency since the election was mainly a contest between northern candidates – late Umaru Yar'Adua for the PDP, M. Buhari for the defunct ANPP, and Atiku Abubakar for the defunct AC.<br /> <br /> Yar’Adua’s death left a vacuum in government. His vice, Goodluck Jonathan (Bayelsa, SS), was sworn in on May 5, 2010 to complete the four-year tenure of the sixth republic (2007-2011). As the term ends, Jonathan turned down the northern oligarchy’s request to takeover. He contested, won and governed Nigeria in the seventh republic (2011-2015). The election that returned him elected was handled by the northerners he appointed. Prof. Attahiru Jega (Kebbi, NW) was the INEC Chairman and Hafiz Ringim (Jigawa, NE) was the IGP. Unlike the Buhari administration, Jonathan was mindful of Nigeria’s ethnic sensitivity and majority of his appointment favored other ethnic groups, especially the northern lived Hausa-Fulani. He retained Jega as INEC Chairman and appointed Suleiman Abba (Jigawa, NE) as IGP for the 2015 elections.<br /> <br /> Jonathan lost the race to rule Nigeria in the eight republic (2015-2019) to incumbent President Buhari. He conceded defeat. Oppositely, when Jonathan floored Buhari in the 2011 presidential election, the latter’s supporters violently protested, killed and destroyed properties in the north. Would the 2011 post-election violence not have been more devastating if the election handlers and service chiefs were Southerners from Jonathan’s ethnic extraction? Ensuring appointments into sensitive positions are fairly distributed remains one of the most effective means of maintaining public trust, dousing inter-ethnic bigotry and erasing agitation for succession in a plural state like Nigeria. Does nepotism breed electoral fraud? How will nepotism, vote-buying and underage voting affect the outcome of the 2019 presidential election?<br /> <br /> In the history of Nigeria, Buhari is the first ruler to appoint an INEC Chairman from his region, the NW. He appointed his supposed relation, Mrs Amina Zakari, as the acting INEC Chairman in June 2015. After several criticisms, Prof Mahmood Yakubu was appointed to replace her as the substantive chairman in October 2015. The relationship between Zakari and Yakubu is so strong that it has the tendency to influence the outcome of the elections in favor of Buhari. The nepotism and sectionalism in Buhari’s government is also present in INEC’s leadership.<br /> <br /> Vote buying and underage voting are electoral crimes, but INEC and police have been unable to stem the tide. The two agencies only condemns. They are unwilling to prosecute electoral offenders. The northern region has the highest case of underage voting, while vote-buying has recently gained prominence across the country. In all fairness, affection for Buhari can’t be argued as the sole reason for underage registration and voting in the north. The north has always had a substantial registration of underage voters before Buhari became president. Nonetheless, his reelection bid has led to an increase in such for political gain. In 2019, (regular and) underage voting would be a huge gain for Buhari in his northern stronghold.<br /> <br /> In other regions, Buhari currently have an above-average support in the SW, fast-rising support in the SE, and a below-average support in the SS. Vote buying could easily cover up for his shortfalls in these southern areas. Electoral fraud is bound to occur on a massive scale in the 2019 elections. APC and Buhari would profit more from it than the opposition because they are in control of the nation’s finance and force. With the nepotistic arrangement in place and the forces’ top-down chain of command, all it takes the force heads is to post their loyalists to key states in order to allow the Buharists operate unchecked.<br /> <br /> Politics is the switch that controls police operations under IGP Idris Kpotum. Sadly, elections in Nigeria are often marred by so much irregularity that it is quite easy for the umpire and security agencies to manipulate the results. Then again, the force heads have been so political that they have a reason to compromise in order to avoid their imminent sack, if the opposition wins. Buhari is no doubt a strong candidate, but the election is being technically managed in such a way that it would be impossible for him to lose.<br /> <br /> INEC and the security agencies operations largely determine the outcome of elections in Nigeria. The heads periodically issue obnoxious orders to their subordinates and questioning or disobeying such orders is treated as an affront, insubordination and disloyalty. The punishment for such is non-promotion, unfavorable transfers, and sometimes death. The boss’ mood dictates the actions of the subordinates, and his wish, whether legal or not, becomes the institution’s mission, especially during elections. Making chauvinistic appointments into agencies operating such a closed system - in a nation where people are more committed to their ethnic groups than to the Nigerian state – is unfortunate for Nigeria’s democracy and a recipe for electoral fraud.<br /> <br /> All that concern a presidential election in a plural nation should not be regional. In a polity where the instruments of the state are often used for political gains, a presidential election handled by heads of INEC and security agencies who are northerners, with an incumbent northern candidate running, is beyond doubts programmed not be free, fair, credible or transparent. Such election grievously puts the non-northern candidates in an extremely disadvantaged position. Ethnic affiliation controls emotions in Nigerian elections. Ethnic affection inspired the annulment of the 1993 presidential election won by Moshood Abiola. Babangida wouldn’t have annulled the election if Bashir Tofa (his fellow northerner) won.<br /> <br /> Political interests dictates government policies in Nigeria. The Supreme Court ruled that using electronic card readers for voter accreditation is not permissible under the Nigerian electoral laws. The national assembly passed a bill that’ll permit the use of electronic card readers for the 2019 elections, but Buhari declined assent twice. The implication of this is that INEC would have to use the manual means of voter accreditation in 2019 and this would lead to massive electoral fraud.<br /> <br /> Buhari must live up to the responsibility of ensuring Nigerians get a free, fair and credible election, and accepting the outcome in good faith if defeated. No matter how hard he tries to be transparent, his nepotistic and chauvinistic conducts, the inability to manage personal interest, autocracy, and hounding the opposition could drive Nigeria’s democracy rearward.<br /> <b><i><br /></i></b><b><i>*Omoshola Deji is a political and public affairs analyst. He wrote in via moshdeji@yahoo.com</i></b>

Latest-News 2019 Presidential Election: Assessing the Possibility of Electoral Fraud - By Omoshola Deji

After about thirty years of stern military rule, Nigeria re-embraced democracy in 1999 and five elections have produced Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo (two term), Umaru Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and the incumbent Muhammadu Buhari. 2019 ushers in an …

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Only condition Mourinho will let Pogba join Barcelona revealed

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGEM5e8FLAUhrUX27yDAvWb1npWeANtQ1MBJZ9LpoL4NTMpAmYa4Z6HIhMTmUPG1dU6ItePwFyllwr8vfuaiFFe_ht4q4ekGPjr5a86XZLYaYHej7gRJUA5tpCOgZc2i7-OFUKOZQ_vTw/s1600/pog.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGEM5e8FLAUhrUX27yDAvWb1npWeANtQ1MBJZ9LpoL4NTMpAmYa4Z6HIhMTmUPG1dU6ItePwFyllwr8vfuaiFFe_ht4q4ekGPjr5a86XZLYaYHej7gRJUA5tpCOgZc2i7-OFUKOZQ_vTw/s320/pog.png" width="320" /></a></div> Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho will be happy to allow midfielder, Paul Pogba to join Spanish giants, Barcelona on one condition.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Barcelona had hoped to sign Pogba this summer but the Red Devils were unwilling to listen to offers for the 25-year-old and were reluctant to let their star man leave after a disappointing transfer window.<br /> <br /> According to the Independent, Mourinho will only let the France international join the La Liga champions if United sign Lazio star, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who is valued at around £100million.<br /> <br /> The report claimed that United’s interest in Milinkovic-Savic dates back to 2017 and the Red Devils believe that United midfielder, Nemanja Matic’s relationship with the 23-year-old has given them an advantage.<br /> <br /> Pogba is determined to leave Old Trafford after a deteriorating relationship with Mourinho in the last six months.<br /> <br /> The midfielder is not giving up on his desire to leave and has admitted on Thursday that a move is possible in January.<br /> <br /> “My future is currently in Manchester,” said Pogba. “I still have a contract, I am playing there at the moment, but who knows what will happen in the next few months.”</div>

