2019: APC affirms Buhari as Presidential Candidate

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCuQgGaXIWn2T9a3-cWmbtQCQ43cVZwwR11n2TG4qv2coNMsc1fMa76jNSU-surqWMbH9auYhuXde7_Sz3l7hOO3bpIoiN5fvOigMDuijp1giGJbdxmVRtjuwEBKE6UXes46nwXvdo92S/s1600/buhari+apc+laugh+smile+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="727" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCuQgGaXIWn2T9a3-cWmbtQCQ43cVZwwR11n2TG4qv2coNMsc1fMa76jNSU-surqWMbH9auYhuXde7_Sz3l7hOO3bpIoiN5fvOigMDuijp1giGJbdxmVRtjuwEBKE6UXes46nwXvdo92S/s640/buhari+apc+laugh+smile+2019.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <b><br /></b><b>The All Progressives Congress (APC) has endorsed the nomination of President Muhamadu Buhari as the Presidential candidate of the party for the 2019 general election.</b><br /> <br /> About 7000 delegates from across the 36 states and the FCT participated in the exercise which took place at the Eagle Square in Abuja.<br /> <br /> The exercise which was initially scheduled to begin at 2.00pm, was rescheduled to 6.00pm and later 8.00pm.<br /> However, it was a hectic time for delegates finding their way into the square as the security personnel initially locked the gates, creating a long line of desperate delegates wishing to find their way into the square.<br /> <br /> A lot of journalists were trapped outside the square for a long time as non accredited delegates and sponsored supporters from states struggle to find their way in.<br /> <br /> Outside the square, traders had a field day doing brisk business, while fake copies of the APC constitution was on sale to unsuspecting delegates in the name of amended constitution.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Senator representing Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani told newsmen that the support given to the President across the country is a vote of confidence on his ability to pull the nation out of the wood.<br /> <br /> He expressed confidence that despite the challenges facing the party, the President has the overwhelming support to win the 2019 general election.<br /> <br /> Senior Special Assistant to the President in Political matters, Hon. Gideon Zamani praised efforts of the President at rebuilding the country, pointing out that the overwhelming endorsement of the President by Nigerians was a vote of confidence on his leadership.<br /> <br /> Zamani told newsmen at the convention ground that President Buhari has, in the last three and half years been able to stabilised the Nigerian economy, creating an enabling environment for Nigerians to engage in meaningful business.<br /> <br /> He gave example of the Anchor borrower program which he said has transformed the agricultural sector, turning Nigerian farmers into multi millionaires.<br /> <br /> He said Nigerians will not regret giving the President a second opportunity to consolidate on the programmes which he has started adding that his reelection will give him the opportunity to consolidate the anti corruption crusade.<br /> <br /> Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, National leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate leader, Ahmed Lawan, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Lasun, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, former Chairman, Chief John Odigie Onegin, former Senatw President, Ken Nnamani, state governors, former governors Emmanuel Uduaghan and Ibrahim Shekarau among others attended the convention.

Latest-News 2019: APC affirms Buhari as Presidential Candidate

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has endorsed the nomination of President Muhamadu Buhari as the Presidential candidate of the party fo...

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Troops neutralize five Boko Haram members, recover four AK 47

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="576" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqrfBcD7_HokN0jUIwlGWs4MrCnHK4biNAEnQBfPANmYp8S_z8Um1WFT63g8Jy2GYwcYr5MavhiM5ulijH19LcJxEs9-6_99cJKgkgG-9nizx1kD_dDLj_yIeYXjFd23mbFwETaSWWMKR/s400/jtf+boko+haram+flag.jpg" width="400" /></div> <b><br /></b><b>Nigerian troops neutralize five Boko Haram members, recover four AK 47</b><br /> <br /> The Army has neutralized five terrorists and recovered four AK 47 rifles at Gara village in Borno North.<br /> <br /> A statement issued by Brig.-Gen Texas Chukwu, the army spokesman on Saturday in Abuja, said other items recovered from the insurgents were five magazines, 55 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and eight rounds of 5.56mm NATO ammunition.<br /> <br /> Also recovered from them, Chukwu said were eleven handsets assorted drugs, cooking utensils, some quantity of provisions and six horses.<br /> <br /> NAN<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a>

Latest-News Troops neutralize five Boko Haram members, recover four AK 47

Nigerian troops neutralize five Boko Haram members, recover four AK 47 The Army has neutralized five terrorists and recovered four AK 47 ...

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Ambode, Sanwo-Olu seat side by side in APC convention

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRPTjcTEgEMO50iyFmgof4cgqOqr87xbUOZh8s6Z-ERn1Sa-5nllnj52FNaSl29XLMHhMWqCKRi_aDNH2mnx6TXCEgmDGUPt_qyNqNnbnwQw4ARHTOWVeAH-aACb_6X0eQR3ejRFztE_q/s1600/ambode+fashola+sanwo-olu.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="504" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRPTjcTEgEMO50iyFmgof4cgqOqr87xbUOZh8s6Z-ERn1Sa-5nllnj52FNaSl29XLMHhMWqCKRi_aDNH2mnx6TXCEgmDGUPt_qyNqNnbnwQw4ARHTOWVeAH-aACb_6X0eQR3ejRFztE_q/s640/ambode+fashola+sanwo-olu.png" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrypJOjkJH7n3AGxUpzSAnk5ASkDD51cZeGRN06uVszN3TR5UNQDlM0A-6Vt__GpcHF5ryrdlqedCZ3HieSqJE6YfN2GgigpWJkjQki2FPW9LNlWmdZNq3opwcDxVYJE9p2lNjBHOMQm7R/s1600/sanwo+olu+ambode.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="600" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrypJOjkJH7n3AGxUpzSAnk5ASkDD51cZeGRN06uVszN3TR5UNQDlM0A-6Vt__GpcHF5ryrdlqedCZ3HieSqJE6YfN2GgigpWJkjQki2FPW9LNlWmdZNq3opwcDxVYJE9p2lNjBHOMQm7R/s640/sanwo+olu+ambode.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> With just less than a week after both the Lagos state governor, Akinwumi Ambode, and the APC governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, jostled for the party's ticket, the duo were on Saturday, October 6, seated together at the party national convention, Abuja.<br /> <br /> <b><i>NigerianEye</i></b> recalls the evident bad-blood between the two leading into the Lagos primaries with Governor Ambode declaring Sanwo-Olu unfit to rule Lagos.<br /> <br /> It can be recalled that Ambode claimed that the latter has being arrested for spending fake dollars in the United States and also underwent rehabilitation at Gbagada General Hospital.<br /> <br /> However in Saturday's APC convention, Governor Akinwumi Ambode, and the APC governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu walked into the Abuja venue side by side, and also sat together, alongside former Lagos state governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br />

Latest-News Ambode, Sanwo-Olu seat side by side in APC convention

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PDP NATIONAL CONVENTION - 12 Aspirants battle for presidential ticket

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILPiGvAJmcnkA9zt_XbqKHaWcTFFJd1zi6aqPQzJr8s1dzMO_23YuffZPKfLmbQ88pJUq-llIw6OdkSthyphenhyphenF3VXm5h4eUs4mWgvsNI5sv5gjA20rJhatlqiM0c41Q-27toGqI5nsswZu8u/s1600/PDP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="336" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILPiGvAJmcnkA9zt_XbqKHaWcTFFJd1zi6aqPQzJr8s1dzMO_23YuffZPKfLmbQ88pJUq-llIw6OdkSthyphenhyphenF3VXm5h4eUs4mWgvsNI5sv5gjA20rJhatlqiM0c41Q-27toGqI5nsswZu8u/s320/PDP.jpg" width="317" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> Peoples Democratic Party delegates to the party’s national convention have practically taken over Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.<br /> <br /> The delegates, all of whom were dressed in various uniforms designed from the party’s colours, were seen in all corners of the city.<br /> <br /> The presence of the delegates has led to heavy traffic in major streets in Port Harcourt metropolis, and resident, motorists are forced to make way for siren-blaring convoys of party chieftains.<br /> <br /> But not all residents of Port Harcourt are complaining over the ‘invasion’, hotels and other operators in the hospitality industry have recorded a huge upturn in their businesses – all available hotel rooms have been taken up and NE observed on Saturday morning that roadside eateries, popularly known as ‘bukas’, were making brisk sales as the delegates prowl through the city in search of food.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a>

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Mourinho’s job not under immediate threat – United sources

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6J4v1AvcTbS-JMDt0s8a1PCLw4TcDTj82YP6qKKEYoYTRTghqMNa-72uZee3Rj1Si_efUUhvFe7dZU_PJe-_X3zXfzWJAy_L9EJEO74lAo-qYOQU3RCHmq28GBOQzqOpbXNrkjg2Ny2tg/s1600/mourinho+sad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="460" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6J4v1AvcTbS-JMDt0s8a1PCLw4TcDTj82YP6qKKEYoYTRTghqMNa-72uZee3Rj1Si_efUUhvFe7dZU_PJe-_X3zXfzWJAy_L9EJEO74lAo-qYOQU3RCHmq28GBOQzqOpbXNrkjg2Ny2tg/s400/mourinho+sad.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Jose Mourinho’s position as Manchester United manager is not under immediate threat, senior figures at the club have said, denying a report he was set to be sacked next week.<br /> <br /> United are struggling in 10th place and last week’s 3-1 loss to West Ham made it the club’s worst start to a league campaign in 29 years.<br /> <br /> The Daily Mirror reported late Friday that Mourinho would be dismissed regardless of the result of United’s match at home to Newcastle on Saturday.<br /> <br /> But senior figures at United told Press Association Sport that Mourinho would retain his job for the immediate future.<br /> <br /> The agency reported that United look set to give Mourinho the upcoming international break to turn things around at Old Trafford.<br /> <br /> Tuesday’s goalless Champions League draw against Valencia in the Champions League also meant the former Chelsea boss had gone four home matches without a win for the first time in his managerial career.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> In his pre-match press conference on Friday, Mourinho accepted that the performance was not good enough.<br /> <br /> “We are better than this and because we are better than this, our situation is going to improve. I have no doubts about that,” he said.<br /> <br /> Eyebrows were raised when the press conference, called for the unusually early time of 8:00 am (0700 GMT), lasted a mere eight minutes and 29 seconds.<br /> <br /> Mourinho claimed United had overachieved in finishing second last season, 19 points behind champions Manchester City, and said he always expected this campaign to be more difficult.<br /> <br /> “I think opponents with much more potential than us finished behind us,” he said.<br /> <br /> “That is the reason why it was a phenomenal season.”<br /> <br /> United became a byword for managerial stability during Alex Ferguson’s trophy-laden 26-and-a-half years in charge.<br /> <br /> But were Mourinho to be dismissed, it would mean United had got through three full-time managers, plus club great Ryan Giggs’s spell as caretaker, in the five years since the legendary Scottish boss retired in 2013 — a period that has coincided with the club failing to win either the Premier League or Europe’s Champions League.<br /> <br /> – ‘Absolute disgrace’ –<br /> Former United and England full-back Gary Neville, one of Ferguson’s most dependable players, said such an attrition rate went against the “principles and values” of the club.<br /> <br /> Asked if United would be right to sack Mourinho, Sky Sports pundit Neville replied: “No. To be honest I’m furious.<br /> <br /> “I’m furious going back three, four years ago when David Moyes was sacked, when it broke a day before to journalists.<br /> <br /> “I think of Louis van Gaal being sacked the evening of a cup final and finding out from other people.”<br /> <br /> In what appeared to be an attack on Ed Woodward, United’s executive vice-chairman, Neville added: “At the end of the day this is now going on five or six years and I have to say that any manager — Jose Mourinho is one of the best managers in the world — and I think in this moment in time any manager would struggle in that football club, the way in which recruitment is handled, the way in which it operates.<br /> <br /> “Enough is enough for me… I have to say something has to change and it isn’t the manager, it’s above that.”<br /> <br /> (AFP)

