APC speaks on Aso Rock cabal hijacking Buhari’s campaign

Latest-News APC speaks on Aso Rock cabal hijacking Buhari’s campaign

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Aubameyang hits top spot in scoring charts with two in Arsenal win over Burnley

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihwyAvaBUmKojytoZWoaLVZbFXqNOasE11Mot0cdL3BBREHQodfZWwtk6beAAFClTJx0Gc9v7QjcceGEn0dL-9vouH6pCWo86FkvlQimQS_5C7VDPmU33BEWIfEb3tqYlUwFGWpyaLnVG/s1600/ars+3-1+bur.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihwyAvaBUmKojytoZWoaLVZbFXqNOasE11Mot0cdL3BBREHQodfZWwtk6beAAFClTJx0Gc9v7QjcceGEn0dL-9vouH6pCWo86FkvlQimQS_5C7VDPmU33BEWIfEb3tqYlUwFGWpyaLnVG/s400/ars+3-1+bur.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice to go to the top of the Premier League scoring charts as Arsenal beat Burnley 3-1.<br /> <br /> Unai Emery's men came into this match looking to get back to winning ways after two consecutive defeats had ended their 22-match unbeaten run, while the visitors were looking to build upon an impressive performance in last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Tottenham.<br /> <br /> Emery handed Mesut Ozil the captaincy and the German appeared to take inspiration from the armband as he helped set up the opening goal with a sublime pass. Ozil spotted Sead Kolasinac running towards the back post and played the ball perfectly into his path.<br /> <br /> The Bosnia and Herzegovina international flicked the ball back to Aubameyang, who found the bottom corner for his 11th Premier League goal of the season to give Arsenal a 13th minute lead.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Tempers threatened to boil over 10 minutes before half-time with Ashley Barnes and Sokratis Papastathopoulos wrestling each other to the ground -- an incident which saw the Burnley man booked by referee Kevin Friend.<br /> <br /> But, despite leading at half-time for the first time this season, it was not all good news for Arsenal as their injury crisis worsened with Nacho Monreal forced off on 37 minutes and replaced by Stephan Lichtsteiner.<br /> <br /> Arsenal seemed to have put the result to bed just three minutes after the break when Aubameyang fired past Joe Hart to go above Mohamed Salah as the outright Premier League top scorer with 12.<br /> <br /> However, they were pegged back on 62 minutes after their defence failed to clear the ball and Barnes drilled a shot into the corner.<br /> <br /> Following the goal, Arsenal looked rattled and the Burnley forward players looked to enter the home side's box much more frequently. Barnes was fuming when he was adjudged to have committed a foul after working his way into the six-yard box.<br /> <br /> Burnley boss Sean Dyche then took the unusual decision to replace his to forward for different pair of strikers as Barnes and Chris Wood came off for Sam Vokes and Matej Vydra as he looked to make it 2-2-.<br /> <br /> But, just after the referee's decision to add five minutes of stoppage time had created a nervous energy around the stadium. Alex Iwobi made the game safe with a late third.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Credit: ESPN</div>

Latest-News Aubameyang hits top spot in scoring charts with two in Arsenal win over Burnley

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice to go to the top of the Premier League scoring charts as Arsenal beat Burnley 3-1. Unai Emery...

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Threat of terrorism, violent extremism in West Africa a cause for concern -Buhari

Latest-News Threat of terrorism, violent extremism in West Africa a cause for concern -Buhari

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Buhari has adopted Uzodinma, you diverted money meant for workers – Oshiomhole slashes Okorocha

Latest-News Buhari has adopted Uzodinma, you diverted money meant for workers – Oshiomhole slashes Okorocha

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Buhari Support group begs for integration in governance

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-qU0ssaf0mm1vWrnj7NBKRZFigprCkZ0qdpuNPEaWlaJwp9JrQ7Tv3YhFkArfNpKhlHAef9lFI0TVVza2BgBMnLkjpPLMB6i4HgD2bcFjrCe93uJFYJGTUlpVdzB0HkedczQgO0_tjdb/s1600/buhari2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-qU0ssaf0mm1vWrnj7NBKRZFigprCkZ0qdpuNPEaWlaJwp9JrQ7Tv3YhFkArfNpKhlHAef9lFI0TVVza2BgBMnLkjpPLMB6i4HgD2bcFjrCe93uJFYJGTUlpVdzB0HkedczQgO0_tjdb/s320/buhari2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Ahead of the 2019 election, one of the support groups working for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari has lamented that after all their support for the election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, they were yet to be given recognition and accommodated by the government.<br /> <br /> Consequently, the group with the name Muhammadu Buhari/Osinbajo, MBO Dynamic Support Group, has begged the President to integrate them in the campaign structure for them to make more impact, claiming that they have about two million seven hundred votes for the President for next year’s election.<br /> <br /> Speaking during a courtesy visit on the President, at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, the National Coordinator, of the group, Usman Ibrahim, promised that all the members across the country will work hard to ensure victory for the President.<br /> <br /> This is just as the President has reiterated that he will reward every loyal supporter on his return to power in 2019, if he is returned as President.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Buhari while receiving the group, noted that many of the members had used their resources to campaign for him in 2014 but were not rewarded, adding that they will not be forgotten this time around.<br /> <br /> He said, “l am very grateful for your support. In 2014, many of you worked for me without expecting anything, but this time around, l want to assure you that you will be rewarded when we return.”<br /> <br /> Usman Ibrahim, who described the group as “ an idealistic” noted that it had developed a political strategy which was instrumental to the APC political strategy in 2015, known as “ Operation win 40”<br /> <br /> He revealed that the group has a total of 2, 725,359 foot soldiers across the country with a mandate to win 40 votes per polling unit, each.<br /> <br /> According to him, “ These foot Soldiers have been mandated to win 40 votes per polling units in 2019”<br /> <br /> The group had commended the Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing company for donating two operational vehicles to them with a promise to donate one vehicle per each state for their use during the 2019 campaigns.<br /> <br /> “It is important to note that despite the sacrifice made by our members in 2015, and our efforts, MBO has not been given its due recognition by the government and party and we use this opportunity to ask that you integrate MBO into the campaign structure and the governance for us to make more positive impact.”</div>

Latest-News Buhari Support group begs for integration in governance

Ahead of the 2019 election, one of the support groups working for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari has lamented that after al...

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2019: INEC reviews guidelines for election monitoring