Latest-News Only condition Mourinho will let Pogba join Barcelona revealed

Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho will be happy to allow midfielder, Paul Pogba to join Spanish giants, Barcelona on one condition. Barcelona had hoped to sign Pogba this summer but the Red Devils were unwilling to listen to offers for the 25…

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US Open: Del Potro qualifies for final after Nadal quits

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIQ_Kitt378emf8OARklqJFxMqxZdiAtKJTtSxK9alXgHInmVRZ3LccSshDzcoOgF2u5UdrJ2l7DRKAgvm6B5fbjZJpgM1jsa5J42xrhhmkD17mNXx73PxSpBckDMQLx4ymMw9s5hYgMG/s1600/Juan+Martin+del+Potro.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIQ_Kitt378emf8OARklqJFxMqxZdiAtKJTtSxK9alXgHInmVRZ3LccSshDzcoOgF2u5UdrJ2l7DRKAgvm6B5fbjZJpgM1jsa5J42xrhhmkD17mNXx73PxSpBckDMQLx4ymMw9s5hYgMG/s320/Juan+Martin+del+Potro.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Juan Martin del Potro reached the US Open final on Friday, after defending champion and world number one, Rafael Nadal quit their semi-final game with a knee injury.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Third seed Del Potro, the champion in 2009, was 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 ahead when Nadal retired.<br /> <br /> The Argentine will face either Novak Djokovic, the 2011 and 2015 winner or Japan’s Kei Nishikori in Sunday’s final.<br /> <br /> “I hate to retire. It’s not a match when one is playing and the other is at the side of the court,” Nadal said afterwards.<br /> <br /> The Spaniard also retired trailing in the fifth set of his Australian Open quarter-final against Marin Cilic in January.<br /> <br /> Nadal was bidding for a fourth title in New York and 18th major title.</div>

Latest-News US Open: Del Potro qualifies for final after Nadal quits

Juan Martin del Potro reached the US Open final on Friday, after defending champion and world number one, Rafael Nadal quit their semi-final game with a knee injury. Third seed Del Potro, the champion in 2009, was 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 ahead when Nadal ret…

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APC, party of drowning men, says Makarfi

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJ_pMl4te0B5QpOnMCDQFw_kfTLf-MP4oTSQBIFoAMZbPGlrE3qB98B5EdcviVHv89Fans03QlZcJZoSnt1w-Sk_BgyoXAeOp9XloZHrA2rEhhHm02Zl_1BewnpbQ72bYW0pvQ2ejOu74/s1600/Ahmed+Makarfi.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJ_pMl4te0B5QpOnMCDQFw_kfTLf-MP4oTSQBIFoAMZbPGlrE3qB98B5EdcviVHv89Fans03QlZcJZoSnt1w-Sk_BgyoXAeOp9XloZHrA2rEhhHm02Zl_1BewnpbQ72bYW0pvQ2ejOu74/s320/Ahmed+Makarfi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> A former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, on Friday said Nigeria was being led by “drowning men.”<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Makarfi, who was at the Peoples Democratic Party national secretariat in Abuja to submit his presidential expression of interest and nomination forms, also picked holes in President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise of paying N5,000 to poor Nigerians.<br /> <br /> Sympathising with party supporters over attacks on its secretariat on Thursday by thugs allegedly sponsored by the All Progressives Congress, Makarfi said, “This has never happened before, for a party to leave its domain to go to another party’s headquarters and do what they did, but no matter how they try, they will not succeed.<br /> <br /> “Intimidation will not work, we know the APC members are left with no option but intimidation. When you are losing, whatever you see you grab. A drowning man, if you give him a sword, he will hold it.<br /> <br /> “So we are dealing with drowning men, we should understand and see them as such. We must never lose focus to wrest power from the APC, they may use whatever they want to use, but let us use our brains.”<br /> <br /> Makarfi also said he believed the country needed to be restructured.<br /> <br /> He said, “It is the principle and policy of the PDP that Nigeria needs to be restructured in the interest of all of us.<br /> <br /> “Nigeria needs to be secured. There is too much bloodletting in this country today. We must restore sanity and stop these killings.”<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, a former Minister of Information, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, has said she will break the jinx to become the first female governor in the country.<br /> <br /></div>

Latest-News APC, party of drowning men, says Makarfi

A former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, on Friday said Nigeria was being led by “drowning men.” Makarfi, who was at the Peoples Democratic Party national secretariat in Abuja to submit his presidential expression of interest and no…

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Buhari back home from China

<br /> President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday night returned to Abuja after attending the Forum on China and Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing.<br /> <br /> During the six-day visit to China, Buhari held bilateral talks and witnessed the signing of some agreements between Nigeria and China in the areas of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the economy.<br /> <br /> He also participated in the high-level dialogue between Chinese and African leaders and business representatives.<br /> <br /> At the FOCAC meeting, Buhari expressed the appreciation of ECOWAS member states for China’s increasing investment in the sub-region with the aim of building a prosperous and shared future.<br /> <br /> He noted that China was the largest investor in the sub-region in both private and public sectors, covering areas, such as infrastructure development in energy, agriculture, mining and health care.<br /> <br /> According to him, China also provides significant assistance in emergency humanitarian aid and response to climate change for Africa.<br /> <br /> Buhari, at the FOCAC Round Table on Tuesday, attended by African leaders and Chinese President Xi Jinping, said Nigeria’s partnership with China through the FOCAC had resulted in the execution of vital infrastructure projects worth over five billion dollars.

Latest-News Buhari back home from China

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday night returned to Abuja after attending the Forum on China and Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing. During the six-day visit to China, Buhari held bilateral talks and witnessed the signing of some agreements …

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Congress: Mark warns PDP against imposition of candidates