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Lagos APC primaries: Ashafa loses third term bid, Tinubu, Adeola win

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEYXpuiA3YkZ-blkt8t5iG5uzAZc4FqDAthsjT2HoyapDahzwQjHyGHy4S3zi2yO84UngQ6AVgTw1LXQQ1FpcCZ1v9Cl8d_Nb_Tz4GMAKCxnCdSo0qYbonJfnRJZxTE9cUoJ-4R3Y0v-6/s1600/APC-LOGO-17.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEYXpuiA3YkZ-blkt8t5iG5uzAZc4FqDAthsjT2HoyapDahzwQjHyGHy4S3zi2yO84UngQ6AVgTw1LXQQ1FpcCZ1v9Cl8d_Nb_Tz4GMAKCxnCdSo0qYbonJfnRJZxTE9cUoJ-4R3Y0v-6/s320/APC-LOGO-17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Senator Gbenga Ashafa has lost his bid to return to the Senate, for a third term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.<br /> <br /> The 63-year-old senator lost the ticket for Lagos East senatorial district to a four-term House of Assembly member, Bayo Osinowo, according to the results announced on Saturday.<br /> <br /> The All Progressives Congress Electoral Committee of the National Assembly and State House of Assembly primary elections declared the results.<br /> <br /> The News Agency of Nigeria reports the primary election, including a repeat of the senatorial primary elections, were held on Friday.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The senatorial primaries initially held on Thursday but were cancelled and rescheduled owing to logistic issues.<br /> <br /> Announcing the results in Ikeja, Chairman of the committee, Mr Lucky Imasuen, said the primary elections were conducted for the three senatorial seats, 24 House of Representatives and 40 State House of Assembly seats.<br /> <br /> In the results of the senatorial primaries, Imasuen said Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who was unopposed, polled 89,494 votes to emerge the candidate for Lagos Central.<br /> <br /> For Lagos West, the committee chairman said the incumbent, Senator Olamilekan Solomon emerged winner with 378,906 votes, as against the 1,179 votes scored by Mr Kayode Opeifa and Mrs. Areago Olopade’s 1,275 votes .<br /> <br /> Imasuen, a former Deputy Governor of Edo State, added that a member of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Bayo Osinowo defeated the incumbent Senator Gbenga Ashafa with 247,743 votes to emerge candidate for the Lagos East Senatorial district.<br /> <br /> He disclosed that Ashafa, the incumbent, polled 20,385 in the primary election.<br /> <br /> Imasuen said the details of the House of Representatives and state House of Assembly primaries results were ready and that they would be released later.</div>

Latest-News Lagos APC primaries: Ashafa loses third term bid, Tinubu, Adeola win

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‘N50,000 minimum wage will cripple Nigeria economy’

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Real Madrid manager speaks on getting sacked over winless run

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGPOC6iHoWMoLtSCicdXKeVBdrTMyCYYN-9op3QJ8ub9h5fyb-K2NjbhjqcfnJb7NSWB1s7EJAD0fsk4th-pwgNMtJF-dgXt5QqMLnJzI5n2EoOD5kVWkdKuR4vT-Mh4ZdHLskdUHfIuf/s1600/Julen+Lopetegui.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGPOC6iHoWMoLtSCicdXKeVBdrTMyCYYN-9op3QJ8ub9h5fyb-K2NjbhjqcfnJb7NSWB1s7EJAD0fsk4th-pwgNMtJF-dgXt5QqMLnJzI5n2EoOD5kVWkdKuR4vT-Mh4ZdHLskdUHfIuf/s320/Julen+Lopetegui.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Real Madrid manager, Julen Lopetegui, has said he is not scared of being sacked, despite going three games without a goal.<br /> <br /> The European champions are notoriously known to have one of the most demanding fan bases and board in world football.<br /> <br /> The midweek 1-0 defeat at CSKA Moscow in the Champions League, has now increased pressure on Lopetegui and his team.<br /> <br /> Dropped points from Barcelona have given Real chances to pull away at the top of La Liga, but they have failed to take advantage.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> This weekend, Real travel to Alaves, who have made an impressive start to the season themselves.<br /> <br /> “We don’t analyse what people might think.<br /> <br /> “We are working every day on trying to improve. The club’s objectives are still intact and nothing more.<br /> <br /> “You have to respect all opinions but it’s logical that at a club like Real Madrid you are always under heavy examination. But we will be judged by what we achieve by the end of the season,” Lopetegui said in his pre-match press conference, when he was asked if he believed his job was under threat.<br /> <br /></div>

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‘Zamfara on the verge of bloodshed’ — group raises the alarm over Yari’s action on APC primary

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Pastor Chris Okotie reveals what will happen between now, 2019

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Man United to sack Mourinho, pay £20m compensation

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB06PdX2mBVF5seWXOloIipoli5fZoGk2EKGl4JMxGqv5962ZuuoR6Y7SUiLgv2WlpWip4KjQHKTaeHf_IgLWiBX7bt-lVzdy_jbXM1vVRomZhlMrSvphMNoAkIPErE3Sm2DVZeO-Us33O/s1600/jm3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB06PdX2mBVF5seWXOloIipoli5fZoGk2EKGl4JMxGqv5962ZuuoR6Y7SUiLgv2WlpWip4KjQHKTaeHf_IgLWiBX7bt-lVzdy_jbXM1vVRomZhlMrSvphMNoAkIPErE3Sm2DVZeO-Us33O/s320/jm3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Jose Mourinho has lost the confidence of the Manchester United board and is set to be sacked this weekend no matter the result of the match against Newcastle United today.<br /> <br /> Former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is the favourite to succeed Mourinho, who is set to receive compensation of around £20million. Michael Carrick could be put in temporary charge.<br /> <br /> However, Mourinho insisted he is the man to turn Manchester United’s ailing season around, disputing the impending sack report by Daily Mirror.<br /> <br /> United are struggling in 10th place in the Premier League, without a home win in any competition since the opening weekend of the season.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Mourinho, second right, walks away at Old Trafford shell shocked by second tier Derby County on 25 September<br /> According to the Mirror, Mourinho has lost the confidence of the board with “senior United sources” telling the paper that the Portuguese coach’s nearly two-and-a-half-years in charge will end whatever the outcome of the league game against the Magpies.<br /> <br /> Tuesday’s goalless draw against Valencia in the Champions League — a match where United struggled to live up to their fans’ expectation of attacking football — also meant former Chelsea boss Mourinho had gone four home matches without a win for the first time in his managerial career.<br /> <br /> Mourinho has a problem with the club’s most expensive player Paul Pogba too<br /> He has repeatedly and publicly berated United’s players this season, suggesting in Tuesday’s programme notes they had lost their “dignity” in a 3-1 league loss at West Ham last Saturday.<br /> <br /> Mourinho has in turn come for stinging criticism from ex-players, with former United midfielder Paul Scholes accusing him of “embarrassing” the club.<br /> <br /> The manager has responded by claiming United overachieved last season in finishing second, 19 points behind champions Manchester City, adding he always expected this campaign to be more difficult.<br /> <br /> Asked at his pre-match press conference on Friday if he felt he had taken United as far as he could last season, Mourinho said: “No. This team can do much better than what it is doing. The team will do much better than what it is doing.<br /> <br /> “If you want me to repeat (what I said earlier this week), I repeat. I said last season was a fantastic season for us.<br /> <br /> “And if you want something more, in pre-season I also said that this season was going to be very difficult.”<br /> <br /> The 55-year-old Mourinho defended himself in the press conference, called for the earlier-than-usual time of 8:00 am which lasted for eight minutes and 29 seconds, and consisted of just 649 words<br /> <br /> He gave short answers to most of the questions put to him, including when asked why it was so difficult to get players working together with team spirit. “Because sometimes things are not just in the manager’s hands,” he replied.<br /> <br /> Mourinho rejected suggestions his squad were struggling for confidence.<br /> <br /> “No, I think we have enough potential to do better than what we are doing in the Premier League,” he said.<br /> <br /> “We are better than this and because we are better than this, our situation is going to improve. I have no doubts about that.”<br /> <br /> Asked who was to blame for United’s predicament, Mourinho responded: “The same people that were to blame for the fantastic season of last season.”<br /> <br /> The manager added United enjoyed a successful campaign by finishing second in May, ahead of “opponents with more potential than us”.<br /> <br /> “Success has a direct relation with your own potential and a direct relation with the potential of your opponents,” he explained.<br /> <br /> “The last season was phenomenal exactly because of these two factors — our potential and the potential of our opponents.<br /> <br /> “I think opponents with much more potential than us finished behind us. That is the reason why it was a phenomenal season.<br /> <br /> “With all the respect — and I hope they don’t interpret me in a negative way — if we are playing in a league like the Swiss league and we don’t win that league, that would be an awful season.<br /> <br /> “Last season, to finish second was fantastic for us.”</div>

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My victory marks end of godfatherism in Benue — Ortom