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmZIubOtiDdS82i4nfcP5RQbxMmiwmGbXCTndqgdkk3iiQhyzMvwEw4tw8RlOTATSTnoeI03dEijsjRNjmWJDDV6oK9DHyW6InvRsY5xbsO0liAuDKlcrdrJoPA3NsCWT2f-dTljjmsMM/s1600/inec.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmZIubOtiDdS82i4nfcP5RQbxMmiwmGbXCTndqgdkk3iiQhyzMvwEw4tw8RlOTATSTnoeI03dEijsjRNjmWJDDV6oK9DHyW6InvRsY5xbsO0liAuDKlcrdrJoPA3NsCWT2f-dTljjmsMM/s320/inec.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The Independent National Electoral Commission has turned down applications by some support groups of candidates contesting the 2019 general elections to monitor the elections, its chairman, Prof. Mahmo0d Yakubu, has said.<br /> <br /> According to him, only neutral observers would be accredited, adding that the guidelines for the accreditation of election observers had also been revised.<br /> <br /> The commission said that all officials of the commission must remain neutral in the discharge of their duties and committed to protecting the sanctity of the process.<br /> <br /> He said, “As we approach the 2019 general elections, the commission will pay attention to the conduct of our own officials from the headquarters to the State and Local government areas, including ad-hoc staff engaged in or their agents to subvert the electoral process.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “We will not tolerate the complicity of staff with political actors or their agents to subvert the electoral process. All officials of the commission  must remain neutral in the discharge of their duties and committed to protecting the sanctity of the process.”<br /> <br /> Yakubu stated these in Abuja on Friday during the inauguration of the new Secretary of INEC, Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, where he vowed that the commission would not tolerate the complicity of it staff with political actors or their agents to subvert the electoral process in the forthcoming elections.<br /> <br /> Oriaran-Anthony is the third Secretary of INEC and the second woman to be so appointed since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.<br /> <br /> She had served the commission for 28 years, rising to the position of a Director before her appointment.<br /> <br /> Yakubu described the application by support groups of candidates contesting the 2019 general elections as election observers as “unacceptable.”<br /> <br /> The INEC chairman stressed that election observers should be neutral groups who should only be interested in the process and not agents of political parties, candidates or campaign organisations.<br /> <br /> He explained that the purpose of accrediting observers for elections remained a noble exercise intended to increase the transparency of the process.<br /> <br /> Yakubu said that the reports of observers also serve as a useful feedback mechanism for strengthening the electoral process.<br /> <br /> Speaking further on the request of some support groups of candidates contesting elections to observe the elections, Yakubu said such requests had no basis<br /> <br /> He said, “Similarly, for the 2019 general elections, the commission has been inundated by applications from several groups within the country for accreditation to observe the elections, including support groups of candidates contesting in the elections.<br /> <br /> “This is unacceptable to the commission. Observers are neutral groups interested only in the process and not agents of political parties, candidates or campaign. The purpose of accrediting observers for elections is a noble one intended to increase the transparency and openness of the process.<br /> <br /> “It is therefore counter-productive for such an important process to become an all-comers business. Going forward, the commission has revised the guidelines for the accreditation of (election) observers. Interested organisations are required to apply to the commission.”<br /> <br /> The details of the application process, he said, would be published this weekend and early next week in national newspapers and on the INEC website.</div>

Latest-News 2019: INEC reviews guidelines for election monitoring

The Independent National Electoral Commission has turned down applications by some support groups of candidates contesting the 2019 genera...

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Buhari rallies West African leaders against terrorism, climate change

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOa_5bIgU-Lpw7sgZgJkFLpmmFrOLo5bjxmBW9bHrVvGsa7BJl8tzVeWWAPNQ2xg1zMSwoY2aTt9SFPuPB44OgmekDBZ4nTl18RkFbnBWXdtkL537cATwNpSx1UmDPMYrESwYT6woidXKX/s1600/President+Muhammadu+Buhari.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOa_5bIgU-Lpw7sgZgJkFLpmmFrOLo5bjxmBW9bHrVvGsa7BJl8tzVeWWAPNQ2xg1zMSwoY2aTt9SFPuPB44OgmekDBZ4nTl18RkFbnBWXdtkL537cATwNpSx1UmDPMYrESwYT6woidXKX/s320/President+Muhammadu+Buhari.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday called for stronger solidarity by West African leaders to tackle the challenges of crime, terrorism, and climate change which he said has negative effects on agriculture.<br /> <br /> Addressing the 54th ordinary session of the Economic Community of West African States Authority of Heads of State and Government, in Abuja on Saturday, the Nigerian leader pointed out that important decisions to address these realities should be taken in the course of the meetings.<br /> <br /> According to him, the meeting of the ECOWAS leaders was a clear testimony to their collective resolve and commitment to the effective integration of the West African sub-region.<br /> <br /> He applauded the reported progress made by the community particularly in the areas of political governance, peace and security as well as in the economic and social fields.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Buhari said, “It is a matter of concern that terrorism and violent extremism have continued to threaten the peace and security in our sub-region. This threat calls for collective action on our part, if we are to effectively and definitely eliminate it.<br /> <br /> “As we work on new strategies to combat and eradicate this menace, we require the support of our partners to ensure the achievement of our objectives.”<br /> <br /> The President noted that the determination to create a safe and stable sub-region must be predicated on a strong and capable organisation, adding that no institution could function without adequate funding.<br /> <br /> “This would require that all hands are on deck and that all member states ensure the payment of the statutory community levy as and when due. By so doing, we will empower and enable the commission to implement the integration agenda as we march towards the year 2020 and actualise our vision of building an ECOWAS of peoples and not states,” Buhari, who is the Chair of the Authority, added.<br /> <br /> The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Mr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas in his remark, said more efforts needed to be made to address contentious issues related to conduct of elections in order to prevent and mitigate electoral violence, human rights abuses and promote respect for the rule of law.<br /> <br /> He said, “Upcoming elections in the sub-region will present opportunities for further consolidating democracy. UNOWAS is coordinating efforts with ECOWAS Commission to ensure appropriate support to these countries in their efforts to organize free, credible and peaceful elections.”</div>

Latest-News Buhari rallies West African leaders against terrorism, climate change

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday called for stronger solidarity by West African leaders to tackle the challenges of crime, terrorism...

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Video: Fashola takes swipe at Ambode as he endorses Sanwo-Olu

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Actress Nkechi Blessing Flees As Police Tries To Arrest Her

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KWAM 1’s son arrested with 8 others over $2m fraud in the US

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Some ministers ‘have to leave’ for Buhari’s govt to succeed

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All PVCs ready for collection, says INEC

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NFF orders Super 8 to hold latest Jan. 3