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZ5SNz5bVnn39wjzmf_JKJZDIZWTEJpzkEY4euRUh0TWSlolTYJQ6IwLd95nrAN4_ZR_UTYHIlVbbk29jytfgsvbdpLxOUIkvhSfx4Ej7p5F6DdRfXlxpL8-mjY7PuiDQO8DvfRFGGi6t/s1600/David+Mark.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZ5SNz5bVnn39wjzmf_JKJZDIZWTEJpzkEY4euRUh0TWSlolTYJQ6IwLd95nrAN4_ZR_UTYHIlVbbk29jytfgsvbdpLxOUIkvhSfx4Ej7p5F6DdRfXlxpL8-mjY7PuiDQO8DvfRFGGi6t/s320/David+Mark.jpg" width="265" /></a></div> A Peoples Democratic Party presidential aspirant, Senator David Mark, has called for a rancour-free congresses as members of the party elect delegates for the 2019 polls just as he cautioned against imposition of candidates.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Mark, in a statement issued in Abuja on  Friday,  asked members of the party to conduct themselves peacefully according to the rules of the game, stressing that the will of the people must be allowed to prevail.<br /> <br /> The statement read in part, “As we converge to elect delegates to the congresses beginning from Saturday, we must be guided by democratic tenets and observe the principle of fairness and justice.<br /> <br /> “We must demonstrate to fellow country men and women that we are truly democratic.  I am sure that our members nationwide will showcase our reformed and rebranded party as the preferred choice for the people.”<br /> <br /> The former Senate President restated that he joined the presidential race because “I believe I can make a positive difference in Nigeria.”<br /> <br /> Mark said, “Nobody can shy away from the fact that Nigeria is currently faced with intractable security, economic and socio-political challenges that unarguably threatens the corporality of the country.<br /> <br /> “Rarely has our country been faced with such a state of uncertainty, despair, suspicion and division. Time has come for all men and women who care and have the requisite experiences and courage to stand up, retrieve it from the brink and lead our nation into prosperity.”<br /> <br /> The PDP chieftain expressed optimism that his road map to economic recovery and prosperity, tagged 730 model, would turn around the economy of the nation within two years of his administration if elected President.<br /> <br /> He said he had assembled a team of young Nigerian professionals to hit the ground running and facilitate the economic recovery.<br /> <br /> Education, he said, would be given top priority as the bedrock for development, adding “we will focus on Education and create a pool of highly trained citizens with excellent IT skills who will be employable as well as create jobs.”<br /> <br /> He stated, “we will support the Small and Medium Scale enterprises as a matter of priority with interest free cooperative loans and appropriate technology, which will be the main driver of the economy with attendant rate of huge employment opportunities.”<br /> <br /></div>

Latest-News Congress: Mark warns PDP against imposition of candidates

A Peoples Democratic Party presidential aspirant, Senator David Mark, has called for a rancour-free congresses as members of the party elect delegates for the 2019 polls just as he cautioned against imposition of candidates. Mark, in a statement iss…

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Fayose, Fayemi in war of words over sale of govt properties

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLPkl65Le4DY2Pt2ZFNRheJ93WuIvqslzlRmQf9sHFluitdkXp5_U5ySNcyQlV7IwRXHXegM6tnbg6NkqeIDS0eiN2-6wnJ20SE5E5bI8adAdkOBkqmuXOGcvbkIJHY9TUutbnvine0TW/s1600/fayose+and+fayemi.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLPkl65Le4DY2Pt2ZFNRheJ93WuIvqslzlRmQf9sHFluitdkXp5_U5ySNcyQlV7IwRXHXegM6tnbg6NkqeIDS0eiN2-6wnJ20SE5E5bI8adAdkOBkqmuXOGcvbkIJHY9TUutbnvine0TW/s400/fayose+and+fayemi.jpg" /></a></div> The Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, and the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Friday engaged in war of words over allegations of sale of some state government properties, including the Oja Oba ultramodern market.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Fayemi had during the week through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, urged the public to beware of moves by the outgoing governor to dispose of some valuable properties of the state via alleged shady arrangements.<br /> <br /> The statement read, “The attention of the Governor-Elect of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has been drawn to the clandestine moves by the outgoing Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, to hurriedly dispose of some valuable properties of the Ekiti State Government through shady arrangements.<br /> <br /> “Some of the properties are: a large expanse of land between the Ondo State Civil Service Commission and Elan Club, in front of the Government Printing Press, Alagbaka, Akure; Erinfun Livestock Development Centre, covering 600 hectares of land along the Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado-Ekiti; the new Oja Oba market.<br /> <br /> “We hereby inform and advise the general public, particularly prospective buyers, to be circumspect in entering into any transaction with the outgoing governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, in respect of any of the properties mentioned above or any other one whatsoever, as the incoming administration may not recognise or give effect to such transactions. A word is enough for the wise!”<br /> <br /> But reacting to the allegations, Fayose said he remained the governor of the state till October 16, urging Fayemi to wait for the time he would be sworn in.<br /> <br /> He said, “The governor-elect is wasting his time. I am still the governor of Ekiti State till October 15 legitimately. He is only ranting. That is ranting. He should wait for his time. Somebody stole a mandate and he is still claiming to have a mandate.<br /> <br /> “It is the kind of leadership we have in the country that causes this kind of issue. I was elected for a four-year term, which will end in about six weeks’ time. I will function till the last day of my departure. If he likes, he can do what he likes during his tenure. The record will be there for him.<br /> <br /> “Was he the one that built the market? I built it and I am allocating it. The people will have legal backing to protect them. They want to come and give it to their cronies. I will do my legitimate job until the last day of my departure. Even if I want to sell Ekiti property, I am still the governor here. When he comes, everything will be in public domain.”<br /> <br /></div>

Latest-News Fayose, Fayemi in war of words over sale of govt properties

The Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, and the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Friday engaged in war of words over allegations of sale of some state government properties, including the Oja Oba ultramodern market. Fayemi had during the …

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Rescue Leah Sharibu from Boko Haram captivity - PDP, CSOs tell Buhari