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5G1fMH_HnXYD9lOwBRMbUs4Oj1b2sd1u0WfO3qJww7RqV8XUJwiEOYW9yZxFyAWje1LA2yGq9mPDlAjG7q00tx72DKtZCTXsHYz3zSlutB4lq_sfZdp-NmLi1__I05pRuFYn2dR2E2FgJ/s1600/Samuel+Ortom.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5G1fMH_HnXYD9lOwBRMbUs4Oj1b2sd1u0WfO3qJww7RqV8XUJwiEOYW9yZxFyAWje1LA2yGq9mPDlAjG7q00tx72DKtZCTXsHYz3zSlutB4lq_sfZdp-NmLi1__I05pRuFYn2dR2E2FgJ/s320/Samuel+Ortom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Shortly after his victory at the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary election, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue spoke on his emergence as the party’s flag-bearer, the prospects of his victory in the forthcoming 2019 general elections and godfatherism in Benue politics.<br /> <br /> Excerpts:<br /> <br /> How does it feel to emerge the candidate of your party the PDP despite initial fears that you might not get the ticket?<br /> <br /> Like our slogan goes, ‘In God We Trust’ and I have always said, as stated in the Bible in John 3:17, a man receives nothing except it is given to him from above. So for me, I am with the Benue people and Benue people are with me. My policies are very popular amongst the people. And of course I have chosen to work with the people. What I want is what the people want and that is why I’m confident. In all my policies and programmes the people are with me and I have nothing to hide.<br /> <br /> I have ensured that I am transparent in all I do, I am leading with the fear of God. Issues of fairness, equity, justice, accountability, transparency and trying to bring the people together are paramount to my administration. You always see me in Benue unity cap because with it I pass a message to the people that we are greater when in unity. I am encouraged by the way Benue people have always responded to me anytime I call them irrespective of party affiliation. I deeply appreciate Benue people for their show of love to me.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Some aspirants stepped down for you before the commencement of the primary election, how did the party leadership achieve that?<br /> <br /> As they said when announcing their decision to step down, our leaders jointly spoke to us and they decided that it was appropriate for me to continue as a serving governor. No doubt they are also qualified to vie for the position. But in their magnanimity, they decided that since the constitution allows me two terms, they agreed that I should be supported to complete my two terms. I appreciate them.<br /> <br /> For me, my victory is for all of us, we shall all work together because it is their desire to add value to the development of Benue state, so their ideas will also be extended to me. I will drive it while they support, this will assure that a greater Benue state is achieved. I also commend the delegates for re-electing me as the party’s candidate, I will ensure unity among party members for the progress of PDP.<br /> <br /> I also urge our party men and women who lost in the various primaries to support the party’s candidates that won so as to ensure our victory in the 2019 general elections. Politics is about victories and defeats which is the beauty of democracy and it allows us ample time to build and consolidate on our previous achievements in order to prepare for tomorrow. So in actual sense, in this contest, no one is a winner or loser but we are all bounded by the victory and defeat of our fellow party men and women which propels us to greater heights and successes in future.<br /> <br /> So having this at the back of my mind, I will ensure that I carry all the aspirants along for the growth and development of the state for the future generations to benefit and feel the impact of our administration.<br /> <br /> I also commend our stakeholders, elders and members of the party both at the state and national levels for their overwhelming support and I want to state that we must all join hands to place the state on a pedestal of sustainable growth and development.<br /> <br /> I must state that Benue state has had enough of security challenges, economic challenges and anti social vices, I have invited my fellow contestants to be part of what I am doing now, during the electioneering campaigns and after the elections to transform the state to the dreams of our founding fathers. I will continually carry all stakeholders along in tackling the insecurity challenges in the state in order to ensure safety of the lives and property of our people.<br /> <br /> I must state that no doubt my sojourn in the APC was a terrible experience. In that environment it was difficult for me to exhibit my leadership qualities. Today, I am back to where I truly belong. I am now free from the encumbrances of political god fatherism that almost ran our state aground.<br /> <br /> No doubt my victory here today marks the end of god fatherism in Benue state. Like I said sometime past, I am not prepared to be a political god father to anyone since I lack the powers to ascribe such a position to myself because no one gets anything except it is given to him by God. So why should a man created by God resort to playing god. With God on my side, like I have always quoted the Bible, greater is the end of a thing than the beginning. That is my driving force. We have had our challenges from a biting recession to herdsmen killing which threw spanners in the works of our development efforts but I know one thing and I can assure Benue people that at the end of my tenure in 2023 Benue will be greater and our people will have every cause to celebrate my administration.<br /> <br /> As 2019 beckons, what do you think are your chances, what are the prospects of the PDP in Benue state?<br /> <br /> For me, it is not about what I will get for myself, it is what the Benue people will get. Their desire is top most in my heart, their desire supersedes whatever personal interest that I have. And so at all times I am at home with the Benue people.<br /> <br /> I have spoken to the Christians and Moslems in the state, I have also spoken to the traditional rulers and the civil servants of our state. They appreciate the fact that all the security and economic challenges were not created by our administration. And they know that it is not the fault of my administration and I appreciate them for reading between the lines. They are all cooperating and working with me. I have spoken to all stakeholders and they too are in tune with me and they need me to continue to be able to stabilize the state and address the various challenges that we have in order to place the state on a pedestal of sustainable development.<br /> <br /> Benue people know where our problems are coming from and they are willing to resist anyone that the architects of our problems would want to use to further aggravate the condition of our people.<br /> <br /> I am in the PDP today because it is a party that has rebranded after apologizing to Nigerians, that is humility, that is a complete departure from what is obtainable in our country. It was a party that held this country together despite its perceived flaws, which is not peculiar to the party and gave us a buoyant economy where the prices of goods and services were affordable and at the reach of the common man.<br /> <br /> But all that achievements were eroded by what we have today as a government. So Nigerians would want a re-enactment of those glorious days and that is why I have no doubt that come 2019 PDP will emerge victorious because we have tasted both sides and we have seen that the difference is clear.</div>

Latest-News My victory marks end of godfatherism in Benue — Ortom

Shortly after his victory at the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary election, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue spoke on his emerg...

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"Saraki in line to clinch PDP ticket, not stepping down"

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBht5vENPoxJdtiyEQrlXpnhf5ttIn05nXmn0PVZSW44-0paSoOVe3_s0DjnLoQT4W9R1pQro0wif94bAauozRtv2l4i5sQ014HBDqaiLLsZb8_aGR3izAS4O3MtEHzN054OuYE7GEFme/s1600/bs3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBht5vENPoxJdtiyEQrlXpnhf5ttIn05nXmn0PVZSW44-0paSoOVe3_s0DjnLoQT4W9R1pQro0wif94bAauozRtv2l4i5sQ014HBDqaiLLsZb8_aGR3izAS4O3MtEHzN054OuYE7GEFme/s400/bs3.jpg" /></a></div> The President of the Senate Dr. Bukola Saraki has said that he is not stepping down for anyone ahead of the Presidential Primary of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).<br /> <br /> A statement by his Campaign Office issued in Abuja, countered the rumours of his intention to step down, saying that the lawmaker was not considering stepping down but was focused on clinching the ticket of the party.<br /> The statement signed by campaign spokesperson Ilemona Onoja, said that the rumour was an attempt to cause confusion amongst his supporters and delegates.<br /> <br /> “This rumour is unfounded and totally lacking in truth and substance. Dr. Saraki has absolutely no intentions of stepping down his ambitions in favour of any aspirant,”<br /> <br /> “In fact, Dr. Saraki is the foremost aspirant of the party for the presidential primaries and considers himself well placed not only to emerge as the candidate of the party, but also to convincingly beat President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the February 2019 Presidential election.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “It is in furtherance of this confidence that Dr. Saraki has continually met with delegates, stakeholders and faithful members of the party to promote his #GrowNigeria message as well as his proposed policies and plans.<br /> <br /> “We urge the public to disregard this rumour as exactly what is it — a rumour by people being spread by people who should know better,” the statement said.<br /> <br /> Ahead of the PDP convention on Saturday, reports have circulated online about some of the 12 presidential aspirants stepping down for one another, but those whose name have been mentioned in the media have largely debunked such reports.<br /> <br /> Moments after Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo was reported to have excused himself out of the race and endorsed his Sokoto State counterpart, Aminu Tambuwal, the Gombe governor pushed back hard, saying there was no truth whatsoever in the story.<br /> <br /> The 12 aspirants jostling for the PDP ticket are: Atiku Abubakar, Ahmed Makarfi, Aminu Tambuwal, Datti Baba-Ahmed, Attahiru Bafarawa, Sule Lamido, Bukola Saraki, David Mark, Jonah Jang, KabiruTuraki and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.</div>

Latest-News "Saraki in line to clinch PDP ticket, not stepping down"

The President of the Senate Dr. Bukola Saraki has said that he is not stepping down for anyone ahead of the Presidential Primary of the Pe...

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We will not allow you to turn Nigeria into a Banana Republic, Saraki tells IGP