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5PVshQDV0YQw2xmLvfV1Zf91KMKVbhQ4twIZJ0YDScNyli1O_twd0zZY6h0jI7A-80GUFOMkjh3gFaTLAaYHJMChdTUDKfzjt_Cd5ltqytofMPJPk34mmY_8hjaVlTj3HR2a8l0DZeO5/s1600/nff.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5PVshQDV0YQw2xmLvfV1Zf91KMKVbhQ4twIZJ0YDScNyli1O_twd0zZY6h0jI7A-80GUFOMkjh3gFaTLAaYHJMChdTUDKfzjt_Cd5ltqytofMPJPk34mmY_8hjaVlTj3HR2a8l0DZeO5/s400/nff.jpg" /></a></div> The Nigeria Football Federation has instructed the management of the Nigeria National League to organise and conclude the Super 8 play-offs before January 3, 2019.<br /> <br /> Eight teams – Remo Stars, Kada City Stars, Kogi United, Delta Force, Insurance, Shooting Stars, Gombe United and Real Stars – qualified for the play-offs from the four groups of the lower league at the end of the season but last week, Remo, Kogi, Delta, Kada, 3SC and Insurance pulled out of the play-offs, leaving only Gombe and Real in the competition.<br /> <br /> The Emergency Committee of the NFF had earlier announced that it had directed the commencement of the Super 8. The Emergency Committee said it took the decision after careful consideration of the relevant rules and regulations, contemporary best practice and what is obtainable internationally.<br /> <br /> The play-offs was previously scheduled to begin on Wednesday and end on Sunday in Aba but as of Thursday, when the first match was supposed to be played, only three clubs were at the Enyimba Stadium.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> However, on Friday, the NFF Emergency Committee in a statement said some of the eight clubs wrote to the federation pleading that their players were unavailable for the competition.<br /> <br /> The football-ruling body said it gave the clubs two weeks to get their players ready and also instructed the NNL to ensure that the play-offs were concluded before January 3.<br /> <br /> The NFF also paid N2m to the three clubs, who were in Aba for the cancelled play-offs, adding that the five absent clubs would be referred to the appropriate committee of the federation for further decisions on them.<br /> <br /> “Following the directive to the eight clubs qualified for the Super 8 Tournament of the Nigeria National League to proceed to Aba for the tournament, we received letters from clubs to the effect that they presently do not have enough players to prosecute the tournament,” the statement read.<br /> <br /> “Apparently, most clubs in the country’s leagues sign a good number of their players for only one season. These personnel appear to have floated to other clubs in search of greener pastures.<br /> <br /> “In view of the above, and the contrite tone of their letters, the Emergency Committee has opted to allow the affected clubs two weeks to recruit players to beef up their playing personnel, after which they will then prosecute the Super 8.<br /> <br /> “The NNL should therefore pick new dates not later than 3rd January for the tournament.<br /> <br /> “In the meantime, the matter relating to the five affected clubs will be referred to the relevant NFF committee to deal with while the three clubs that showed up in Aba as directed will each be paid compensation of the sum of N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira Only).”<br /> <br /> But some of the clubs, who spoke with our correspondent on Friday, said they would meet on the NFF decision before deciding whether to honour the Super 8 or not.<br /> <br /> Shooting Stars’ Team Manager Dimeji Lawal said the clubs would meet to determine the next line of action.<br /> <br /> “We received the letter from the NFF stating that we should get our teams ready for the Super 8 but since the decision not to play was earlier taken after a meeting with the other clubs, we will have to meet again after the NNL would have chosen the new dates for the play-offs to decide what we would do next,” he said.<br /> <br /> Also, Kogi United chairman Abdul Sule said he would consult with the club management to decide on the instruction.<br /> <br /> He said, “The decision cannot be taken by me alone. I will meet with the club’s management and we will decide whether we will honour the play-offs or not.”<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, the NFF has instructed the League Management Company to start the 2018 season of the Nigeria Professional Football League on January 13.<br /> <br /> The statement from the Glasshouse read, “The League Management Company is hereby advised to ensure the commencement of the NPFL 2018/2019 season, not later that 13th January 2019.”<br /> <br /> And in a reaction to the instruction, the LMC released an updated calendar for the season, which revealed that the abridged league season would start on January 13 and end on May 25.</div>

Latest-News NFF orders Super 8 to hold latest Jan. 3

The Nigeria Football Federation has instructed the management of the Nigeria National League to organise and conclude the Super 8 play-off...

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U.S exposes greatest resource of Nigeria

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaZhi_qOAJQfG_s-rnDizmVQQmHWO54p1mb2cUmrXVxENOE-pzSgEwzE4vehKA3JnGfLMz98CoeTaQ_KIjA5giKFiEfPjB7XqGwd2uAYvv6f7l2mNKCGEfx_qmHwhVRS3-lWthcYYNe0G/s1600/us+embassy.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaZhi_qOAJQfG_s-rnDizmVQQmHWO54p1mb2cUmrXVxENOE-pzSgEwzE4vehKA3JnGfLMz98CoeTaQ_KIjA5giKFiEfPjB7XqGwd2uAYvv6f7l2mNKCGEfx_qmHwhVRS3-lWthcYYNe0G/s320/us+embassy.png" width="320" /></a></div> The United States, U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Stuart Symington has said that Nigerians represent the real and sustainable wealth of their country.<br /> <br /> He said true leadership must showcase in the people.<br /> <br /> Symington made the remarks at the African Business Conference Plus 2018 with the theme: “Human Capital: The key to Africa’s Transformation”<br /> <br /> The conference was put together by the American Business Council (ABC) in partnership with the Lagos Business School (LBS).<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Symington said that citizens were greatest resources of Nigeria and without them, there would be no leader.<br /> <br /> “I am here to let you know the greatest resource of this nation. As an ambassador, I have seen first hand the diversity of the nation as well as its potential.<br /> <br /> “The most successful people you will remember think in terms of people.<br /> <br /> “Their value for people is what makes them stand out, that is why I strongly believe that the greatest resource for this nation is you,” he said.<br /> <br /> The ambassador said that the time was apt to scale up partnerships between U.S companies and credible institutions like LBS, in order to improve vocational studies and requisite talents in areas that would enhance Africa’s growth.</div>

Latest-News U.S exposes greatest resource of Nigeria

The United States, U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Stuart Symington has said that Nigerians represent the real and sustainable wealth of t...

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NLC declares Jan 8 day of nationwide protest over minimum wage

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Wike goes after APC Candidate, Tonye Cole, cancels major Sahara Energy-linked contracts

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Shehu Sani rates Buhari’s govt

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Funke Akindele welcomes first child despite Pastor’s prophecy

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2019 Budget, the best we could present – FG

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSZrZZrQUz5sSeHvYYuMviB4MfFg_rLHc87eGhiwirozKWCsfe0sbDiXHTbdBdfK2-POpEbtRX_L3lpsCTkBYc0FhADEQUu_nNloCoNL03tZL6BXzeTcTWWdqICbaE2bTvJv9cVZOCDrG/s1600/Federal+government+of+Nigeria.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSZrZZrQUz5sSeHvYYuMviB4MfFg_rLHc87eGhiwirozKWCsfe0sbDiXHTbdBdfK2-POpEbtRX_L3lpsCTkBYc0FhADEQUu_nNloCoNL03tZL6BXzeTcTWWdqICbaE2bTvJv9cVZOCDrG/s400/Federal+government+of+Nigeria.png" /></a></div> Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Friday, said that the 2019 Appropriation Bill of N8.83 trillion presented to the joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday was the best the government could present following the circumstances it found itself.<br /> <br /> The Minister also enthused that the President Buhari’s All Progressives Congress, APC, led administration has fulfilled all promises it made to Nigerians.<br /> <br /> Alhaji Mohammed who spoke with State House correspondents after the Friday juma’at at the State House Mosque, Abuja, wished Nigerians merry Christmas and prosperous new year.<br /> <br /> When asked to comment on the statement credited to the Senate President where he was quoted to have said that the 2019 budget document was unworkable, the minister said that the executive presented the best it could within the prevailing circumstances and that it was left to the National Assembly to do whatever it wants with the budget proposal.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> He said, “It is not the practice of the executive to be exchanging words with the legislative arm of government, they are independent, we are independent but to the best of our knowledge, we presented a budget given the circumstances of our resources this year, we feel that is the best we can.<br /> <br /> “It is left for the National Assembly to consider it.”<br /> <br /> On the deadline by the organised labour to the federal government to forward the N30,000 new Minimum Wage to the National Assembly before Dec. 31 or workers would down tools, he appealed to the workers not to do anything that would embarrass the government.<br /> <br /> According to him, “The Nigeria Labour Congress is a very patriotic union and I am very confident that they will not do anything that will embarrass the government or do anything that is going to worsen the situation.<br /> <br /> “Continuous engagement I think is the key, we continue to engage them and I think they also understand what the challenges are. Both parties are determined to ensure that a common ground is arrived at which will be comfortable for all.”<br /> <br /> The Information Minister said that the government has delivered all its obligations and promises to Nigerians, adding that it was determined to do more.<br /> <br /> He said, “I wish everybody Merry Christmas and as a government, we are happy that we have been able to meet all our promises, all our obligations to Nigerians.”</div>

Latest-News 2019 Budget, the best we could present – FG

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Friday, said that the 2019 Appropriation Bill of N8.83 trillion presented to the...