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3Usv0a2hEabg73NEGUDNYKEb0DO8uUrl0ge3YLAxv3PpXigfP-Fa7lva9KR8eLtcwF0KSbtzAg1oIAH4Y9ihxxPvsi-pc-g8hF3_IZd6zrfWYZnWXUoxRkjcl8KnkQ8ucDc757a76XNX/s1600/leah+sharibu.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3Usv0a2hEabg73NEGUDNYKEb0DO8uUrl0ge3YLAxv3PpXigfP-Fa7lva9KR8eLtcwF0KSbtzAg1oIAH4Y9ihxxPvsi-pc-g8hF3_IZd6zrfWYZnWXUoxRkjcl8KnkQ8ucDc757a76XNX/s320/leah+sharibu.jpg" width="203" /></a></div> The Peoples Democratic Party and other organisations, including the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum; the BringBackOurGirls Coalition; the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue Leah Sharibu from Boko Haram captivity.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> They said it was tragic that the Federal Government had failed to rescue the girl after spending about seven months in the Boko Haram captivity.<br /> <br /> Sharibu was one of the 110 girls kidnapped on February 19, 2018 by Boko Haram terrorists from the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State.<br /> <br /> The terrorists were reported to have detained her because she refused to renounce her Christian faith.<br /> <br /> In a video believed to have been released by Boko Haram a few weeks ago, the teenager appealed to President Buhari to secure her release.<br /> <br /> Condemning the delay in rescuing Sharibu more than 200 days after her abduction, the PDP said Buhari should listen to Nigerians and act as a father by putting effort into securing her release.<br /> <br /> The PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, while demanding her immediate release, called on Nigerians to pray for the “innocent” girl.<br /> <br /> He said, “We appeal to President Buhari and his security agencies to please listen to the cry of this little girl. Nigerians were moved to tears recently after listening to her plea via a voice message she sent from the den of her abductors.<br /> <br /> “It was a cry of innocence. This is somebody whose offence was just that she went to school. She didn’t want to die as an illiterate. Must we allow her to be punished for this? My answer is no.<br /> <br /> “The primary duty of any government is to provide security for the citizens. That is the little we expect from this government.  The President ought to be a father to all the citizens, including Leah. Let him act so by negotiating and freeing this our daughter.”<br /> <br /> Secondus said the government should consider the plight of Sharibu’s parents and also listen to the girl’s plea, which was released to the public some days ago.<br /> <br /> He said it was unfortunate that since the time Boko Haram released other girls abducted alongside the Christian teenager, nothing concrete had been done by the Federal Government to free her.<br /> <br /> The opposition party therefore asked Nigerians to beg the President to, as a matter of urgency, reach out to her abductors and get her out of their grip.<br /> <br /> SMLF, SERAP, others demand Sharibu’s release<br /> <br /> Also reacting to Sharibu’s continued stay in Boko Haram detention, the spokesperson for the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum, Yinka Odumakin, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, said it seemed the government had forgotten the teenager, noting that it had not been talking about moves to rescue her.<br /> <br /> He wondered why the government failed to insist on Sharibu’s release along with her colleagues who were freed. He, therefore, demanded the rescue of the schoolgirl without delay.<br /> <br /> Odumakin stated, “We just hope that the negotiation that took place was not for her to be kept so she could be released close to the election period. It would be ungodly to play such a game with the life of a young girl.<br /> <br /> “We are demanding that whatever negotiation used in getting out other girls should be used to effect Leah’s release from Boko Haram now,” the forum insisted.<br /> <br /> Also, a member of the BringBackOurGirls coalition, Peter Ilya, said the Federal Government had been quiet about rescuing Sharibu, noting that Nigerians should not discount reports of official complicity in the Dapchi girls’ abduction.<br /> <br /> He described as curious the manner the girls were kidnapped without resistance from security forces.<br /> <br /> Ilya said, “Is it not curious that they (Boko Haram) abducted the girls and within few days they brought most of them back without any shots being fired and they melted into thin air?”<br /> <br /> “Don’t you think the Federal Government was responsible for the abduction ab initio? Do you think we should discount the accusations of the soldier who said the whole abduction was arranged? I believe Leah was just being kept somewhere, the anguish must be unbearable for the parents, I can imagine,” the BBOG member noted.<br /> <br /> Two civil society organisations, SERAP and the CDHR called on the President to deploy all instruments of state in rescuing Leah.<br /> <br /> They noted that the Federal Government must make the rescue of Sharibu and the remaining Chibok schoolgirls a priority.<br /> <br /> The SERAP Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said, “I want the President to walk the talk. I call on him to put firm physical commitment to whatever he has promised. What happened to the Chibok schoolgirls is gradually happening to Leah Sharibu. We should not allow her situation to get as bad and prolonged as the remaining Chibok schoolgirls. No government that is serious and responsible will take the life and liberty of its citizens for granted. Sharibu must be reunited with her parents.<br /> <br /> “As we remember Sharibu, we must not forget the remaining Chibok schoolgirls. I recall that they have spent well almost 2000 days in the Boko Haram captivity. The President has promised that whatever it will cost him to get the girls from captivity; he will not hesitate to do such.”<br /> <br /> Also the CDHR President, Malachy Ugwummadu, said, “The fundamental rights of Sharibu to life and liberty are being threatened and we want the Federal Government to intensify its efforts in securing her rescue. It is sad that some citizens are suffering from the failure of the government to provide adequate security of life and property. No amount of efforts put in by the government will satisfy us until this girl returns to her parents. It is as simple as that.”<br /> <br /> On Thursday, a British member of parliament  protested outside the Nigerian embassy in London to help free  Sharibu.<br /> <br /> According to a CNN report, Liberal Democrat legislator, Tom Brake, staged  “a sit-in outside the Nigerian High Commission in central London to put pressure on the Nigerian government.”<br /> <br /> “There cannot be a clearer example of someone whose human rights are being ignored than that of Leah who is being detained just because she has maintained her Christian faith,” Brake said in an email interview with CNN.<br /> <br /> Brake is taking part in the protest organised by advocacy group, Church World Service, that will last 200 hours as Thursday marks 200 days since Sharibu, who turned 15 in captivity, was taken.<br /> <br /> According to the report, organisers said members of the advocacy group would take turns to seat at a school desk placed in front of the commission’s office with Sharibu’s portrait.<br /> <br /> Leah’s father said he had been humbled by the international campaign for his daughter’s release.<br /> <br /> A former aide of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, also took part in the protest organised by the Church World Service.<br /> <br /> In a video he posted via his twitter handle later, Omokri demanded the release of Sharibu.<br /> <br /> He stated, “We are trying to call Rebecca Sharibu, Leah’s mother. I have spoken with her earlier and i just want to speak with her again so she can tell Nigerians and people all over the world how she feels and tell people who supported this cause to help free her daughter.”<br /> <br /> In the same vein, the President of the Christians Association of Nigeria, Dr. Samson Ayokunle, called the President to mount pressure on the Boko Haram group to release Sharibu and about 100 Chibok girls remaining in captivity of the terrorists.<br /> <br /> Ayokunle said this while speaking to journalists on Friday in Iwo on the sidelines of the inauguration  service held for the new Vice-Chancellor  of Bowen University, Osun State,  Prof. Joshua Ogunwole.<br /> <br /> The CAN president said the girls had stayed too long in the den of the kidnappers and appealed to Buhari to ensure that they were freed without further delay,<br /> <br /> He said, “Leah Sharibu is not the only one in captivity, there are still about 100 Chibok girls in Boko Haram captivity and this government has the moral burden of putting pressure on their kidnappers to make sure that they are released.”<br /> <br /> Ayokunle called on the electorate to vote against insecurity and bloodshed in the country during the 2019 general elections, saying Nigerians should not allow any politician to induce them with money in exchange for their votes.<br /> <br /> Ayokunle, who is also the President, Nigerian Baptist Convention, equally called on the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Buhari administration to conduct free, fair, transparent and violence-free elections in the country.<br /> <br /></div>

Latest-News Rescue Leah Sharibu from Boko Haram captivity - PDP, CSOs tell Buhari

The Peoples Democratic Party and other organisations, including the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum; the BringBackOurGirls Coalition; the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, have…

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Buhari can’t fix Nigeria in 20 years – Bafarawa

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="748" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqXY3u0S3Hc-oNINFseHyzCb8396FvejauiMyW_Oviu4dW6wRa9E1bZ7NgCkyxLTKGnVpBT5Wnk7azlU-PPEMIkLaYk1HVSvducyxiWo0q8REKn1AUNSfewXU2YmUUqGyE_cwbqRXrQCO/s400/Bafarawa-2.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> A former governor of Sokoto State and presidential aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, Attahiru Bafarawa, says if President Muhammadu Buhari is given 20 years to govern the country, he won’t fix the economy.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Bafarawa stated this while addressing PDP supporters in Owerri, the Imo State capital, in continuation of his campaign for his presidential ambition.<br /> <br /> Stating that Buhari had no business in politics, the ex-Sokoto State governor claimed that the President did not possess the leadership expertise to boost the country’s economy.<br /> <br /> He said Buhari’s election as the President in 2015 was a square peg in a round hole.<br /> <br /> He said, “The problem with Nigeria is that those in government today have no business being in politics. A military man can never be democratic. He can never change overnight.<br /> <br /> “Give Buhari 20 years as the President of this country, he can never fix Nigeria. He is busy going to China to borrow. If he continues as the President, our debt profile would be unimaginable.”<br /> <br /> Urging the PDP members to elect as presidential candidate an aspirant who would be able to win at the 2019 elections, Bafarawa said “The PDP must strengthen our chances by electing as its presidential candidate one who can win the general election.<br /> <br /> “We have to work together to vote Buhari out. Removing Buhari is easy and difficult. It’s easy if the PDP presidential aspirants can unite to adopt me. It is not a do-or-die affair.<br /> <br /> “I have the experience and background to serve this country as the President. When I was leaving the governorship seat, I left N13bn in the coffers for the incoming governor. Mind you, Sokoto is not an oil-producing state. I used my experience and background to do that.<br /> <br /> “But because of politics, I was arrested and humiliated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. I was freed by the court. Buhari’s government is very corrupt. If you are in the PDP, you are corrupt, but once you are in APC, you are not corrupt.”<br /> <br /> Challenging other PDP presidential aspirants to a debate, Bafarawa also said he believed in restructuring and would make it happen if elected as the President.