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_t0qrlnY2CjmqDTODjOpw07BRa-XnZe6AKyjBWhA6okzyt63j3BlRkBMzVgRrndoywXCVxRvEvOYD19p6ZCX-Z7LdfSAjJc80N4KJ7Drx9XjvAvYD79sSkcaWCy0ovS1OmMtwgdnyslA/s1600/bs3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_t0qrlnY2CjmqDTODjOpw07BRa-XnZe6AKyjBWhA6okzyt63j3BlRkBMzVgRrndoywXCVxRvEvOYD19p6ZCX-Z7LdfSAjJc80N4KJ7Drx9XjvAvYD79sSkcaWCy0ovS1OmMtwgdnyslA/s400/bs3.jpg" /></a></div> The Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki has said that they will not allow the Police under the present leadership to turn Nigeria into a Banana Republic and that the hostile, brutal, needlesss, tactless and uncivil response of the Police under Mr. Ibrahim Kpotum Idris to the peaceful, lawful and justified procession was in contrast to how the same police responded to a similar protest by the opposition in 2014.<br /> <br /> Saraki responding to the Police claim on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s protest in Abuja yesterday said the Nigerian Police under Idris Ibrahim was setting the stage for another onslaught on members of the Nigerian Senate and that is why they singled out the Senate President and two other Senators as the people being invited and accused of false charges.<br /> <br /> He also said that ‘It is clear that the Idris-led Police intent was on turning Nigeria into a police state and destroying members of the opposition at all cost and that is why they specialize in framing up leaders of the opposition and other outspoken legislators on false charges.<br /> <br /> The statement signed by Yusuph Olaniyonu, Special Adviser to Senate President on Media and Publicity, further said ‘the invited Senators and their party will exercise their right at all times and in all cases. We know that Nigeria has not turned to Banana Republic and we will not allow the Police under the present leadership to turn it to one, no matter the expertise for evil being displayed by its top personnel.’<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Read full statement below<br /> <br /> Our attention has been drawn to the blatant lies contained in a press release issued by the Nigeria Police this afternoon over the protest match staged by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja against the infamous roles that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Police have been playing in recent elections across the country, particularly in the Ekiti and Osun gubernatorial elections.<br /> <br /> The Police in their statement made various forms of spurious, unfounded and false claims about the protest in which they singled out three senators, Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Senators Dino Melaye and Ben Murray-Bruce, of the many leaders of the PDP, including three Governors, a former Governor, presidential aspirants and members of the national working committees, and accused them of involvement “in the disturbance of public safety, unlawful blockade of Shehu Shagari Way…., causing innocent people to scamper for safety and violent attack on Policemen posted to ensure security of Force Headquarters, pushing and hitting the policemen to forcefully enter the Force Headquaters, pushing and hitting the policemen to forcefully enter the Force Headquarters to cause damage to Police Equipment and properties”.<br /> <br /> After carefully reading the Police statement, one cannot but describe the claims made in it as laughable, crude and and another low point in the posture of the police against the opposition in the country.<br /> <br /> In exercise of their constitutional rights of assembly, expression and movement, leaders of the PDP decided to stage a peaceful procession from the party’s campaign office on Ibrahim Babangida Way to INEC and Police Headquarters. The procession consisted of the Senate President, the party national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, presidential aspirants, members of the National Assembly, Governors of Ekiti and Sokoto States. Later, the Governors of Taraba and Gombe States joined the procession,<br /> <br /> The purpose was to express the opposition of the PDP to the manner in which the electoral body and the security agencies had been colluding with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to manipulate election results and subvert the will of the people, as evidenced by the conduct of the gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun State. We wanted to send a clear signal that such official subversion of the will of the people in favour of the APC should not be repeated in the 2019 elections.<br /> <br /> At the INEC secretariat, the procession spent over 40 minutes where the various leaders addressed the crowd in the presence of two national commissioners of INEC, including the one in charge of legal matters, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu. The two INEC commissioners equally responded to the complaints raised by the PDP leaders. It was a civilised, frank and enlightened exchange, devoid of any rancour.<br /> <br /> The procession then headed towards the Police Headquarters while being hailed on the streets by ordinary Nigerians who came out to cheer the leaders standing in an open van. From the Eagles Square end, the procession was on the other side of the road going to Police Headquarters. The procession did not even get to the point where it will turn to the side where the Police Force Headquarters is located when the police rained tear gas on the people. They deliberately targeted the open vans in which the Senate President and other VIPs were standing.<br /> <br /> The procession quickly diverted to the Area 11 Junction leading to FCDA. The diversion was done to avoid a repeat of the 2003 event in which a similar tear gassing event led to the death of a former Senate President, Senator Chuba Okadigbo.<br /> <br /> Let it be known that the hostile, brutal, needlesss, tactless and uncivil response of the Police under the present leadership of Mr. Ibrahim Kpotum Idris to the peaceful, lawful and justified procession was in contrast to how the same police responded to a similar protest by the opposition in 2014.<br /> <br /> In 2014, the protesters then led by the Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), the candidate of the opposition party, were not attacked. They were tolerated and their grievances listened to by the police leadership. In 2014, it was the same Nigeria Police as we have today. The difference is the temperament and democratic credentials of the then administration, in general, and that of the Police leadership, in particular.<br /> <br /> The fabrications by the Police as contained in their press statement only show the new police leadership as mere jesters trying to hone their skills in comic script-writing. Every move of the PDP procession today was recorded by the media – Television, print, radio and online -, citizens, members of the civil society and the international community. These independent observers know that nothing is far from the truth than the claims made by the Police in their statement.<br /> <br /> It should be noted that the Police under Idris are simply setting the stage for another onslaught on members of the Nigerian Senate and that is why they singled out the Senate President and two other Senators as the people being invited and accused of all these false charges.<br /> <br /> It is clear that the Idris-led Police are intent on turning Nigeria into a police state and destroying members of the opposition at all cost and that that is why they specialize in framing up leaders of the opposition and other outspoken legislators on false charges.<br /> <br /> This fresh attempt will fail. The invited Senators and their party will exercise their right at all times and in all cases. We know that Nigeria has not turned to Banana Republic and we will not allow the Police under the present leadership to turn it to one, no matter the expertise for evil being displayed by its top personnel.</div>

Latest-News We will not allow you to turn Nigeria into a Banana Republic, Saraki tells IGP

The Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki has said that they will not allow the Police under the present leadership to turn Nigeria into a Ba...

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Large turnout of delegates at PDP convention in Port Harcourt

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHV7iI4ZOm1yRye1T9MoEAxI7Ntaj50z0s6m6jPP1I6MVQ2B5f1SdyNKKd-PorT8AKW7V2WsQKDb44M0PYoqNEc9LtvTiJ8zzQBdw1BcJGa1DCoqbVZEjlqsBRF8gq7P-SOBVB9aQQVOf/s1600/pdp-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHV7iI4ZOm1yRye1T9MoEAxI7Ntaj50z0s6m6jPP1I6MVQ2B5f1SdyNKKd-PorT8AKW7V2WsQKDb44M0PYoqNEc9LtvTiJ8zzQBdw1BcJGa1DCoqbVZEjlqsBRF8gq7P-SOBVB9aQQVOf/s320/pdp-logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Large turn out of delegates and heavy presence of security personnel characterised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention holding in Port Harcourt.<br /> <br /> The venue of the convention, Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium was agog as delegates trooped peacefully into the pavilions earmarked for their respective states, but accreditation of delegates was yet to commence as at 9.55 a.m.<br /> <br /> At Sokoto pavilion, one of the delegates, Alhaji Kure Aminu said he and his colleagues were ready for the convention.<br /> <br /> Delegates from Imo, Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi states said they would vote for strong candidate that would win the 2019 general elections.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Mr Ude Obuzo from Enugu expressed optimism that the convention would produce a qualified candidate to represent PDP in 2019 Presidential election.<br /> <br /> Heavy security operatives: the Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) among others were on ground to ensure smooth exercise.<br /> <br /> Officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) were also on ground to control movement of vehicles.<br /> <br /> At least, 13 aspirants are jostling for party ticket for Presidential election in 2019.<br /> <br /> Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President, Sen. Bukola Saraki, the Senate President, Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe state; Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso; Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, Sen,Ahmed Makarfi and Jonah Jang are among the contestants.</div>

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PDP 2018 Presidential Primary: Foretelling The Outcome