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"APC WIll floor PDP in Delta"

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX59HFMxnLlpM7nDPlztty2R62pQPa1bNZmWo2L8oyQ7uoUz-e9Tp33v5g3K4BvXM8fxkiuHCvLLvnCzfJFr6XydpI3Vefny-uWFKdd0BIvMR8R-lphqi-SQWY_GhlRAELYgkWE_RX9bCa/s1600/APC-LOGO-17.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX59HFMxnLlpM7nDPlztty2R62pQPa1bNZmWo2L8oyQ7uoUz-e9Tp33v5g3K4BvXM8fxkiuHCvLLvnCzfJFr6XydpI3Vefny-uWFKdd0BIvMR8R-lphqi-SQWY_GhlRAELYgkWE_RX9bCa/s320/APC-LOGO-17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> All Progressives Congress, APC, House of Representatives candidate for  Sapele/Okpe/Uvwie federal constituency, Delta State, Chief Monday Igbuya has said, “there is no doubt that APC will defeat the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the governorship and other elections in the state in 2019.”<br /> <br /> “Victory is sure, Delta APC is ready to win at all levels in the 2019 general election, particularly the governorship election in the state.” Igbuya, a former Speaker of Delta House of Assembly assured party faithful at a meeting in Sapele, Sapele local government area of the state.<br /> <br /> He enjoined them to adopt proactive and strategic measures in handling party affairs with a view to coasting home in the general elections.<br /> <br /> The APC leader, who debunked recent media report quoting him as saying that victory was uncertain for his party, cautioned reporters to always cross check their information.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “We must,  therefore, meet regularly as we are doing now to plan for our set objectives and build up ourselves for the victory ahead, which is sure. We must know how we shall go about the elections and how we can tolerate one another to achieve victory.<br /> <br /> “Therefore,  never should we be involved in crisis, so that we can face the task ahead. We must agree with one another and work together, as campaigns have started,” he said.</div>

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"Federal lawmakers who booed Buhari are political imbeciles"

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjIGOL1KrdJJs1jbs7vYXRkxSNbAaJYi2DaVnwA5aw2JVRrx1ChjGL4-TLS90eeJJVDivw604LVKUqEZw2iG3VLTeYARVCbpIGf8vTtUB03eJXEZfOf9esPf8AUM1GWt2yX309C6erxR2/s1600/buhari2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjIGOL1KrdJJs1jbs7vYXRkxSNbAaJYi2DaVnwA5aw2JVRrx1ChjGL4-TLS90eeJJVDivw604LVKUqEZw2iG3VLTeYARVCbpIGf8vTtUB03eJXEZfOf9esPf8AUM1GWt2yX309C6erxR2/s320/buhari2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Sequel to the rowdy session of the joint session of the Nigerian Senate and the House of Representatives during the presentation of the 2019 budget by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused the lawmakers of political imbecility.<br /> <br /> MURIC’s view was contained in a statement sent to journalists Friday.<br /> <br /> According to Ishaq Akintola, a professor, the director and founder of the human rights organization who signed the press release, the attitude of the lawmakers was infantile, pedestrian and ludicrous.<br /> <br /> “Our lawmakers manifested articulated immaturity and exhibited pronounced desertification of parliamentary decorum. They desecrated the hallowed chamber. It was such a shame of a National Assembly (NASS). They descended to the lowest abyss of disgraceful conduct. It is now very clear that the 8th NASS is suffering from acute poverty of patriotism, a yawning lacunae for dignity and an irredeemable deficiency in righteousness.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “To boo and jeer during the presentation of an annual budget shows that our legislators are not interested in how Nigeria makes progress. This was an occasion when lawmakers are expected to show seriousness as the fate of the nation and its people for the next year was being reeled out. In saner climes, the elected representatives of the people manifest concern as the budget of their country is read. They eschew politicking and listen with rapt attention. But not Nigerian lawmakers of the 8th NASS. These are the same lawmakers who delayed 2018 budget for seven months and refused to have anything to do with it until they had sliced off the juicest portions unto themselves.<br /> <br /> “MURIC is not depriving the lawmakers of their right to disagree with the executive. But no lawmaker worth the salt anywhere in the world will carry political disagreement to issues pertaining to the welfare of the citizens. The budget of a country reflects the fate of the people and their welfare at least for that year and sometimes impacts on their future. For choosing to make caricatures of themselves on that august occasion, our lawmakers have proved that they are not worth the trust reposed in them.<br /> <br /> “MURIC is not tongue-lashing the lawmakers for booing. We are chastising them for booing without knowing when to stop. Donald Trump was booed during the State of the Union address on 17th January, 2018 but it was done in a very civilized manner. Democrats who booed him kept quiet after a while and listened attentively because they knew it was about America, not about Trump. They booed Trump for being inhuman by trying to halt chain immigration of poor people from the Third World. That was issue-based.<br /> <br /> “Our own lawmakers booed the president non-stop to the extent that Speaker Dogara who was expected to dive the closing remarks could not do so. They booed without borders. They threw caution to the winds.They booed President Buhari for identifying with the poor masses of Nigeria, for refusing to steal and for exposing their voracious gluttony. It is laughable, detestable, repulsive and condescending, It is, indeed, a tale of two cities.<br /> <br /> “Lawmaking is a leadership position but our lawmakers failed to display the necessary qualities of leadership. They disappointed Nigerians. All those who partook in the booing and jeering need to be taken back to school where they will learn the art of discipline and the qualities of leadership. They are square pegs in a round hole. It is such a shame that our lawmakers decided to vent their spleen in such a disgraceful manner on their president simply because the man refused to join in the rapacious avarice to loot the nation dry. They failed to realize that the line of demarcation between lawmaking and law-breaking is very thin and fragile and they crossed that line in their exhibition of legislative rascality.<br /> <br /> “Whereas Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “The leader of the people is their servant”, our lawmakers see themselves differently. They are feudal lords. They belong to the capitalist and bourgeois political class to whom the people’s welfare means very little. They lack a civilized political culture and their political ideology springs from a ‘bolekaja’ mentality where bitterness, acrimony, derision and violence take the driving seat. This much was displayed by them during the presentation of 2019 budget.<br /> <br /> “MURIC salutes President Muhammadu Buhari for remaining calm and composed throughout the day. Mr. President stood ramrod as they booed and jeered. His comportment unsettled his adversaries. He made the nation proud by refusing to loose his temper. But the icing on the cake was his fatherly admonition to the rascally lawmakers as he scolded them, ‘Let us conduct ourselves properly. The world is watching us. We are supposed to be above this’. That was Mr. Integrity incarnate speaking, the pride of our great nation.<br /> <br /> “Those golden words will remain on the marble as long as Nigeria continues to exist. They are monumental, philosophical and didactic. Generations to come will read them and they will ponder, ‘What a great leader that was’. But what will they think about the rowdy lawmakers? ‘Verily, verily, we say unto the 8th NASS, you were a huge disappointment!’<br /> <br /> “The fault goes to the electorate anyway. Nigerians are adept at electing incompetent politicians. Our level of enlightenment is near zero. But the worst problem we have is our pathological docility. Venezuela parliamentarians learnt to comport themselves the hard way. They were proving too difficult for the president. The citizens invaded parliament and threw them out. Nigerians leave everything in the hands of God whereas the Qur’an says, ‘God will not change the condition of a people until they decide to change it themselves’ (Glorious Qur’an 13:11).<br /> <br /> “As a parting shot, we remind those hostile lawmakers that their disgraceful conduct on that day has added luster to Buhari’s glamour. He is already a hero of our nation but they made him a greater hero. Whether he clinches a second term or not, Nigerians, nay, the world at large, have written his name in letters of gold.”<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /></div>