Latest-News Buhari can’t fix Nigeria in 20 years – Bafarawa

A former governor of Sokoto State and presidential aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, Attahiru Bafarawa, says if President Muhammadu Buhari is given 20 years to govern the country, he won’t fix the economy. Bafarawa stated this wh…

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British Airways apologises after 380,000 customers hit in cyber attack

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAiREekZm7HWF9Hc0_Ub9gMV4QVd5f5PYqK-2d3FAjH6gocKEg2OHirOAyY-JjFhsYrpXxw3v2BvdHTUMlZS7Zcg-DLooS5RHWgJTUEVLM4ifyfxtBel-rTPnBVCHcIFoUe7xsUK2lIgG/s1600/British+Airways.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1600" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAiREekZm7HWF9Hc0_Ub9gMV4QVd5f5PYqK-2d3FAjH6gocKEg2OHirOAyY-JjFhsYrpXxw3v2BvdHTUMlZS7Zcg-DLooS5RHWgJTUEVLM4ifyfxtBel-rTPnBVCHcIFoUe7xsUK2lIgG/s320/British+Airways.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> British Airways (BA) was forced to apologise on Friday after the credit card details of hundreds of thousands of its customers were stolen over a two-week period in the worst ever attack on its website and app.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> BA Chairman and Chief Executive Alex Cruz said in London the airline discovered on Sept. 5 that bookings made between Aug. 21 and Sept. 5 had been infiltrated in a “very sophisticated, malicious criminal” attack.<br /> <br /> Cruz said the airline immediately contacted customers when the extent of the breach became clear.<br /> <br /> He said around 380,000 card payments were compromised, with hackers obtaining names, street and email addresses, credit card numbers, expiry dates and security codes – sufficient information to steal from accounts.<br /> <br /> The attack came 15 months after the carrier suffered a massive computer system failure at London’s Heathrow airport, which stranded 75,000 customers over a holiday weekend.<br /> <br /> Shares in BA’s parent, International Airlines Group, fell 3 per cent in early deals on Friday due to the attack.<br /> <br /> Cruz said the carrier was “deeply sorry” for the disruption caused by the sophisticated crime, which was unprecedented in the more than 20 years that BA had operated online.<br /> <br /> He said the attackers had not broken the airline’s encryption but did not explain exactly how they had obtained the customer information.<br /> <br /> “There were other methods, very sophisticated efforts, by criminals in obtaining the data,” he said.<br /> <br /> “It was having access to our systems in an illicit way, it was very sophisticated.”<br /> <br /> Cruz said the British Airways informed customers affected by the attack on Thursday and advised them to contact their bank or credit card provider and follow their recommended advice.<br /> <br /> It also took out ads in national newspapers on Friday.<br /> <br /> Cruz said anyone who lost out financially would be compensated by the airline.<br /> <br /> The airline had launched an investigation and notified police and other relevant authorities.

Latest-News British Airways apologises after 380,000 customers hit in cyber attack

British Airways (BA) was forced to apologise on Friday after the credit card details of hundreds of thousands of its customers were stolen over a two-week period in the worst ever attack on its website and app. BA Chairman and Chief Executive Alex C…

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21 Borno bus passengers abducted by Boko Haram regain freedom

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZYmdkgcTO5zoR_CJbOSOICDuycxtc9E070GXqCVJFNTJnZanfllMvqo-CMwdGYzyW2ffVG1itlujiwZGMxVJySzm5qd3CURGfH7KaWDW8C30xk_OGrGXAzPR-ESgqQa_niokUz8Zk-lF/s1600/borno-891x470.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="891" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZYmdkgcTO5zoR_CJbOSOICDuycxtc9E070GXqCVJFNTJnZanfllMvqo-CMwdGYzyW2ffVG1itlujiwZGMxVJySzm5qd3CURGfH7KaWDW8C30xk_OGrGXAzPR-ESgqQa_niokUz8Zk-lF/s320/borno-891x470.png" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued 21 women, children and men, who were bus passengers abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents during an ambush in the Pulka area of Borno State.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> NE learnt that the troops of 192 Battalion, 26 Task Force Brigade of Operation Lafiya Dole engaged the terrorists on Thursday during a clearance operation and rescued the victims who were six women, 11 children and four men.<br /> <br /> The army said on Friday that its troops shot dead 14 Boko Haram terrorists during the rescue mission at Amdaga Madachi village in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, where the terrorists were suspected to have taken their victims.<br /> <br /> It was reported last week Thursday that some gunmen, suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents, abducted no fewer than 20 people from the bus heading to Gwoza from Maiduguri.<br /> <br /> Although the army did not immediately speak on the abduction, some family members and military sources confirmed the incident, noting that all the passengers were abducted by the insurgents.<br /> <br /> The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Texas Chukwu, who confirmed the rescue on Friday, said the victims were currently being treated at an undisclosed military hospital.<br /> <br /> He said, “Troops of 192 Battalion in conjunction with the Civilian Joint Task Force members neutralised 14 Boko Haram terrorists in a village where terrorists that ambushed a civilian vehicle in Pulka were suspected to hide.<br /> <br /> “The troops engaged and subdued the terrorists following a superior fire power. They rescued 21 civilians including; six women, 11 children and four men who are being attended at a military hospital.<br /> <br /> “The Acting General Officer Commanding, 7 Division, Brig. Gen. Abdulmalik Biu, urged the troops to maintain the momentum by taking out all the Boko Haram Terrorists within the Division’s Area of Responsibility.”