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt68xs6y3WLJJwEl7X6C09CvlAZnAOwW4d14SAsmGSusKWW7rAhx1TVkMUV31mAHvErjmGRnD0DXE7O5oTO4jsvA_9G2zSlfclcNHA8OlI8YC1Lo0n4WFcsZrrxteX1AJ210iuYurfLcp7/s1600/omo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="710" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt68xs6y3WLJJwEl7X6C09CvlAZnAOwW4d14SAsmGSusKWW7rAhx1TVkMUV31mAHvErjmGRnD0DXE7O5oTO4jsvA_9G2zSlfclcNHA8OlI8YC1Lo0n4WFcsZrrxteX1AJ210iuYurfLcp7/s400/omo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> By Omoshola Deji<br /> <br /> Nigeria’s main opposition political party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lost power to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015, after ruling the nation for 16 years. As the 2019 presidential election race gains speed, the PDP has vowed to regain power in 2019, but two major challenges stands in her way. The party must present a credible presidential candidate and defeat incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari at the polls. Thirteen political heavyweights are struggling for PDP’s ticket and efforts to present a consensus candidate proved abortive. The party is on the verge of conducting a presidential primary to elect the one who will confront Buhari. This piece weighs the chance of the candidates and foretells the outcome.<br /> <br /> The thirteen aspirants jostling for the PDP presidential ticket are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Governors Aminu Tambuwal and Ibrahim Dakwambo of Sokoto and Gombe States, and ex-Governors Attahiru Bafarawa, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Ahmed Markafi, Jonah Jang, and Sule Lamido of Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau and Jigawa states respectively. Others are former Senate President David Mark, former Minister of Special Duties, Taminu Turaki and Stanley Osifo from Edo State. The PDP presidential aspirants are mainly northerners. The party zoned the ticket to the north in order to lessen Buhari’s vote in the region. The two digit number of aspirants struggling for PDP’s ticket is an indication that the party’s umbrella is large and strong enough to manage all manner of persons, burden and character.<br /> <br /> <br /> Except PDP presents a credible candidate to Nigerians, it will be difficult for the party to regain power in 2019. The states with the highest number of registered voters such as Kano and Lagos are being ruled by the APC. PDP is in control of 14 states, including Kwara, Bayelsa, Abia, Gombe, Ekiti, Delta, Ebonyi, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Taraba, Cross-Rivers, Enugu, Sokoto and Benue states. The national convention and presidential primary is scheduled to hold in Rivers state.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> <br /> On how the presidential candidate would emerge, PDP’s Electoral Guideline states that “aspirant with the highest number of votes at the end of the voting shall be declared the winner of the primary. The document further states that “each aspirant must be nominated by at least 60 persons from not less than two-thirds of all states of the federation who shall be registered voters in their respective local government areas and also registered members of the party”.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The ruling APC has conducted her presidential primary and Buhari returned unopposed. The emergence of Buhari’s candidacy is common among incumbent presidents and governors. Scores of them do everything humanly possible to avoid primaries despite being in control of the party and the state. Competing with them is often considered an affront and such challenger would either be hounded or prevailed upon to step down. Managing the party to ensure there’s no contender and awarding automatic tickets to incumbents is the bedrock of disaffections and defections. This ruined the PDP under the leadership of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan. This also triggered a mass defection from the APC to the PDP recently.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Four out of the thirteen PDP presidential aspirants – Saraki, Kwankwaso, Tambuwal and Atiku – are APC defectors. These men would probably not have defected if they are sure of a free and fair presidential primary contest against Buhari. The desire to fulfill their ambition of ruling Nigeria made them dump the APC for the PDP. Some of them know they can’t win, but having the opportunity to test their popularity in a free, and fair primary makes them feel fulfilled.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The north-south unconstitutional, but conventional power rotation in Nigeria also pushed most of the presidential hopefuls into the PDP. Northerners nursing presidential ambition would be restricted by zoning if do not try their luck now. The ruling elites have technically zoned the presidency to the north and power is expected to return to the South by 2023. The implication of such is that if the northern aspirants postpone their ambition, remain in the APC, and Buhari earns another term to rule till 2023, virtually all the waiting aspirants may never have the opportunity to become president again. They apparently have to wait till 2031, after the south must have ruled for eight years. By 2031, majority of those currently interested in the nation’s top job would have become old and unfit.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Atiku is 71, Lamido is 69, Turaki is 61, and Markafi is 62. If you add 12 years (2019-2031) to the age of all the aspirants, you’ll realize that many of them cannot really afford to wait, especially with the rising advocacy of not too young to run. The either-now-or-never desperation would make the PDP primary a very keen contest.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The star-studded race would be very fierce as veteran contestant Atiku Abubakar seems to only have this one last opportunity. Atiku has failed to achieve his presidential ambition on three attempts, but he has remained consistent in his pursuit. He has traversed the country, making consultations and selling his programs to vote-determining groups and individuals, including former and serving governors and legislatures, religious and traditional leaders, business moguls, and the international community. His advocacy for restructuring is also earning him admiration across the country.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The major obstacle to Atiku’s candidacy is that many see him as a political migrant that jumps from one party to another. He is also competing with a go-getter like Saraki, younger aspirant Tambuwal, and loyal party man like Dakwambo. Be that as it may, Atiku would get the party ticket, if the delegates top voting criteria is the financial capacity to fund campaigns and preference for someone who is popular across Nigeria. Atiku is virtually the only candidate with no other alternative. Majority of the other aspirants have picked governorship and senatorial forms through surrogates.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> PDP has been copying APC’s strategy lately. A number of regional political parties merged to form the APC and defeat the PDP in 2015. Adopting a similar strategy, the PDP has aligned with about 40 parties with the sole goal of fielding a joint presidential candidate to defeat the APC in 2019. APC members picked their National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole from the South-South and the PDP did same by going for Uche Secondus. APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari is from the northwest, will PDP also present a candidate from the region? Most likely.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Aspirants from the northwest are Sule Lamido from Jigawa state, Rabiu Kwankwaso from Kano State, Ahmed Markafi from Kaduna State, Aminu Tambuwal and Attahiru Bafarawa from Sokoto State, Taminu Turaki from Kebbi State and Datti Baba-Ahmed from Kaduna state. 7 out of the 13 presidential aspirants are from the northwest. 4 out of the 7 are ex-governors and one is a serving governor. If PDP decides to have a north-west candidate, Kwankwaso, Tambuwal or Markafi will get the ticket.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Kwankwaso is the former governor of Kano state which has the highest number of registered voters. He is very influential in the northwest and has a formidable political structure and followers across Nigeria – the Kwankwasiyya Movement. The PDP may offer Kwankwaso the ticket in order to harvest Kano’s massive votes and reduce Buhari’s support base in the victory deciding northwest region. Markafi is a credible alternative for Kwankwaso. If PDP’s top selection criteria is based on party loyalty, Markafi would get the presidential candidate ticket. Markafi is the ex-Caretaker Chairman that wrestled the party from the grip of Ali Modu Sheriff, the former National Chairman. Tambuwal is another credible choice. He is ‘young’ and has one thing other aspirants from the region don’t have: immunity.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Incumbent Governors Tambuwal or Dankwambo of Sokoto or Gombe state will get the ticket if PDP considers it essential to safeguard her presidential candidate from political prosecution. Tambuwal and Dakwambo has immunity from arrest and prosecution till their tenure ends on May 29, 2019. This implies that both would be enjoying immunity during the electioneering period and cannot be arrested, detained or prosecuted if they are the PDP presidential candidate. PDP must note that the ruling APC is intolerant of the opposition and any candidate presented would most certainly be invited to answer one charge or the other, in order to decimate him, except such person is protected by constitutional immunity.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The Idris Kpotum led police is inefficient in tackling insecurity, but extremely skilled in hounding the real and imaginary oppositions of Buhari and the APC. The near arraignment of the Osun PDP gubernatorial candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke on the eve of the election and the persecution of Senators Bukola Saraki and Dino Melaye are notable instances.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Saraki will be the PDP presidential candidate, if the party is shopping for someone that can combat the APC and their hounding tactics. Saraki has defeated the APC’s effort to decimate him on several occasions. He emerged as Senate President and has occupied the position for over three years without the support of the APC leadership. Recent efforts to remove him when he decamped from the APC to the PDP was also unsuccessful. He was arraigned for false asset declaration and the Supreme Court gave him a clean bill of health. Efforts to embarrass him with alleged complicity in the Ofa bank robbery also proved abortive. Saraki’s triumph against the APC has enriched his political clout and earned him admiration and accolades. His ability to retain majority support in the Senate despite the many troubles shows that he is a seasoned administrator and can keep Nigerians united.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Saraki, Atiku, Tambuwal and Kwankwaso are in good position to pick the PDP presidential ticket, but the major hurdle before them is passing the loyalty test. Happenings in the coming days would reveal whether the PDP has forgiven them for the embarrassing defeat their defect caused the party in 2015. Even if the party forgives them, would ex-President Jonathan, who lost power in 2015 ever support their aspirations to become the PDP presidential candidate? Will he support and work hard for the electoral victory of these persons should any one of them become the PDP candidate?<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> David Mark’s political influence has waned tremendously after he lost his Senate President position to Bukola Saraki. Other aspirants like Sule Lamido and Jonah Jang has a weak political outreach and corruption baggage hanging round their neck.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> PDP’s ticket might eventually be given to one of those who made the party lose election in 2015. If such happens, the loyal aspirants that stood by the party during crisis will be aggrieved. The PDP National Working Committee must have a strong crisis management and post-primary unifying strategy in place. APC is fasting, praying and eagerly waiting to profit from a post-primary crisis in the PDP. Any implosion in the PDP would make Buhari get an easy win in 2019.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The PDP delegates and party hierarchy across the states and the national level would be supporting candidates based on their experience, age, party loyalty, nationwide support and integrity. The party delegates would most likely avoid thumbing those standing trial for corruption cases in order not to play into the hands of the APC. Unlike inter-party contests, delegates decision on the candidate to elect changes frequently during intra-party elections, especially in governorship and presidential primaries. A lot of negotiations, alignments and realignments occur few moments to voting and such could alter existing permutations.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> For the reason that delegates voting intention during party primaries are easily influenced and instable, the pundit too will be flexible. Out of the thirteen aspirants, the pundit will select three that’ll most likely win the primary. From analysis and findings, Aminu Tambuwal may emerge the PDP candidate because he is from the northwest region, he is of a much younger age and he has immunity from prosecution. The immunity makes him a better choice than Kwankwaso. Tambuwal passed majority of the pundit’s measures of assessment; he is therefore ticked as the most capable aspirant PDP can use to defeat Buhari. Atiku Abubakar may win the party’s ticket based on his far-reaching networks, rigorous campaign and financial strength. Saraki may also emerge as the PDP presidential candidate based on his strong rapport with the delegates, especially the legislatures.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Nigerians don’t often reward loyalty. If the PDP delegates are rational thinkers, Markafi who has shown unflinching loyalty to the party and managed it successfully under intense political troubles should pick the ticket. He is from the northwest region, experienced and not standing trial. PDP is now a beautiful bride for the aspirants that decamped in 2015 because the party is now stable and formidable. People who defected from the party won’t have returned to seek a presidential ticket if Markafi had not managed it successfully. None of those who abandoned the party during turbulent times worth the presidential ticket.<br /> <br /> <i><br /> <br /> *Omoshola Deji is a political and public affairs analyst. He wrote in via moshdeji@yahoo.com</i>

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No leader in the world as irresponsible as President Buhari - Kukah

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="552" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7-JyknSZZCdqvZ20L8rlScy-XuDKJxguOnLiaoreECOt-P1-HM8H5QKHJ1efkjt0eVhSI58vN4bUsA6KtgC8pOvFcyUHn-477pBSnL8wXkd_TTQXDhlo-QrEg8cnW6oymgQX0uP-hBPA/s640/kukah-552x400.jpg" width="640" /></div> <br /> <b>Matthew Kukah, bishop of the Catholic diocese of Sokoto, says no president in the world can be as irresponsible as a Nigerian president.</b><br /> <br /> The cleric said this while delivering the annual lecture at the Ulefunta/Oyemekun festival in Akure, capital of Ondo state, on Friday.<br /> <br /> Kukah said Nigerian presidents are irresponsible with the use of power.<br /> <br /> He said the structure of the Nigerian presidential office makes the holders of the office extremely powerful, so much that he can deploy power the way he want.<br /> <br /> Kukah said unlike American presidents who do not emerge by circumstance, from inception till date, all presidents were virtually dragged into office.<br /> <br /> “No president in the world has the kind of power the Nigerian president has and as such, no president in the world can be as irresponsible as the Nigerian president,” he said.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “His power is so much that he can give oil bloc to his girlfriend and many others. You thus can’t be a man of honour and live in a country like Nigeria and not be angry.<br /> <br /> “What is the problem? It is the dilemma of leadership. In America, there are basic expectations of what a president should be. For instance, he must have gone through Harvard as an institution, he must have language and track record, not even wealth. You can’t surprise the system.<br /> <br /> “Here in Nigeria, a local government chairman wants to be governor; the governor wants to be president and the president doesn’t want to go! Many states have two governors representing them at the national assembly. Governors have control and monopoly of resources of state and they use same resources to oppress them.”<br /> <br /> Kukah added that the Nigerian society is in ferment as the instability, the country is facing is inevitable in any system.<br /> <br /> “In Nigeria, it is not a question of looking for trouble because trouble is already here. The Nigerian state has no capacity to protect itself and there is no loyalty to Nigeria from its citizens but to those who help individuals to get to positions in the system,” he said.<br /> <br /> Kukah, however, singled out two former Nigerian leaders out of the leadership rot, Obafemi Awolowo and Aminu Kano, whom he called “architects of a good society”.<br /> <br /> “Awolowo, for his major quintessential evidence as somebody who already figured out what he would do with power if he got it,” he said.<br /> <br /> “He understood the building blocks for an egalitarian society. Aminu Kano single handedly took on the feudal class in Northern society and had a deep understanding of society, even as he textually talked about a free society in a way and manner that didn’t offend religion.<br /> <br /> “We have to understand the building blocks of society which is not too different from the rules of building a house. A good society is not different from the building blocks of society. When a building collapses, it didn’t collapse in a day. It began to collapse a long time ago. For us to build a good society, we have to have eyes that monitor the needs, growth and development and feelings of that society. Then you can be sure of the quality of that society. “<br /> <br />

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The Rise and Fall of Akinwunmi Ambode