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What did you do with our money? Osinbajo asks past governments

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZrug8LTGOMIRAprCDHwSjswA3mLO_JHx5wPTHNGlIV8qYMKN6fE1P-0hd7R-WaHbP-fKXNaIaod4ndRTdOrFhEo3Q0MZNFT-ZpKlmg182mtku9t4X7DWt0J7V3hMU8h7_TtmFijPCgVf/s1600/yemi+osinbajo.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZrug8LTGOMIRAprCDHwSjswA3mLO_JHx5wPTHNGlIV8qYMKN6fE1P-0hd7R-WaHbP-fKXNaIaod4ndRTdOrFhEo3Q0MZNFT-ZpKlmg182mtku9t4X7DWt0J7V3hMU8h7_TtmFijPCgVf/s320/yemi+osinbajo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has taken a swipe at previous governments particularly the administration of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with a charge on Nigerians to ask them what they did with monies earned?<br /> <br /> The Vice President also disclosed that in building infrastructures for the development of the country, the administration of President Muhammad Buhari has spent N2.7 trillion on building infrastructure since its assumption in office. Prof. Osinbajo made the disclosure at the palace of the Ovie of Ughelli, HRM Oharisi III during a courtesy visit on the monarch in company of other Urhobo monarchs after he launched the Trader Moni Scheme at the Ughelli Main Market.<br /> <br /> In his address to the monarchs, Osinbajo who was accompanied by Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and others, said 30, 000 petty traders would benefit from the scheme with N10,000 each in January, 2019.<br /> <br /> Speaking further, he said: “This is not a government that believe that the money of the people should be stolen because our determination is to build this country.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “We are earning today 60 percent less than what the country earned in the past 10years, yet we are spending more in building infrastructure than any government in the country today.<br /> <br /> “The question we ought to ask previous government is, what did they do with the monies if today we are still building the Itakpe-Warri railway line which was established 35years ago as well as the Kaduna Hydro project which also was established 40years ago?”</div>

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Tradermoni: Osibanjo faults opposition’s allegation of vote-buying

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElIvfFgTEnH5hycOgqgox3lSah3x13eloeq66bWew_E6OdYbpLQiFl_uKg6cy5DpfwkAZjEsejGtPGS_hdAMv1wBx0YH8vShQ3GfcHp2KocYn984IpShDDvNi6rXXpClbZZLp3p3UucE2/s1600/yemi+osinbajo.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElIvfFgTEnH5hycOgqgox3lSah3x13eloeq66bWew_E6OdYbpLQiFl_uKg6cy5DpfwkAZjEsejGtPGS_hdAMv1wBx0YH8vShQ3GfcHp2KocYn984IpShDDvNi6rXXpClbZZLp3p3UucE2/s320/yemi+osinbajo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo has faulted the position of opposition party that the Tradermoni and market money schemes under the Federal Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme is meant to lure the electorate to vote for the ruling All Progressives Congress APC.<br /> <br /> Professor Osinbajo stated this while fielding questions from journalists at the Asaba International Airport, Asaba on his way back to Abuja after visiting Warri and Asaba.<br /> <br /> He said it was worrisome that some persons would think that the Tradermoni and market money empowerment programmes of the Federal government was a ploy to seek for votes.<br /> <br /> The Vice President said the funds for the empowerment programmes was duly approved by the National Assembly which is strictly meant to assist market men and women enhance their businesses without any ulterior motives.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “The scheme was duly approved by the National Assembly, if they don’t like the empowerment programmes because they are on the other side then it calls for concern “.<br /> <br /> Professor Osinbajo maintained that the federal government was expanding the scope of the Tradermoni and visited Ogbogonogo market in Asaba to interact with the beneficiaries and market men and women.<br /> <br /> The Vice President had earlier arrived at the Asaba International Airport at 5.27 pm amidst cheers by supporters and stakeholders of the APC who had thronged the airport.<br /> <br /> The Minister of Petroleum State, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, former Governor of Delta State and APC Senatorial Candidate for Delta South, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, Senator Ovie Omo Agege, APC Governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru arrived Asaba with the Vice President from Warri.<br /> <br /> Professor Osibanjo’s convoy went straight to Ogbogonogo market and went round the market acknowledging cheers from traders and onlookers.<br /> <br /> He interacted with some market men and women on their businesses and enjoined them to inject the fund into their businesses as there was greatness in little beginnings.</div>

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I’ve married three times for the wrong reasons – Charly Boy

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5VZpjD6wQoc591Yj4xMshR8apTj7gyXpwcNhlOklA_yDuadCgQUGJgZkeOQ7KB_SdpWLoHizvwU0uJMe88x7-pr99cQGyzUMyjHMzmUZAWiRGKuhsalWGGOPqP03HPEKWfHCAVdKJ7ad/s1600/Charly+Boy.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5VZpjD6wQoc591Yj4xMshR8apTj7gyXpwcNhlOklA_yDuadCgQUGJgZkeOQ7KB_SdpWLoHizvwU0uJMe88x7-pr99cQGyzUMyjHMzmUZAWiRGKuhsalWGGOPqP03HPEKWfHCAVdKJ7ad/s320/Charly+Boy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Entertainer and activist, Charles Oputa, popularly called Charly Boy, made the news recently when he announced that he was going to divorce his wife and marry her the next day. The Area Fada actually acted true to his words as a marriage ceremony was held in honour of him and his wife of 40 years, Lady Diane.<br /> <br /> Speaking to Saturday Beats about the secret of his marriage of 40 years, Charly Boy noted that his ability to build a healthy friendship with his wife had kept his home together.<br /> <br /> “Marriage is a game of management and perseverance that young people find difficult to conform to. Life comes with its own problems; one can never know what is around the corner. Even though a couple is compatible, there will still be some issues they don’t agree on.<br /> <br /> Friendship is what has kept my marriage peaceful.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “When someone is your friend; it will be easy to open up to such a person. To attain that kind of friendship, there has to be mutual respect between the two people. Addressing issues with openness makes life easy, every problem has a solution. I don’t think some young people are willing to make all these sacrifices. They are always in hurry, they don’t think about the future.<br /> <br /> Oputa, who has been in three failed marriages, said he married the women he was involved with in those marriages for the wrong reasons.<br /> <br /> “I won’t add the conditions of my past marriages to my experience because my case is a little different. I have always seen my father and mother together in love even though they quarrelled and argued overtime.  This made a big impression on me, I admired them. I loved those kinds of things.<br /> <br /> “I was not ready for marriage when my first marriage took place. My mother forced me to get married. I was busy impregnating people instead of reading my books, so my mother made sure I got married to curb my excesses as a teenager.<br /> <br /> “I was 19, and my mother brought her to me. The second one was when I was in my 20s, I wasn’t even ready as well, it was just to get myself settled in the US, but I later realised that the US wasn’t a place I could settle in. The marriage lasted for about three years, and I cut my stay in the US short because I experienced racism. I was almost killed because of the colour of my skin. Those things made me hate America; my uncles never believed I would return to Nigeria. After the second marriage failed, I married the third woman in America for the wrong reason,” he told Saturday Beats.<br /> <br /> The entertainer said that he never knew he would be married to his current wife and he told Saturday Beats the details of his love story.<br /> <br /> “This is my fourth marriage; I wasn’t even expecting to marry my wife. She came one day after we had been dating for a while and told me that if I didn’t marry her, she would leave me. I thought it was going to end like the others. We got married shortly after that with only one witness present at the registry.<br /> <br /> “That was all that we did; there was no party at all and we are still together after 40 years. My parents didn’t even want me to marry someone who didn’t come from Nigeria. I was just against too many battles. I decided that my marriage must work. We have learnt how to manage ourselves through any kind of stormy weather. Marriage is not easy; I can’t say I am living in paradise because I would be lying.<br /> <br /> “The essence of a true marriage is not about a flamboyant wedding. My father taught me the art of a simple life, I am happier that way. I used a tricycle to renew my vows because I am a simple person. Expensive things don’t define me, money doesn’t move me, and I don’t show off. I was implying that I wanted to renew my vows on December 15; some people didn’t get the joke. I was not trying to say I would actually divorce my wife and remarry someone else, I simply meant I wanted to renew my vows,” he added.</div>