Latest-News 21 Borno bus passengers abducted by Boko Haram regain freedom

Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued 21 women, children and men, who were bus passengers abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents during an ambush in the Pulka area of Borno State. NE learnt that the troops of 192 Battalion, 26 Task Force Brigade o…

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Nigerians must vote out Buhari for national unity – Saraki

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="600" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYfjXh3cM8qW6eeoOKxfLDI0SIxPzN0R6nTpz7td_13rXkHka5dmVzwg-a9x-YOhzbeXgh4N44t5iTD2pzH1uypoXTy4mzV9Wk2Gb96k981Oupyw5iONUOdpxQ5jjWOA6Z7VSYBiYk29Z/s640/Saraki+a.jpg" width="640" /></div> <br /> The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Friday urged Nigerians to vote out President Muhammadu Buhari in order to ensure national unity and security.<br /> <br /> According to him, Nigeria needs a president who will unite all parts of the country, respect national character, grow local businesses and support entrepreneurial skills.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Speaking in Owerri, the Imo State capital, while meeting with the stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the October 6 presidential primaries of the PDP, Saraki said Nigeria had never been so divided in ethnicity, politics and religion.<br /> <br /> Describing himself as the right person to lead Nigeria in the next political dispensation, the former governor of Kwara State said that poverty, loss of job opportunities and hardship were currently on the increase in the country.<br /> <br /> Saraki said, “By the grace of God, I will emerge the PDP presidential candidate. My desire is not just an ambition. Nigeria has never been this divided. People are afraid to be called Nigerians. Ethnicity and religion have taken over. There is no inclusion anymore, no fairness, no federal character, no job and businesses are dying. Survival of businesses is survival of the country. Poverty is everywhere.”<br /> <br /> He said that if not for God and the masses, Buhari would have ensured his removal as the president of the senate three years ago.<br /> <br /> Saraki said, “I will continue to fight for the masses. We have to change the leadership. We need a leadership that would ensure justice and fair distribution of national appointments. As a president, I will ensure everybody has food on the table. I will restore global reputation. Countries are built by hard work and vision.”<br /> <br /> “The South-East people are hardworking and their entrepreneurial spirit is wonderful. As a president, I will partner South-East to emerge the next tiger of business in Africa. You don’t build what you don’t have. I therefore appeal to the delegates to vote wisely.<br /> <br /> “We must change Buhari with a man that has capacity, integrity and vision in order to realise our potential. I believe in restructuring that would give states opportunities to realise their potentials. I promoted made-in-Aba products. As a President, I will support local businesses. We need to have a president that will ensure prosperity; nobody wants a handout.”<br /> <br /> He, however, called on the people of the state to support Senator Samuel Anyanwu to emerge as the governor of the state, in order to ensure infrastructure development in the state.<br /> <br /> “I’m committed to the development of the South-East because it is in the best interest of Nigeria. You need the president that has the youthfulness, the energy to deliver.”<br /> <br /> A political associate of Saraki and member of the Senate, Senator Dino Melaye, urged the crowd to replace Buhari with Saraki, saying, “APC is dead in Imo State and in Nigeria.”<br /> <br /> The Chairman of the PDP in Imo State, Charles Ezekwem, said the Igbo were interested in a presidential candidate that would restructure the country and create an additional state in the South-East.<br /> <br /> Ezekwem said, “I have seen everything positive in Saraki. His defection gave the PDP the chances of clinching the position of the president in the next election.<br /> <br /> “Igbo want restructuring and fairness. Saraki has the capacity, strength, pedigree and academic background to move Nigeria forward.”

Latest-News Nigerians must vote out Buhari for national unity – Saraki

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Friday urged Nigerians to vote out President Muhammadu Buhari in order to ensure national unity and security. According to him, Nigeria needs a president who will unite all parts of the country, respect na…

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20-year-old UNILAG student dies during trainning at Nigerian Defence Academy

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8W9KGnatwslxy7WKbVKwCW2CUEk6T1qlxqeq7qN0jk_UuztnG8UQrF3M-x7d68iNKLhWk4LfMpczjiSQ-K9uVCmFy8TX4sHHPyvlNubvPbl3H19BDVV2PUbJfP1vjwW7w4YwVHFo_RaXX/s1600/dami.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8W9KGnatwslxy7WKbVKwCW2CUEk6T1qlxqeq7qN0jk_UuztnG8UQrF3M-x7d68iNKLhWk4LfMpczjiSQ-K9uVCmFy8TX4sHHPyvlNubvPbl3H19BDVV2PUbJfP1vjwW7w4YwVHFo_RaXX/s400/dami.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> The family members of Damilare Taiwo, an Economics student at the University of Lagos, Akoka, have been thrown into mourning following his death a day after he resumed for training at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna State.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The army authorities reportedly said the 20-year-old slumped and died during a training session last Tuesday.<br /> <br /> But the family told newsmen that the circumstances surrounding Damilare’s death aroused suspicion, claiming that he was beaten to death.<br /> <br /> A brilliant student with a CGPA said to be in the range of Second Class Upper Division, the native of Ile-Ife, Osun State had always wished to be an accomplished army officer.<br /> <br /> He had applied for the Regular Combatant Course of the NDA in 2015 at 17, but did not make the list of the successful candidates. Undeterred by hard luck, promising Damilare reapplied for the programme a few months ago.<br /> <br /> He was shortlisted on August 8, 2018, among the 10 selected candidates from Osun State for the 70 Regular Combatant Course, coincidentally at a time when he was rounding off his first degree project.<br /> <br /> On Saturday, August 25, his father saw him off to Ikorodu Garage – some distance from their residence – beaming with joy that the first child of the family was about to embark on a journey to attain enviable ranks in the profession he had been nursing for years.<br /> <br /> “He left Lagos for Kaduna that Saturday, a day after he concluded his project in school, and reported at the training camp on Monday, August 27,” the deceased’s father, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, told newsmen<br /> <br /> Narrating Damilare’s journey through life, Oyedele said his death came to the family as a rude shock.<br /> <br /> The father recalled, “He finished his secondary school education in 2014 and gained admission to UNILAG the same year to study Economics. He was just 20 years old. He just completed his project.<br /> <br /> “When he wanted to leave for Kaduna that Saturday, I advised him to be a good ambassador of the family and prayed for him. He was an easy-going child. He had always wanted to be a soldier.<br /> <br /> “In one of his pictures on Facebook, he edited the image of the late Gen. Murtala Muhammed in the N20 note and replaced it with his picture. That is to tell you the passion he had for the Force and how far he wanted to go.<br /> <br /> “He had been showing interest in the army since 2011 when he was 13. It is so unfortunate that he could not accomplish his mission.<br /> <br /> “The army sent some officers to us last Thursday to tell us about his death. They told us that he collapsed during a training session on Tuesday (August 28).”<br /> <br /> Oyedele, a building material dealer, described his son’s death as devastating to the family, lamenting that they had invested so much hope in him. For years, the businessman would battle to get over the heartache of the irreparable loss.<br /> <br /> A devout Christian, Damilare was fondly addressed as ‘Pastor Dammy,’ ‘one of the God’s Generals,’ ‘Woli agba,’ among other religious nomenclatures.<br /> <br /> “There is no way I can forget him. He was my first child. He was very devoted in churches, both at the community and in his school. It is only God that can comfort me. He was a role model to his two siblings.<br /> <br /> “He was a cool-headed person. If he was not reading, he was surfing the Internet, studying the Bible or helping his mother in her shop,” the father added in a hushed tone.<br /> <br /> While Oyedele managed to control his emotion, his wife, was inconsolable, crying uncontrollably. She had passed out on hearing the sad news and did not regain consciousness until she was taken to a hospital.<br /> <br /> The intensity of her wailing during an encounter with newsmen six days after the incident showed that the family had, indeed, lost an illustrious son.<br /> <br /> She said mournfully, “Won ti kan mi leyin okan (They have broken my canine). I learnt my son was beaten to death whereas the army told us he fell and died.<br /> <br /> “I don’t want my son to die in vain. The military said he would be buried in Kaduna, but I don’t want my son to be buried there. They should bring his corpse to Lagos.”<br /> <br /> Damilare’s younger brother, Moses, explained that his death was painful, noting that he died with many beautiful plans he had for the family.<br /> <br /> “There were a lot of promises. He personally promised to be giving me N10,000 out of his salary every month,” he said.<br /> <br /> Moses, who also claimed his brother died under questionable circumstances, urged the military authorities to conduct a postmortem on his corpse.<br /> <br /> He added, “The military officers that came told us that he slumped and died. But some of his colleagues called and told us that he was beaten to death during ‘welcome home’ tradition at the camp. They said he was complaining that he was tired, but they did not leave him. The witnesses were afraid to speak out so that they would not run into trouble. We are going to take it up; we want to know the cause of his death.”<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, friends of the deceased have paid glowing tributes to him on Facebook. One of his friends by the alias, Gallant Captain Whale, described Damilare as “his mentor.”<br /> <br /> Whale wrote, “We love you but God loves you more. I won’t forget moments we spent together, my mentor right from school days. Even at death, you are brave. I love you brother from another mother. Rest in peace.”<br /> <br /> To Okpewho Abednego Fikioghene, Damilare was “a leader” from whom he had learnt while they were in secondary school.<br /> <br /> He said, “RIP, Damilare. You were the Asst. Head Boy, 2014 set; I was the Asst. Head Boy 2015 set. It was a privilege to learn from a leader like you. Live on; your legacy still remains.”<br /> <br /> “It really touched me. Everyone said good (things) about you when you left. God loves you most brother. Rest in peace,” another friend, Its Ba Smith, wrote.<br /> <br /> The Course Adviser of the deceased at UNILAG, Dr. Ayodele Shittu, said he was Damilare’s confidant, adding that he was in his office to bid him farewell to Kaduna for the training.<br /> <br /> Shittu said, “He was very humble and respectful. Academically, he was very sound and he would be finishing with a very good 2:1 (Second Class Upper Division). He had completed his project.<br /> <br /> “The news of his death was very shocking. He came to my office while he was leaving. He hardly hid anything from me. I will miss him.”<br /> <br /> Efforts by NE to get the reaction of the NDA to the incident and the allegation raised by the family proved abortive.