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_wqD9ThfT6j7kBr8K4M8xbi4W63tK0jf41GyEDxnM0-R0X05sN1voQ8RXmKjf2J7JAcr2RKmih6JSINicMKsjHDGPiRwkpEuk8N3s6SXy4EubseepIwzZpiyrQSc5ojfgbgZwMnTU5U-/s1600/ambode+ne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_wqD9ThfT6j7kBr8K4M8xbi4W63tK0jf41GyEDxnM0-R0X05sN1voQ8RXmKjf2J7JAcr2RKmih6JSINicMKsjHDGPiRwkpEuk8N3s6SXy4EubseepIwzZpiyrQSc5ojfgbgZwMnTU5U-/s640/ambode+ne.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <i>By Kayode Ogundamisi</i><br /> <br /> The “Baba Sope” Political Ideology and Myth of Yoruba Omoluabi Ethos<br /> <br /> It is faulty to equate the deep loyalty Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu attracts in Lagos as exemplary of ‘Omoluabi loyalty’ or being reflective of the ethos of the entire Yoruba or South-West populace. The Ondo State electorate will argue, for example, that they “liberated” themselves from this without compromising the ‘Omoluabi’ ethos.<br /> <br /> In the 2012 Ondo State governorship election, the current governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, as candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), was perceived as a “Tinubu imposed” candidate. He ran against the then incumbent Governor Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party, and the people of Ondo State rejected Akeredolu.<br /> <br /> I recall stomping across Ondo during that election, as excited crowds in the State could not but approve, with songs and folk songs, as Mimiko invoked the tradition of the people not to take any imposition from “outsiders’.<br /> <br /> Then throughout most of the nooks and crannies in Ondo State, the campaign was more about resisting Tinubu than being a verdict on Mimiko’s performance. Mimiko did not have to say much about his performance during his first term in office, it was almost above those of his peers, particularly in terms of education and health care. His Abiye healthcare project was celebrated even by his opponents.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> In 2016 when Akeredolu was to run again, ironically against a candidate handpicked by Olusegun Mimiko, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), he presented himself as an independent candidate, his own man, and not only did he defeat Tinubu’s anointed candidate in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries, he also canvassed for votes while reminding the people of Ondo State of how they should not let outsiders chose for them. Akeredolu won against the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and today the rest is history. A number of other factors contributed to the victories in the 2012 and 2016 elections of Mimiko and Akeredolu.<br /> <br /> <b>Ambode As Ambode’s Achilles Heel</b><br /> <br /> A lot has been written about current governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, yet the irony is that Ambode’s problem wasn’t his godfather, former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but he (Akinwunmi Ambode) was his own problem.<br /> <br /> Power overwhelmed the governor, and he completely detached himself from the strong political party structure. A party that has been in power in Lagos since 1999 is not the kind that you ride on and ignore. You may ignore the man who brought you in from obscurity, but to survive, you need to be an exceptional performer and keep your party structure happy. Ambode did not read the handover notes of Governor Babatunde Fashola. If he had, he would not be facing the political battle of his life. The people stood with his predecessor, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, even when the body language of his godfather was hostile, and then the mighty Tinubu knew moving against Fashola would have been political suicide for him.<br /> <br /> <b>The Mafioso Nature of the APC In Lagos</b><br /> <br /> The Lagos APC power structure is filled with contradictions. It is sometimes progressive, at other times self-serving, but mostly it operates like the mafia in its highly close knit nature. Those who control the party at every level expect absolute loyalty, with no questions asked. It reflects most political parties in Nigeria; and even the newly formed ones are mirroring the model, which they have improved on. Six of the new Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) registered political parties have founders, who are also the party chairmen/women and also the sole presidential candidates.<br /> <br /> For every progress Ambode made with road construction in inner city Lagos and futuristic projects such as the Murtala Muhammed Airport road and bus terminals, he undid with unpopular policies that targeted the very poor. It was as if he was in a race to undo some of Tinubu and Fashola’s projects.<br /> <br /> <br /> The Lagos civil service is an extension of the party structure. If you come in as a governor, you are not expected to rock the boat or ‘change the template’ (apologies to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu), and it is a structure mostly servicing a few against the majority. Hardly would you find a Lagos State civil servant who is not a card-carrying member of the APC. Particularly for the Alausa based civil servants, what happens in Alausa always remain in Alausa.<br /> <br /> The Lagos APC has political leaders who depend on state resources, as they have no other means of livelihood than politics. They know Lagos like the back of their hands and have foot soldiers beholding to them – from National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) members, to genuine party members who desire progressive change, to just about anyone who can be a yes man or woman. They are mostly reliant on a rent-seeking and collection system, and cannot just be cut off and be neglected by any governor, no matter how powerful or resourceful.<br /> <br /> <b>Ambode broke the first commandment: “thou shall not be unreachable”.</b><br /> <br /> Yoruba and especially Lagosians do not like governors or political appointees who are perceived as ‘arrogant’ or cannot be reached, and if a governor likes, he could tar the whole of Lagos roads with gold, but the people want to be able to ‘visit’ him, and they expect to be given ‘transport fares’ on their way home. Party leaders and members expect governors to attend meetings at intervals; they don’t want to be forgotten during ‘Ileya’, ‘Christmas’ or any festive period. The street talk is that Ambode was not only unreachable to party members and leaders but he lived in his own world, while his appointees were also detached. Party members can’t even remember the name of commissioners in Ambode’s cabinet. Gone are the days when Rauf Aregbesola, Musiliu Obanikoro, Muiz Banire, Tokunbo Afikuyomi and co were ocmmissioners, and you need not see the governor to have a say in the government. Ambode ran a one man show.<br /> <br /> For every progress Ambode made with road construction in inner city Lagos and futuristic projects such as the Murtala Muhammed Airport road and bus terminals, he undid with unpopular policies that targeted the very poor. It was as if he was in a race to undo some of Tinubu and Fashola’s projects. They say if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. Ambode was busy fixing projects that didn’t need fixing – from bus stops, to the remodelling of roads, which were a waste of time and resources. BRT buses were disappearing one after the other due to neglect, and even Ambode’s newly constructed roads started developing potholes. The solutions became a problem. He did so well looking into inner city roads and improving the Lagos security architecture, with Lagos under him becoming one of the safest cities by Nigerian standards.<br /> <br /> Ambode’s greatest sin was taking away the garbage clearing project, and thousands of poor people in Lagos – mostly party members employed as street cleaners and operators – lost their means of livelihood. Ambode handed the task of cleaning Lagos over to a relatively unknown company called the Visionscape Group, which did a terrible job of it, and the only clean effort from the company was its creation of a clean looking website, while the new face of Lagos became the dirty face of Lagos.<br /> <br /> Ambode unleashed one punitive tax system after the other on the people of Lagos, with the most controversial one being the land use tax. When he was advised to review the State’s tax policy, he was stubborn, indifferent and ruthless, until the protest grew louder. He did not even stop at that, and he legislated his godfathers alleged tax collection firm company, Alpha Beta, as the sole collector, but when citizens screamed ‘scam’, the state’s law makers claimed that legislating Alpha Beta into a State tax collection system was an “administrative mistake.”<br /> <br /> Of all his attempts to fix inner city roads, Ambode waged war on poor people in waterfront areas; the people of Otodo Gbame paid dearly for Ambode’s land grab schemes, with over 200 structures belonging to poor people getting razed down in 2016. The Egun and settler communities around Lekki were seen by the government and its elitist friends as constituting eyesores; and to make matters worse, the government disobeyed court orders, even when they got an injunction from the courts not to demolish these communities. Like his predecessors, Ambode mocked the Freedom of Information Act. Lagos is one of the few states where budgets are released without a breakdown.<br /> <br /> The collegiate “baba sope” method is plagued with contradictions and abuse, and thus repeated conflicts. It is only a matter of time before it caves to the anger and discontent of followers and the electorate. For all his contributions to Nigeria’s democratic process, the legacy of Governor Tinubu will be better served if he stops getting involved in every selection process, and allows contests and processes to be free and fair.<br /> <br /> <br /> Ambode is a product of the ‘baba sope’ collegiate contradiction and a victim of this also. Hopefully the Yoruba “progressives” will learn from the resistance mounted in Ondo, Ekiti, Kogi and the disaster of losing a senatorial seat to a dancing clown and almost losing the Osun governorship to him as a warning shot. The warning being that democracy is not a gift but a right; that leaders are servants entrusted with superintending the fair distribution of the commonwealth; that they can’t keep distributing resources to their lackeys, friends, cousins, wives, concubines, brothers at the expense of qualified members of the public.<br /> <b><br /></b><b>The Tinubu Clampdown On Ambode</b><br /> <br /> The assertion that Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu is behind Ambode’s travails are false. Tinubu would have been swept by the revolt from within his own political base, but he was smart enough to be led by the mass, rather than leading them. The revolt also exposes Tinubu’s vulnerability; if he had not moved against Ambode, the mass in his party structure would have moved against him. Tinubu barely yields power and influence, but he was forced to stand with the party and base, rather than stand against them. Even overtures from Abuja could not have changed that. The crises within the Lagos APC against the governor had been allowed to fester for too long. The chicken had come home to roost.<br /> <br /> Many us have been saying it for years, both privately and in public, that the Asiwaju Tinubu political structure would have to adapt to modern democratic ethos. The collegiate “baba sope” method is plagued with contradictions and abuse, and thus repeated conflicts. It is only a matter of time before it caves to the anger and discontent of followers and the electorate. For all his contributions to Nigeria’s democratic process, the legacy of Governor Tinubu will be better served if he stops getting involved in every selection process, and allows contests and processes to be free and fair. Nigeria’s democratic process can only improve if the internal party democratic process is free, transparent and fair, with party membership open and attractive to the best who may disagree with the leaders of the party. It will be a shame for all his contributions, for Governor Tinubu to leave the public with the image of the Lord of a Mafia group.<br /> <b><br /></b><b>Who Are the Yoruba Progressives?</b><br /> <br /> Many are sympathetic to the ideological left in Yoruba land, but really if you derobe the masquerade, it is becoming very difficult to spot the differences between the Yoruba PDP or APC.<br /> <br /> Land and resource ownership and control in Yoruba land, particularly in Lagos, is now for the benefit of the few, and economy of YORUBA revolves within the same elite. Thus, a Governor Ayo Fayose could challenge the traditional Yoruba left and “win” in Ekiti and it took the traditional left in Yoruba land, adapting the play book of Ayo Fayose, to “win’ Ekiti back. Usually it takes invoking the spirit of Obafemi Awolowo to win elections in the South West, yet this is fast changing; the people can’t spot the deference any more, and they will rather take their chances with so called ‘akotiletas’ than stay with the so called ‘disciples of Awolowo.’<br /> <br /> The class structure of modern day Yoruba politicians is modelled after the so-called Hausa-Fulani hegemony style that we have all been brought up to detest. Check the beneficiaries of government appointments both at the federal, state and local levels in Yorubaland, and many are family members of the Yoruba ruling elite. A very ‘progressive’ Yoruba senator who mouths JUSTICE was already a pensioner in America, when the opportunity came for the ‘progressive’ to present a name to President Buhari for the NAFDAC Chairperson, our senator did not need to search far and wide in Yorubaland for a younger qualified Yoruba. He recalled his wife, who by the way was already a pensioner also, to take the position. The office of the vice president is littered with sons and daughters of the ‘who is who’ in Yoruba land. The Lagos House of Assembly, like most Houses of Assembly in Yoruba land, is an extension of family meetings. ‘Familitocracy’ is replacing fairness, and the new generation Yoruba leaders is winning the battle of who is more nepotistic in the Nigerian federation. The politics of ‘godfatherism’ is replacing the ‘omoluabi’ ethos. ‘Omoluabi’ is just a theme to cunningly use the load of bread to wipe the soup from the plate of the commonwealth.<br /> <br /> Yoruba Omoluabi ethos should not be the subjugation of the will of the people to the few. It is about justice for all, equality for all who live and reside in Yoruba land, irrespective of who they are, where they come from, what language they speak. We are meant to be the beacon of hope, the welcoming people who rejoice at the arrival of new settlers, the ones who vacate the most beautiful part of the household to make the guest comfortable, the tolerant ones, the ones whose strength is not in the ability to spill blood but the diplomatic prowess of stopping a war, the people who agree, but mostly agree to disagree. The ‘omo Karo o ji ire bi?’<br /> <br /> Fairness in the distribution and allocation of Yoruba resources for all who contribute to Yoruba land should now be the priority of Yoruba leaders, it should cross party and ideological lines. Not all Yoruba progressive or conservatives have done badly, even with their faults, but a lot of bad has been done. Yes, we can still point to some progress, but that is due to the determination and can-do attitude of the Yoruba and all those who have chosen Yoruba land as home. It is never too late to stop the house from falling.<br /> <b><i><br /> Kayode Ogundamisi is a commentator on Nigeria and producer/presenter of the political TV show #PolitricksWithKO on BEN-TV UK.</i></b>