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'We no longer wear pants because of Yahoo boys' - Nigerian university students lament

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnp2K6bCqPlvMzfRegbBVIjxxWf2DX8cWSG1aNSpDafW5Od9Xt0aHEcpUX5CuFz8Ks4kaYv4ptXpXmqm8TfkANEVriSwu9UmR3ghyphenhyphenM9Be76H9ZFgFZDdoXjaFOI7KNwazaf1iu4hyq3tzX/s1600/pants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="270" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnp2K6bCqPlvMzfRegbBVIjxxWf2DX8cWSG1aNSpDafW5Od9Xt0aHEcpUX5CuFz8Ks4kaYv4ptXpXmqm8TfkANEVriSwu9UmR3ghyphenhyphenM9Be76H9ZFgFZDdoXjaFOI7KNwazaf1iu4hyq3tzX/s400/pants.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <b><br /></b> <b><br /></b> <b>Many young Nigerian girls no longer wear pant and undies because of fresh reports that ‘Yahoo boys’ turned ritualists now steal female underwear, sometimes at gunpoint, particularly around campuses of tertiary institutions .</b><br /> <br /> Although the veracity of the claims that such stolen undies are used for ritual purposes has not been established, such reports have instilled fear into the hearts of ladies living in such areas, resulting in fear and panic.<br /> <br /> And in the ensuing panic, our correspondent observed that many ladies in the affected areas in Delta have been devising ways to safeguard themselves against danger.<br /> <br /> It was learnt that the underwear of girls and women, particularly of ages between 14 and 35, are allegedly considered as ‘hot cakes’ for use by the ritualists.<br /> <br /> Used pants, according to some students at Asaba campus of the Delta State University, sells for as much as N350,000, with some adding that the price can be higher if it is confirmed to have body fluids.<br /> <br /> At the campus, it was learnt that one of the measures being used by female students to protect themselves is to go out without wearing pants.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> For instance, a student of the school, who lives outside the school campus and who only identified herself as Esther, said three of her friends had started employing the strategy of going out without wearing pants.<br /> <br /> “We hear that the pants those ritualists or ‘Yahoo boys’ steal are being used for money ritual. After they finish performing some rituals on the pants, the owners will start bleeding or vomiting blood. Since the news got to us, three of my friends have stopped wearing pants. I have stopped going out at night, even for something as important as going to the campus to study at night. Although, I heard that these evil people also operate during the day, I believe it is more dangerous at night.<br /> <br /> “We heard that last week, on Anwai Road, at around 8pm, two men forcibly collected a young lady’s pants. As I speak to you, we have not seen the lady since then to know the effect it will have on her. Though, unlike my friends who have stopped wearing pants, I still do, but we have been advised to stop hanging our pants on washing lines outside.<br /> <br /> A 22-year-old female student of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, who simply identified herself as Sandra, described the alleged theft of female underpants as evil brought for Asaba by ‘Yahoo boys’.<br /> <br /> Confirming that some ladies no longer wear pants in some parts of the state, especially in Abraka, Asaba, fear of having them stolen by ritualists, Sandra said she was told that some pants could be sold for as much as N500,000 each.<br /> <br /> Sandra, who said she had stopped wearing pants outside, said, “I am telling you the truth; in Delta State now, especially Asaba, there is fear because the way these ‘Yahoo boys’ or ‘Yahoo Plus boys’ are looking for female pants is crazy. Some even collect ladies’ pants at gunpoint.<br /> <br /> “I have stopped wearing pants whenever I am going out, and that goes for some of my friends too to prevent ourselves from being victims of these evil people. When they collect someone’s pants, it is the end for that person. It happened to one lady in Umuagwu quarters of Asaba. Her family has taken her to church for healing because she has been behaving abnormally. I have also stopped going out with people I don’t know their background, especially those with flashy cars.”<br /> <br /> Another student, who insisted that the problem was really serious but spoke on condition of anonymity, said, she knew a lady who fell ill after losing her pants.<br /> <br /> “I know one Jenifer who fell into the hands of these evil boys in Asaba. On Friday, December 14, 2018, she fell very ill. The management of a hotel in Umugwu, where she had gone to meet someone, quickly reported the case to the police and they were advised to take her to a traditional healing home.<br /> <br /> “When contacted on the telephone, the man identified as the culprit, said the lady was still alive, but since then, his line had not been reachable,” she said.<br /> <br /> Our source met a female hairdresser, who claimed that the victim was her customer and that she had visited her at the place where she was being treated. She said the lady was looking very ill and that it didn’t look like she would survive. But as she was talking to newsmen another lady joined the conversation, saying the lady in question had died.<br /> <br /> It was also learnt that in Abraka, Ughelli, Ozoro and Warri, some ladies have resulted to sprinkling their pants with oil that had allegedly been blessed by preachers.<br /> <br /> According to Efe, a young lady in her late 20s, she no longer hangs her underwear on the washing line outside her flat or leaves the diapers used by her baby lying around.<br /> <br /> “Some women sprinkle their pants with ‘anointed oil’. Some of us have stopped hanging our pants on washing lines outside. If you come to my compound, you won’t see any underwear hanging outside like it used to be and it is because we are afraid of ritualists.<br /> <br /> “Since we heard the news, we have been hanging our pants in our bathrooms; whether they get dry or not is not a big issue. We sometimes iron our underwear to get them dry. We are also mindful of what our visitors could do so we take precautions. We understand that these ‘boys’ have agents who sneak into houses to steal pants and brassieres.<br /> <br /> “Although, I haven’t seen anyone who is a victim of this problem, I have heard about some cases. Even my female neighbours told me that they had stopped wearing pants since there were reports about some guys stealing underwear at gunpoint. It’s better not to wear pants than to die prematurely,” she said.<br /> <br /> When asked if not wearing pants could increase the incidence of rape, Efe said “yes,” adding that “we don’t have any other option and even men will not know that a lady is not wearing pants except they are told or they are really close to the woman.”<br /> <br /> In Ogwushi-Uku Polytechnic in Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state, it was learnt that female students had adopted a strategy of going to their boyfriends’ places without their undies.<br /> <br /> This was disclosed by a student in National Diploma Two, who identified herself as Cynthia.<br /> <br /> “Most ladies have stopped leaving their pants in their boyfriend’s house or wearing pants there. In my own case, I trust my man and believe he will not do anything to hurt me. He is from a good background and not a greedy person who would want to make quick money through rituals. But I know that many ladies on this campus now visit their boyfriends without putting on underwear. For instance, my friend, Chida, has stopped wearing pants,” Cynthia said.<br /> <br /> When asked if some were avoiding having boyfriends as a move to be more cautious, Cynthia said, “We are just trying our luck to see if the friendship we develop now will lead to marriage. Before now, whenever you visited your boyfriend and had to sleep over, you would take some spare underwear along, but that no longer happens.<br /> <br /> “Also, we avoid lonely routes, during the day and at night because of the sad reports that get to us. We heard that some people now go about in flashy cars, looking for ladies on lonely roads whom they would point their gun at and ask them to bring their pants or be shot dead.<br /> <br /> “Many ladies have stopped going out after 6:30 pm; we would rather stay in our hostels.”<br /> <br /> Our correspondent also ran into five young ladies discussing how ritualists had also allegedly reviewed their strategy by forcing ladies to wear new pants and then taking them back.<br /> <br /> “We don’t know what to do again; most of us have stopped wearing pants but these ‘Yahoo tboys’ have also adopted another method. They go about with new pants and when they meet ladies that do not have pants on, they will give them pants to wear and collect them back, at gunpoint. Women should also look for what they will use men’s boxers to do. May God protect women in these evil days,” one of the ladies said.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, a man was reportedly apprehended recently while allegedly attempting to steal some female underwear. The suspect was reportedly caught by local vigilantes in Agbarha-Ughelli area of the state after he allegedly stole a bra and was looking for pants to steal.<br /> <br /> When he was quizzed by security operatives, the suspect allegedly confessed that a man whom he had asked to show him how to make money told him to go and get female pants and bras before he would assist him.<br /> <br /> He allegedly said he was to meet with the unknown man at a popular hotel in Ughelli area after getting the underwear.<br /> <br /> Also, on Sunday, December 2, 2018, five ladies were said to have encountered some ritualists at Oha Junction, close to Osubi along Abraka Road, who ordered them at gunpoint to bring their pants.<br /> It was also learnt that some churches had started advocacy to advise their female members to be mindful of where they keep their pants.<br /> <br /> A female Sunday school teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “We have seen it as our responsibility to teach our ladies, especially teenagers, ways to avoid being victims of this ugly practice that we experience in Delta State.<br /> <br /> “As a teacher in my church, I have told female members of my church to be suspicious of their friends and even brothers. They should not leave their pants lying around anywhere. If possible, they should hide them in their bags and they should not collect pants as gifts from friends. We used to hear ‘your money or your life’ but today, it has become a case of ‘your pants or your life.”<br /> <br /> She further advised young ladies to be wary of hanging their pants on washing lines outside and to be smart enough to resist being deceived by men in flashy cars, saying “all that glitters is not gold.”<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Mr Charles Aniagwu, the Chief Press Secretary to Okowa, said the governor had ordered a crackdown on all ‘Yahoo boys’, ritualists and all those involved in the unexplainable and sudden wealth acquired by some people in the state.<br /> <br /> He expressed concern over the increasing and disturbing activities of suspected ritual killers and criminally minded individuals, whom he said were becoming more conspicuous because of their flamboyant lifestyles.<br /> <br /> “The governor has ordered the police commissioner to go after these ‘Yahoo boys’ that are causing fear, unrest and panic in the state,” he said.<br /> <br /> The Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, who confirmed the development, said the case of a young woman – Ezino – who had a ‘strange’ ailment had brought the attention of the police command to the activities of ritualists in the state.<br /> <br /> He said that the young woman reported to the Police A Division station and complained that maggots were coming out of her body after and that she was referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, to ascertain the cause.<br /> <br /> “From the FMC, the lady was taken to a traditional healing home by her family, but we have not heard from her since then,” he said.<br /> <br /> On whether the suspect was arrested, Aniamaka said, “What offence shall we arrest him for? The boyfriend said he only slept with her and that he did not rape her. For maggots to be coming out of her private parts is not known to the law.”<br /> <br /> Aniamaka said no arrest connected to the alleged stealing of female underwear had been made so far, but he urged members of the public to always give timely information to the police to help prevent.<br /> <br /> He urged ladies to be security conscious at all times, assuring that the command was ready to decisively deal with crime in the state.<br /> <br /> Mrs Benedicta Osakunih-Izuegbu, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Girl Child Development, had said that the current wave of criminalities, frauds and ritual-related crimes, should be fought through advocacy.<br /> <br /> “We have to fight this crime in three ways; one is through advocacy to enable the perpetrators, particularly the youth to change their mindset. Again, parents and guardians must ask questions and query all wealth got illegally by their children and wards. The traditional institution and government should also come up with policies and programmes to tackle the crime.” she had said.<br /> <br /> The fear of ritualists is currently rife in the state with some women appealing to government at all levels to rise to the challenge and punish anyone found to be involved in crime.