Latest-News 20-year-old UNILAG student dies during trainning at Nigerian Defence Academy

The family members of Damilare Taiwo, an Economics student at the University of Lagos, Akoka, have been thrown into mourning following his death a day after he resumed for training at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna State. The army authoritie…

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NEMA warns of impending flooding in 12 states

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="412" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViTfskT_zqQoia2PL_eOElxH3H3ZjytNtStiVBA_Pmlz2uLxy4_UWXHzJLNGhiszVBStcxGrXUvQAFifWUQPxIcuv7gpAlojmyM_D0bgdc_FSwY2F8MgxsSldtxMREfhurWqGewwGm6F-/s400/MARWA-FLOOD.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday predicted intense flooding in 12 states of the federation.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The states are Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Anambra, Edo, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa. There is also the River Benue axis which includes Benue, Adamawa and Taraba.<br /> <br /> The Director General of NEMA, Mustapha Maihaja, disclosed this during the stakeholder’s forum on flooding in Abuja, saying that all the indices of flooding in 2012 are repeating themselves.<br /> <br /> According to him, “there is need for preparedness. We should be ready for any eventuality. We should invigorate our enlightenment campaign in an effort to enlighten the people to further inform the frontline states in a more aggressive manner.<br /> <br /> “Presently, the water level in Lokoja is 9.89 level with a discharge of 326. The same depth in 2012. It is clear that all he indices that took place on flooding in 2012 have resurfaced.<br /> <br /> “One of the ways to take care of this situation is that we have set up a committee of five group, three persons from each sector. They will go to the villages and cities that will be affected, use all avenues to enlighten the people and make sure they are well informed.”<br /> <br /> He said the resolution on the matter was that State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) should ensure that drainages are cleared.<br /> <br /> He said: “People build on water channels thereby blocking drainages where water should pass. All this has to be taken care of.<br /> <br /> “NEMA will champion the clearing of drainages and houses built on waterways in the states by providing 30% funding. Dangote will provide 30% while the federal government will give 40% to ensure clearance of drainages and clear waterways.<br /> <br /> “The Ministry of housing has to come in here to provide emergency housing scheme to these states. And in a safer parts of the states where flood cannot get to, what we are working on is long term, medium term and short term plans.

Latest-News NEMA warns of impending flooding in 12 states

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday predicted intense flooding in 12 states of the federation. The states are Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Anambra, Edo, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa. There is also the River Benue axis which includes…

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Oshiomhole to Shekarau - 'Progressives like you are needed in APC'