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19 feared dead in fresh attack in Plateau

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGz1SOxO2oqOFXEn0V3P1Cy_aqbdIj8zIPRprJuZEY18Nr6RMbVa6E2yL_GnN9-m68bd6tObpj2cN3vizPiu84Y1O-POotw83kk7klTupYb3Of4SiM0iQqqMNTTInQiolVK3oxyvdVPphyphenhyphen/s1600/plateau-891x470.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="891" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGz1SOxO2oqOFXEn0V3P1Cy_aqbdIj8zIPRprJuZEY18Nr6RMbVa6E2yL_GnN9-m68bd6tObpj2cN3vizPiu84Y1O-POotw83kk7klTupYb3Of4SiM0iQqqMNTTInQiolVK3oxyvdVPphyphenhyphen/s640/plateau-891x470.png" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> A fresh attack on a Plateau community has left at least 19 people dead, a resident said on Thursday.<br /> <br /> The attack occurred on Wednesday night in Ariri community of Bassa Local Government Area of the state.<br /> <br /> Sunday Abdu, the National President of Irigwe Development Association (IDA) and a native of the attacked community, confirmed the incident to newsmen.<br /> <br /> “The attack took place last night when people were asleep. Nineteen people were killed in the incident,” he said.<br /> <br /> Mr Abdu said the police have been briefed on the attack.<br /> <br /> “We have reported the incident to security agencies. The Plateau State police commissioner was at the scene of the attack this morning. So the security is aware of the incident,” he said.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> When contacted, spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, Tyopev Terna, promised to get back with official details.<br /> <br /> He was yet to do so at the time of this report.<br /> <br /> Also, the spokesperson of a security force in the state, Operation Safe Haven, Adam Umar, said details of the security situation in Bassa was sketchy.<br /> <br /> Mr Umar, an army major, said investigation was ongoing to confirm the true situation there.<br /> <br /> The attack in Bassa occurs a day after another attack was launched on Jol village of Riyom Local Government Area of the state. About14 people were said to have been killed in the incident<br /> <br /> As at Wednesday, there was no official confirmation yet of the casualty.<br /> <br /> However, on Thursday, Mr Umar confirmed the killing of 13 persons in Jol on Tuesday night.<br /> <br /> “Jol attack in Riyom followed the killing of three cows on the 19th September in which a meeting between Berom and Fulani in the area was summoned. Despite the peace meeting, a herder and five cows were later ambushed and killed in the area on the 29th of September while other cows were injured.<br /> <br /> “After that attack, another Fulani boy was shot in the hand and one cow killed on the 2nd of October and that same day an attack was launched on the Berom community of Jol and houses raised down while 13 people were killed.<br /> <br /> “Another problem we are facing is that some of the civilians now possess fire arms and we are calling on them to surrender the weapons so that the tendency of unleashing havoc on communities can be reduced drastically,” Mr Umar said.<br /> <br /> Hundreds of people have been killed in Plateau this year in clashes between nomadic herdsmen and farming communities.<br /> <br /> Both President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau have condemned the renewed violence in the state and appealed for peace among residents.

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A fresh attack on a Plateau community has left at least 19 people dead, a resident said on Thursday. The attack occurred on Wednesday n...

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Why I didn’t support Adeleke during Osun governorship rerun – Omisore

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UVMNxnrZzUxcXinJfMV62eFpggQwShgqObaPwbryWwNTA0PRD8lkh-2SlzO5fwRNzmzGiqTqC8YjDCx8GW20JiKe8smmkpMbpwnt5LgbYJapyEjjDdE-V-ypC7vg0OoJMRjzLVZQjCns/s640/omisore+2.JPG" width="640" /></div> <br /> The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has said that he opted to support the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, in the rerun election in the state because the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state said they did not need his support.<br /> <br /> Omisore said this in Osogbo on Thursday during a meeting with members of the SDP from across the 30 local government areas of the state.<br /> <br /> Omisore, who defected from the PDP to the SDP some months before the election, said that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar wanted to come and discuss with him before the rerun when he came to Osogbo but he (Atiku) was prevented from coming by the leadership of the PDP in the state.<br /> <br /> A former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr Yemi Farounbi, had said this while narrating why Omisore decided to work for the APC candidate in the rerun supplementary poll held on September 27.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Farounbi said the same thing and Omisore, while addressing the party members, said he adopted everything the former envoy had said.<br /> <br /> He said the party opted to support the candidate of the party that was ready to implement the manifestos of the SDP because the party was for the best interest of the majority of the people.<br /> <br /> Omisore said, “I want to adopt all what Dr Farounbi said. We gave them (APC and PDP) our manifesto. We dwelled on payment of arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuities, on local content, employment for our youths and the reorganisation of the educational system, among others.<br /> <br /> “We went to negotiation with a clear mind that Osun must be free and thank God our coalition has produced a new future for the state.<br /> <br /> “In addition to what Dr Faroumbi said, the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomole, said clearly that our discussion was devoid of any financial commitment. He said they were ready to work.”<br /> <br /> Speaking earlier, Farounbi had explained that the SDP leaders decided to support any political party that was ready to put the people of the state first, saying Omisore earned his respect more because he was selfless in arriving at who to support.<br /> <br /> He said the issue of arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuities which had impoverished workers and pensioners was given priority. The reorganisation of the education sector and local content were also prominent on their agenda.<br /> <br /> Farounbi said, “Apart from these, we also said the state must return to 6-3-3-4. That contracts and services must be given to Osun indigenes; that infrastructural development and food security must be given priority because our people must not be hungry and they agreed.<br /> <br /> “The Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, was the first to come and he came from the airport to Ile-Ife with some senators and Dr Doyin Okupe. We gave him our manifesto and we waited for 24 hours but no response. We heard that they were saying that we wanted to reap where we did not sow. We heard that they said they would win without us and all that.<br /> <br /> “Also, former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, who is the director general of Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organisation, called and said they were in Osogbo and they would come to see us. But they did not come.<br /> <br /> “But former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called and expressed his regret for not being able to come. He said he wanted to come but the leadership of the PDP in Osun State said they should not come because they didn’t need us. That we should go and do anything we liked.”

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Children have 90% chances of surviving cancer

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4hDPRJmOTk-0_98rfsKqqmzP00Vajsg7EuLu58JrkTDsLt_MVo7LJj6KVpf5YkHsg96Z10DvtfbKRm9lJrPvm5p4CmryV87bk6EQ4pCv6cj7Qr5hJfAvpOT3f7SAjJg91Q90y4ySu5w8/s1600/cancer+ribbon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="882" data-original-width="969" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4hDPRJmOTk-0_98rfsKqqmzP00Vajsg7EuLu58JrkTDsLt_MVo7LJj6KVpf5YkHsg96Z10DvtfbKRm9lJrPvm5p4CmryV87bk6EQ4pCv6cj7Qr5hJfAvpOT3f7SAjJg91Q90y4ySu5w8/s320/cancer+ribbon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> A Clinical Oncologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Dr Joseph Adedayo, has stated that early detection, accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment could increase the chance of surviving childhood cancer by 90 per cent.<br /> <br /> Speaking during the Dorcas Cancer Foundation Cancer Caregivers Workshop, held on Wednesday in Lagos, Adedayo stressed on the need to pay more attention to childhood cancer.<br /> <br /> “One of the problems we have with cancer is delayed detection. What happens is that these children are treated for malaria, typhoid fever and infections and in that process, a lot of time is being wasted and the disease eats in deep and gets out of control,” Adedayo said.<br /> <br /> She described cancer as the fourth leading cause of death among children under 15 years in Nigeria and, as a result, it required collective efforts to check the diseases in the country.<br /> <br /> Adedayo said the workshop was organised in order to improve the quality of care that was provided to the cancer patient as well as to help cancer caregivers overcome burnout syndrome.<br /> <br /> Also, calling on government at all levels and other stakeholders in the health sector to put in place the appropriate structure that would ensure that children with cancer were not misdiagnosed with other ailments, a public health physician, Dr Adepeju Daodu, said that late diagnosis, proper referral system and moving the children from primary to secondary health care level, were issues for public health concern.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “Children with cancer should not be seen in a primary health care level, not even in secondary health care level; but a tertiary level or teaching hospital because it is a multiple disciplinary effort involving the pediatrician, the pediatric oncologist, the nutritionist and the surgeon, especially in cases that require the removal of a tumour. So you have several departments working on one child and they are happy to do it,” she stressed.

Latest-News Children have 90% chances of surviving cancer

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APC planning to disrupt our convention - PDP

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpxWVFcvThMeb1Cw4A3gI9qpp-u5cRS2AktkII6FlE9BefujHeB557-VvuTsoQwLg_KTvgspZLHnMNmuPty7quYEPfTvp96iWIE47oyW6q_M97ZeyECB_0oRxnVl0G7-9LJ4RqGmgzVD6/s1600/pdp+apc+vs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpxWVFcvThMeb1Cw4A3gI9qpp-u5cRS2AktkII6FlE9BefujHeB557-VvuTsoQwLg_KTvgspZLHnMNmuPty7quYEPfTvp96iWIE47oyW6q_M97ZeyECB_0oRxnVl0G7-9LJ4RqGmgzVD6/s400/pdp+apc+vs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <b><br /></b><b>The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is plotting to disrupt its national convention slated for Saturday.</b><br /> <br /> Kola Ologbondiyan, the party’s national publicity secretary, said this while briefing journalists on the outcome of its national working committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja on Thursday.<br /> <br /> He said PDP was aware of plots or machinations of all kinds to stop the convention holding in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital.<br /> <br /> “We invite Nigerians to take note of this. We invite the international community to take serious note of the plots to thwart the efforts of the opposition to elect a candidate that will go into the February 2019 general election against President Muhammadu Buhari We invite all Nigerians to take cautious note of this development,” he said.<br /> <br /> “However, on our own part, we wish to inform Nigerians, particularly member of the PDP that the national convention where our presidential candidate will be elected that has been scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt will go on as planned.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “No plot, no plan by detractors can stop our national convention.”<br /> <br /> Ologbondiyan said the necessary security operatives and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had been served notices on the convention.<br /> <br /> He also disclosed that the party would be holding a special meeting on Friday morning.