Latest-News 'We no longer wear pants because of Yahoo boys' - Nigerian university students lament

Many young Nigerian girls no longer wear pant and undies because of fresh reports that ‘Yahoo boys’ turned ritualists now steal female u...

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PDP queries source of N1.77 Billion donated to Buhari by Nigerian farmers

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="170" data-original-width="297" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTPjlktLjsMepn3T38flpdyMqEAVO56EIlXsj7GEIjiTkMyugwQextitJnMr0C9i5jNr7GMYmXpzbCzafI0vmxCfPegDZmuAL8L_j3PQiE3kFvFnoK7PWEO7jIbn_DSkXXyxmS2_ciOpY/s400/buhari+a+PDP.jpeg" width="400" /></div> <br /> The Peoples Democratic Party has queried the source of the N1.77bn donation by the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria and the Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria to President Muhammadu Buhari for his re-election campaign.<br /> <br /> The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, who spoke on <i>Politics Today,</i> a live programme on Channels Television, on Friday evening, alleged that the N100 was paid by farmers as registration fee to obtain loans from the Federal Government.<br /> <br /> Ologbondiyan said, “The programme, which the All Progressives Congress claimed the Central Bank of Nigeria would raise a sum of N1.2bn through the association of Nigerian farmers, is a fraud. It’s a scam and it shows manifestly the corruption that has permeated this government.<br /> <br /> “The RIFAN programme under President Buhari’s administration has imposed pains and anguish on Nigerians. FEPSAN was told to register with N100. They were told to pay a sum of N7.50. They were told that each farmer would benefit, depending on the (number of) hectares of land they possess, a minimum of N200,000 to engage in farming.”<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The PDP spokesman stated that under the Buhari administration, no farmer had been given the N200,000.<br /> <br /> He added that the Federal Government, through RIFAN, gave each farmer three bags of seed, a pumping machine, and a hoe of five feet, which he said was allocated to two farmers to share.<br /> “For them to now turn around and claim that the same Nigerians, from whom they have looted resources, are now contributing N100 for Buhari’s campaign is the height of corruption and it manifestly shows that this government is a scam.<br /> <br /> “The Anchor Borrowers Programme predated this administration and in times past, particularly during (former) President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, there were cases of funds being distributed to farmers.<br /> <br /> “But I am insisting that under this administration, farmers are being scammed and there is nowhere in this entire nation where farmers have been told that they are to contribute a sum of N100 for the campaign of President Buhari.<br /> <br /> “I and my party are insisting that for anybody without the CBN governor or whoever to come out and claim that Nigerian farmers are raising funds for President Buhari is a fraud and scammer. It is the height of corruption that is associated with this present government,” he said.<br /> <br /> The National Coordinator, Buhari Campaign Group, Danladi Pasali, however, dismissed the allegations, stating that the farmers were happy with the increase in production of rice.<br /> <br /> Pasali said, “People that have ruled this country for 16 years couldn’t offer anything to this country. We’re no more importing rice, toothpicks and all sorts of nonsense, and the country is making a lot of headway. Nigerians appreciate that the government has really given them all the succour and support to go back to farms.<br /> <br /> “We’re talking of farmers coming together on their own to say they appreciate what Mr President and the government have done for them. In those days, somebody would go to the farm and there would be no way they could sell their things because they bastardised the system in the sense that importing made Nigeria a dumping ground for all sorts of products.<br /> <br /> “But what the present administration is doing is encouraging Nigerians to go back to farms. It is the association of farmers that came together and said, ‘Mr President, we thank you for this ban. You should continue to ban the importation of all sorts of things that can be produced in Nigeria.’”