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50eBqM3hv0CpEI1_w4-WAwIkR8CaV2lNC0y1B47Bj24EbWdT6pg9PHrAzkYU5GNw_UBSWs3YPDt95NPIgixmXtOFO8vamEfKC6MWSujbqdnNikZbpZONhh-ZqtjIvwoa2g-DZcVt71C76/s1600/Oshiomhole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="644" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50eBqM3hv0CpEI1_w4-WAwIkR8CaV2lNC0y1B47Bj24EbWdT6pg9PHrAzkYU5GNw_UBSWs3YPDt95NPIgixmXtOFO8vamEfKC6MWSujbqdnNikZbpZONhh-ZqtjIvwoa2g-DZcVt71C76/s320/Oshiomhole.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> It is now all over between ex Kano State governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and the Peoples Democratic party (PDP).<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Shekarau yesterday hosted the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State in his Kano residence to wrap up talks on his switch to the APC.<br /> <br /> The former minister is said to be upset by his alleged ill-treatment by the PDP after what was perceived as too much concession to Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso following his recent defection from the APC.<br /> <br /> Oshiomohole described Shekarau as one of the progressives much needed in the party.<br /> <br /> He said: “For me, it is a rare opportunity to be in your home and reunite with you. I know from your lifestyle, your background, from what you did as the governor of Kano State, nobody can claim to be more progressive than you.<br /> <br /> “I am also fully aware that you are one of the founding fathers of the APC. You may not have expected the amount of efforts you invested in the formation of the All Progressive Congress which you did not enjoy.<br /> <br /> “I have always said that we should be going forward. This meeting has offered us the opportunity to reunite once again as progressives.<br /> <br /> “I have come to pay my respect to His Excellency (Shekarau). I have spoken to my brother, the executive governor of Kano State, on the need for all of us to work together for the development of Kano State and the development of our nation, Nigeria.<br /> <br /> “I want to believe that this is a happy reunion and we shall continue to play progressive politics for the good of the Nigerian people.”<br /> <br /> Governor Ganduje, who was part of the APC delegation, recalled his relationship with Shekarau and how Kwankwaso had treated him in the past.<br /> <br /> His words: “I and Malam Ibrahim Shekarau belong to the same constituency even though we were never in the same political party.<br /> <br /> “The reason why I said we are from the same constituency is that Malam Ibrahim Shekarau is a bureaucrat and I am a bureaucrat. When I was Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, some 20 years ago, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was Permanent Secretary.<br /> <br /> “When we came in 1999, myself as Deputy Governor, the former Governor of Kano State, Kwankwaso, was the governor and Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was permanent secretary in the Cabinet Office.<br /> <br /> “I could recall that because of a statement by sycophants of former Governor Kwankwaso, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was given a query. He came to my house at 7 am to tell me that he was given a query. I said go and make a photocopy of that query. He made a photocopy and brought it to me.<br /> <br /> “I met with Governor Kwankwaso and asked him what is happening? The Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office said he was given a query. What is the problem?<br /> <br /> “He (Kwankwaso) said he learnt Malam Shekarau was holding meetings with some Ulamas in order to contest election.<br /> <br /> “I said, ‘What is wrong in holding meetings with Ulamas? Even myself, through my Ganduje Foundation, I hold meetings with Ulamas. What is the problem? Please withdraw that query.’<br /> <br /> “But the Governor refused to withdraw the query, and he had the right to do that.<br /> <br /> “What later happened was that Malam Shekarau was posted out to the Ministry of Education. I called the Commissioner of Education at that time and said Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has been posted to your ministry. I asked him to discuss with Malam Shekarau what type of job he would want to do in the Ministry of Education.<br /> <br /> “Then the Honourable Commissioner asked Malam Shekarau what he would want to be, and Malam Shekarau said he wanted to be a classroom teacher, and Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was posted out as a classroom teacher.<br /> <br /> “As God would have it, in less than two months, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau became the Governor of Kano State. He defeated the incumbent governor. He defeated Kwankwaso and myself. He sent us out of Government House.<br /> <br /> “One important thing is that Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and myself have always been good associates. We have always been good friends. In fact, we are like minds; and for him to be in APC, I am the happiest person in this state today.<br /> <br /> “Before, a friend, a brother in different political party, now our dreams have come true; now we are together in the same political party.<br /> <br /> “We understand ourselves. We believe in the same ideology. We believe in commitment—the development of our people, the development of our state.<br /> <br /> “I think there is no better time to have a brother, to come together and serve the people of Kano State.<br /> <br /> “I tell you today that all other things would be sorted out between Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and myself; between Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and our government; between the followers of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and our government, everything will be sorted out peacefully.<br /> <br /> “So, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, we welcome you to this very important party, the APC. You are one of the founding fathers of APC. The hyena that drove you out of APC is the same hyena that drove you out of PDP. We are happy that you will soon make your pronouncement. Let us come together and fight that lion.”<br /> <br /> Malam Shekarau who said his position for membership of APC would be made known in a few hours, said: “I am happy today for you (Oshiomhole) and His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, to pay me this special visit. I feel highly honoured; I feel highly respected.<br /> <br /> “I am not totally surprised because the National Chairman has been a long-standing friend, a long-standing colleague and a long-standing comrade.<br /> <br /> “I am not surprised also when he emerged the chairman of the APC. I want to assure you that those of us here in Kano are aware of all that has been happening because history is repeating itself.<br /> <br /> “All along, I have been beating my chest with pride that anybody writing the history of APC and the name of Ibrahim Shekarau is not there, that history is incomplete. I had the singular honour of being the chief midwife of APC.<br /> <br /> “For me and Governor Ganduje, regardless of any political party we find ourselves, our mission is always one—sincerity of purpose to move Kano and Nigeria forward. Our consultations are in full gear, in the next couple of hours, we will make it known to the world our stand as far as membership of APC is concerned.”<br /> <br /> Other dignitaries in the APC delegation were Senator Kabiru Gaya (Kano South), Senator Barau Jubrin (Kano North), Speaker of Kano State House of Assembly, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum; Chief Whip of Kano State House of Assembly, Bappa Babba Dan Agundi; Senator Mohammed Bello; Senior Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters, Abdulraman Kawu Sumaila; Private Secretary to Ganduje, Ibrahim Kankorofi; members of Kano State executive council, among others.<br /> <br /> A grand rally has been scheduled for today in Kano to formally receive Shekarau.

Latest-News Oshiomhole to Shekarau - 'Progressives like you are needed in APC'

It is now all over between ex Kano State governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and the Peoples Democratic party (PDP). Shekarau yesterday hosted the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and Governor Abdullah…

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Ibori speaks on Uduaghan’s defection to APC

Latest-News Ibori speaks on Uduaghan’s defection to APC

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Oshiomhole breaks silence on Shekarau’s defection to APC

Latest-News Oshiomhole breaks silence on Shekarau’s defection to APC

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Your boss evil – Fani-Kayode carpets Lai Mohammed over Buhari

Latest-News Your boss evil – Fani-Kayode carpets Lai Mohammed over Buhari

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Presidential panel to recover $7bn bailout funds from commercial banks

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEEYC_VJM-kbY5oKmjkM_5XRGfsUzx-V74vA-v06FN8R5MV4PKOrJv2HtF-mKij7Zc-yaMjGy5ly2yw6wE9qGxx6FXehUrQ2CbLfguztMvK4ZfsZ_O7FlxsqKjYcG-c8YSQSZyVhCjDv6/s1600/cbn.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEEYC_VJM-kbY5oKmjkM_5XRGfsUzx-V74vA-v06FN8R5MV4PKOrJv2HtF-mKij7Zc-yaMjGy5ly2yw6wE9qGxx6FXehUrQ2CbLfguztMvK4ZfsZ_O7FlxsqKjYcG-c8YSQSZyVhCjDv6/s320/cbn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The Special Presidential Panel for the Recovery of Public Property is to recover the seven billion dollars bailout fund granted commercial banks between 2006 and 2008.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The panel Chairman, Mr Okoi Obono-Obla , said in Abuja on Friday that the banks had yet to refund the money over a decade after.<br /> <br /> Obono-Obla said that the bailout fund was not a gift to the commercial banks and so must be recovered and returned to government’s coffers.<br /> <br /> “We are currently doing a lot of investigations to recover monies that have been taken away from the people of Nigeria.<br /> <br /> “One of them is the almost seven billion dollars bailout fund that the Central Bank of Nigeria granted commercial banks in 2006, 2007 and 2008.<br /> <br /> “After 13 years or so, these commercial banks have not returned that money to the coffers of the Federal Government of Nigeria.<br /> <br /> “When we enquired from the CBN the status of that money, the banks told us that the money was ‘dashed’ (given free) to the commercial banks,’’ he said.<br /> <br /> The panel chairman said that the money belonged to the people of Nigeria and so could not be given away like that to commercial banks owned by private individuals.<br /> <br /> He pledged the panel’s determination to recover the money and return it to the Federal Government.<br /> <br /> Obono-Obla said the panel was also in the process of recovering a large piece of land belonging to a parastatal agency under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.<br /> <br /> “That land was encroached upon, parcelled out and sold by unpatriotic people.<br /> `I can assure you that we are going to recover it and prosecute all those who are responsible.<br /> <br /> “We are also investigating and in the process of recovering a lot of landed property belongìng to the Nigerian Ports Authority in Calabar, Warri, Koko, Sapele and Lagos ports.<br /> <br /> “We are equally doing recoveries for the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, and other federal government agencies, across the country,’’ the panel chairman said.<br /> <br /> He called on Nigerians to assist the panel with information that could lead to the recovery of stolen public property by unpatriotic individuals.</div>

Latest-News Presidential panel to recover $7bn bailout funds from commercial banks

The Special Presidential Panel for the Recovery of Public Property is to recover the seven billion dollars bailout fund granted commercial banks between 2006 and 2008. The panel Chairman, Mr Okoi Obono-Obla , said in Abuja on Friday that the banks h…

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