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INEC to political parties - 'October 7 remains deadline for conduct of primaries'

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LeQX5g7h1tbyivmTjzhSWKNoCfA9wzqyKq2fcfec_F0HmZJRU94h81a3vBwEc9qAv1bZUi7ZjJIKB_L3qBgroJwNsNizwOEaHKBpjjHpmn521jANUEWgFFfQr9S_Pti8a3LlzoglHgCE/s1600/INEC-Mahmud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LeQX5g7h1tbyivmTjzhSWKNoCfA9wzqyKq2fcfec_F0HmZJRU94h81a3vBwEc9qAv1bZUi7ZjJIKB_L3qBgroJwNsNizwOEaHKBpjjHpmn521jANUEWgFFfQr9S_Pti8a3LlzoglHgCE/s320/INEC-Mahmud.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> <b>The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says October 7 remains the deadline for conduct of primaries for all elective positions for the 2019 general election.</b><br /> <br /> Solomon Soyebi, INEC national commissioner and chairman, information and voter education committee, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.<br /> <br /> Soyebi said the resolution was made at the end of the commission’s weekly meeting held on Thursday in Abuja’.<br /> <br /> He added that the commission, among other things, considered the status of political party primaries to elect candidates into various positions for the 2019 general election.<br /> <br /> He said 89 of the 91 registered political parties that gave notice of their intentions to conduct primaries as required by the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) had commenced and were at various stages of the process.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “INEC wishes to restate that the conduct of primaries and resolution of all disputes arising therefrom must be concluded on or before October 7 as earlier published in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2019 general election,” he said.<br /> <br /> “The last day for submission of lists of sponsored candidates (Form CFOO2) and personal particulars (Form CF001) remains October 18 for Presidential and National Assembly and November 2 for Governorship and State Houses of Assembly.”<br /> <br /> Soyebi said the commission would only accept list of candidates submitted by the national chairman and the national secretary.<br /> <br />

Latest-News INEC to political parties - 'October 7 remains deadline for conduct of primaries'

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Spray Naira in parties and go to jail

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjHOAn3It-mQwh7RxLcpt0jL101zC0noB334fXPPWHNB6cMXXupUk9ciYfJi6GNaGD3am7tYSbLobAeSCY4QH15szPVItwa7I6p2Bk9YqLisCL7hQK1iO-kxu88HRSvOQQLzDccz3BMu_/s1600/naira-notes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjHOAn3It-mQwh7RxLcpt0jL101zC0noB334fXPPWHNB6cMXXupUk9ciYfJi6GNaGD3am7tYSbLobAeSCY4QH15szPVItwa7I6p2Bk9YqLisCL7hQK1iO-kxu88HRSvOQQLzDccz3BMu_/s1600/naira-notes.jpg" /></a></div> <br /> Those who “spray” naira notes at parties risk going to jail, the Bankers Committee warned yesterday.<br /> <br /> Mobile courts are to try those bastardising the national currency, it said.<br /> <br /> Issuing the warning after its meeting in Lagos, the Bankers Committee said the mobile courts would be deployed nationwide to try those mishandling the currency.<br /> <br /> Cantral Bank of Nigeria (CBN) spokesman Isaac Okorafor said the police and the Ministry of Justice would be involved in the operation, adding:<br /> <br /> “If a celebrant is dancing and you spray him/her, you may go to jail from the party venue because the law enforcement agents will be there, waiting to arrest you.<br /> <br /> “It is the duty of law enforcement agencies to catch offenders and take them to court. Our collaboration with the police will intensify as we move to implement the mobile court for offenders.”<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Admonishing Nigerians on how to use cash as gift, Okorafor said: “If you want to give, put the money in an envelop, and give it the celebrant. Let’s know that anybody hawking and writing on the naira will face six months in jail or N50,000 or both.”<br /> <br /> Managing Director of First Securities Discount House (FSDH) Merchant Bank Mrs. Handa Ambah said people selling naira notes would be punished.<br /> <br /> She said: “We need to let them know that this is money. The fact that you cannot spray money at parties does not mean that you cannot put money in an envelope and pass it to the celebrants.”<br /> <br /> Access Bank Managing Director Herbert Wigwe said the committee also agreed to channel a large part of the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) to agriculture and manufacturing to promote agricultural value-chain and manufacturing.<br /> <br /> Union Bank Managing Director Emeka Emuwa said the committee agreed to deepen access to financial services adding that there is a draft framework being designed to ensure that more people have access to banking services.<br /> <br /> Emu said access to financial services remains a big incentive to the economy and empowerment tool for the citizenry.<br /> <br /> CBN Director Banking Supervision Ahmad Abdullahi said there is still relative confidence in the economy, in view of the rise in the prices of crude oil and the level of external reserve.<br /> <br /> He said all hands must be on the deck to sustain the momentum.

Latest-News Spray Naira in parties and go to jail

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How I paid $1 million ransom to Evans – Man reveals

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="412" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOyQCf65E7uTuwLja0RrTLrIaJi4ca64PVPXKwRuugr2FyWbkXCnIpSOJrdrosoTOlva2VWAbd8C63byJJQ5zEbXGYACxpyz3VRyb0x60NutggQkFEj2K-R5M5cvRwPrnQyg8r-9_yDBu/s640/evans+s.jpg" width="640" /></div> <br /> A witness, Izuchukwu Ezeuko, on Thursday told an Igbosere High Court in Lagos how he dropped $1 million dollar ransom for the alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans.<br /> <br /> The ransom was to save Mr. James Uduji, then held hostage by Evans.<br /> <br /> Ezeuko, a manager in Uduji’s firm, made the revelation while giving evidence at the ongoing trial of Evans.<br /> <br /> The manager, who was the fifth witness in the trial, said he agreed to travel from Lagos to the South East to drop the ransom in order to save his boss’ life.<br /> <br /> Evans is facing two separate charges bordering on conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping and attempted murder before Justice Adedayo Akintoye.<br /> <br /> In the first charge, Evans is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.<br /> <br /> In the second charge, he is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> At the resumed trial of the case on Thursday, Ezeuko narrated how he paid one million dollar ransom in two tranches of 800,000 and 200,000 dollars to the kidnappers of his employer.<br /> <br /> The witness said that on Sept. 7, 2015, his employer came to the factory at Agbara as usual.<br /> <br /> According to him, at 5.00 p.m. he got a call that his employer who had left the factory for home was kidnapped.<br /> <br /> However, after some weeks of the alleged kidnap, on Oct. 10, 2015, he got a call from a private number, who said he should speak with his boss.<br /> <br /> “My boss then spoke to me and said if I want him alive, I should go to the East to deliver money to the alleged kidnappers.<br /> <br /> “I went to Festac Town and met Mr Edwin Uduji, the victim’s brother, who arranged the first 800, 000 dollars for me to travel with.<br /> <br /> “On October 11, I drove to the East with the victim’s elder sister, and in the East, a voice gave us instructions on how to drop the money,’’ Ezeuko said.<br /> <br /> He said they were made to drive round Anambra from Awka to Ozubulu, also to Ekwuluobia and the environs until they were asked to stop at Oba.<br /> <br /> “It was at Oba that the voice asked the victim’s sister to come down from the vehicle with the money.<br /> <br /> “The voice directed her to an uncompleted building where she dropped the money. It was dark so we did not see the person who picked the money,’’ Ezeuko told the court.<br /> <br /> He said two weeks after the 800, 000 dollar ransom was dropped and the kidnappers released his boss.<br /> <br /> However, towards the end of October, his boss asked him to take another 200, 000 dollars to the kidnappers because the kidnappers were still threatening his life.<br /> <br /> Ezeuko said he took the money down to East and was asked to drop it on the Onitsha expressway by the voice that gave him instructions.<br /> <br /> However, during cross-examination, counsel to Evans, Mr Olarewaju Ajanaku, asked Ezeuko if he informed the police that such ransom was to be paid or gave the call logs of the person he interacted with to the police.<br /> <br /> The witness said he did not inform the police about the ransom before paying and did not give the call logs to the police.<br /> <br /> However, another witness, Sgt. Kingsley Harold, gave evidence concerning the first charge, in which Evans is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba, over the kidnap of Mr Donatus.<br /> <br /> Harold said after Evans was arrested, he was asked to make a statement at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) office in Ikeja but Evans said he was not “too good” in writing.<br /> <br /> He said Evans, however, asked him to write the statement for him, adding that the statement was recorded in an open office in the presence of senior police officers and other people who came to the office for other cases.<br /> <br /> He said the statement was recorded in a conducive environment between 2.00 pm and 3.00 pm, adding that the defendant was cautioned before making the statement.<br /> <br /> However, the defendant’ s counsel opposed the admissibility of such statement and a trial-within-trial was conducted to ascertain the admissibility of such evidence.<br /> <br /> After listening to the arguments, Justice Akintoye adjourned until Oct. 8 for continuation of trial.

Latest-News How I paid $1 million ransom to Evans – Man reveals

A witness, Izuchukwu Ezeuko, on Thursday told an Igbosere High Court in Lagos how he dropped $1 million dollar ransom for the alleged kidn...

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Europa League: Arsenal, Milan win, as Celtic slump in Salzburg

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Ig85WA86YgONwc9KrEpWmylPaANLlLzCgoLAOEJ0uffDTVdKQLzfhhPvQ1mJvS_cJXDGQn_rm7wjmUhXTtY53yAT5nNu5nm83AxK5nxmKPXIvD95LsQ_aAqhYDrSCU2HTp7QIb2Wr7rV/s1600/Europa+league.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="940" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Ig85WA86YgONwc9KrEpWmylPaANLlLzCgoLAOEJ0uffDTVdKQLzfhhPvQ1mJvS_cJXDGQn_rm7wjmUhXTtY53yAT5nNu5nm83AxK5nxmKPXIvD95LsQ_aAqhYDrSCU2HTp7QIb2Wr7rV/s640/Europa+league.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> A second-string Arsenal enjoyed a 3-0 win in Azerbaijan against Qarabag in the Europa League on Thursday while AC Milan beat Greece’s Olympiakos 3-1.<br /> <br /> Eighteen-year-old Emile Smith Rowe, a product of the club’s academy was on target as the Gunners maintained their winning start in the competition.<br /> <br /> Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Matteo Guendouzi also scored for Unai Emery’s side who sit atop Group E with six points.<br /> <br /> Milan trailed to a Miguel Angel Guerrero goal at the San Siro but a late flurry of goals ensured victory for Gennaro Gattuso’s side.<br /> <br /> Patrick Cutrone scored twice for the Italians and Argentine Gonzalo Higuain was also on target as Group F side Milan also made it two wins out of two.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> RB Salzburg came back from a goal down to beat Scotland’s Celtic 3-1 in Austria.<br /> <br /> Odsonne Edouard’s cool finish put Celtic in front in the second minute but Munas Dabbur and Takumi Minamino scored after the break.<br /> <br /> Celtic’s James Forrest was sent off after a foul in the area and Dabbur slotted home the resulting penalty to put the game beyond Brendan Rodgers’ side.<br /> <br /> Substitute Lucas Alario scored a brace for Bayer Leverkusen in their 4-2 win over Cypriot side AEK Larnaca.<br /> <br /> Last year’s runners-up Marseille are in action later against Cypriot side Apollon as are Sevilla, winners of the competition three times between 2013 and 2016, and Chelsea. (Reuters/NAN)

Latest-News Europa League: Arsenal, Milan win, as Celtic slump in Salzburg

A second-string Arsenal enjoyed a 3-0 win in Azerbaijan against Qarabag in the Europa League on Thursday while AC Milan beat Greece’s Olym...

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