Latest-News PDP queries source of N1.77 Billion donated to Buhari by Nigerian farmers

The Peoples Democratic Party has queried the source of the N1.77bn donation by the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria and the Fertiliser...

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US govt shuts down at midnight

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="400" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8MQfS-w0Z7liw_udjcBkoZOZydo6WI4eijDm92ViGrJPeMPqepuXyUS2uslqBCgldBOl1rbLxWU_MvKK2AaJSDCy-8C9T8RkM1ZdfUOMIw-snw9lWow4XDahrMo3sT6BPmvKEO24gIK9/s400/trump+phone.png" width="400" /></div> <br /> <br /> The US House of Representatives adjourned Friday without Congress passing a spending deal, assuring a partial government shutdown at midnight as President Donald Trump and lawmakers remain at odds over border wall funding.<br /> <br /> Operations for several key agencies will cease in the early hours of Saturday, despite last-ditch talks that continued on Capitol Hill between White House officials and congressional leaders in both parties.<br /> <br /> Trump is seeking $5 billion for construction of a wall on the US border with Mexico. Democrats are staunchly opposed, and the absence of an elusive deal means federal funds for dozens of agencies will lapse at midnight.<br /> <br /> It remained unclear how long the shutdown will last. But the optics are bad, as hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be either furloughed or forced to work without pay in the run up to the Christmas holiday.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The House is due back in session at noon (1700 GMT) Saturday.<br /> <br /> The Senate meanwhile remained open late Friday, but there were no signs yet of a breakthrough, and the chamber was quiet.<br /> <br /> Senators told reporters that congressional leaders from both parties were negotiating behind the scenes with White House officials including Vice President Mike Pence, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and incoming chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.<br /> <br /> One focus of discussion was the $1.6 billion in border security funding that was a part of pending Senate legislation, number two Senate Republican John Cornyn told AFP.<br /> <br /> But conservatives in the House would likely balk at that figure.<br /> <br /> “There’s no agreement,” congressman Mark Meadows, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus of ultra-conservatives, told reporters as he made his way from Senate meetings to the House.<br /> <br /> “There’s a whole lot of numbers being thrown around,” but a maximum $1.6 billion for border security “is not acceptable.”<br /> <br /> Trump was scheduled to fly to Florida late Friday for his Christmas break, but the White House said the president postponed the trip and would remain in Washington in an effort to salvage a spending deal.<br /> <br /> AFP

Latest-News US govt shuts down at midnight

The US House of Representatives adjourned Friday without Congress passing a spending deal, assuring a partial government shutdown at midn...

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Candidates of Amosun, Okorocha are fake, says Oshiomhole

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="700" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsrXiqS4U_GIcqD5cGrBOVICwCh9-vDCtcnIGLDq2Y_QRtospilgOjII2a56ZUPlOWRG3mvzhx2wYHO9lj5Oid9cpVfYRzT5XIt50pX5JhXp1sKxU6Qu0_hDku0zIoWona1dAeXIW2sSt/s640/Adams-Oshiomhole-e1532808695386.jpg" width="640" /></div> <br /> Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says candidates of other parties who placing President Muhammadu Buhari’s pictures beside theirs are fake.<br /> <br /> Adekunle Akinlade, preferred candidate of Ibikunle Amosun, governor of Ogun state, and Uche Nwosu, the choice of Rochas Okorocha, governor of Imo state, are campaigning with Buhari’s picture despite pulling out of the APC after losing their bid to secure its ticket.<br /> <br /> While Akinlade is of Allied Peoples Movement, Nwosu has since joined the Action Alliance.<br /> <br /> But speaking in Owerri, Imo capital, at a rally to flag-off the campaign of Hope Uzodimma, governorship candidate of the APC in Imo state, Oshiomhole said the only candidate endorsed by Buhari in the state is that of the APC.<br /> <br /> “Those who are putting Buhari with their faces because they are unknown are fake. Buhari has APC as his party,” Oshiomhole said.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “Buhari has adopted Uzodinma as his governorship candidate. We brought you a message of hope not a message of lamentation and family business.<br /> <br /> “We have come to deliver the message of hope that although things have gone wrong in the recent past, we have come to say how we will return the governance of the state to the people.”<br /> <br /> He assured civil servants in the state that they would not be neglected or treated with levity in Uzodinma’s government.<br /> <br /> “The government that is coming will bring development for every son and daughter of Imo. Today is not a concert but a day to pass the message of hope,” he said.<br /> <br /> “You have a reason for demanding change. You want a governorship candidate whose purpose is to bring development to all Imo people including civil servants who no longer know what a pay day is like.<br /> <br /> “In Uzodinma’s government, appointments will be based on merit and not family connection. We will not domesticate happiness in the hands of a few people because all Imo people will be happy.”

Latest-News Candidates of Amosun, Okorocha are fake, says Oshiomhole

Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says candidates of other parties who placing President Muhamm...

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Buhari to South-East - 'I am not neglecting any part of Nigeria'

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="412" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVmzkEbELJ9tKt6vDTQublAzOA_PwTG8fVajnuiyIHa_HL19gVj100dCwkC0F-TnULkvjCjJUrYeQX2oP7hY59tNhdmiS-9P3LwiEp2dro5up7P1NEMVX49QXRLED7XOfGJOHu17Bz-V0/s400/buhari+igbo+ww.png" width="400" /></div> <br /> President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said that his administration was not neglecting any part of the country.<br /> <br /> Buhari, who spoke through the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, during the inauguration of a multi-billion naira water project at Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, said he loves Igbo people.<br /> <br /> The President said that the people of the South-East geopolitical zone should rest assured that he woulld fulfil every promise he made to them.<br /> <br /> The minister said, “President Muhammadu Buhari holds Igbo people in high esteem and will do everything within his reach and power to fulfil his promises to the people of the region.”<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> He explained that the water project, which was initiated by Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu (Imo North), was appropriated in the 2019 budget estimate.<br /> <br /> According to Adamu, the project will make clean water available to the people of Ehime Mbano.<br /> <br /> Speaking at the event, Uwajumogu said his constituents would support Buhari’s re-election bid.

Latest-News Buhari to South-East - 'I am not neglecting any part of Nigeria'

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said that his administration was not neglecting any part of the country. Buhari, who spoke through...

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Drama as Okorocha locks out Oshiomole from Imo stadium

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="600" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22p_hL79sqkliR9hrUV9LE7WlrjlYVodsKUyt1oQPd_L4a8-goPH1RupgFkEDPuHcKO4KrQ5tjAtxDPS2rpVhU0qKp8zsslQdqWPWGymsLEawaageH5o1z7e0tPj0Vd1NUxcuiMT3sZvt/s640/Oshiomole-Okorocha-2.jpg" width="640" /></div> <br /> <br /> The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State were yesterday locked in a fresh spat after the state government allegedly denied APC the use of Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri for the flag-off of its governorship election campaign.<br /> <br /> Oshiomhole branded the governor’s action anti-party and derided his style of governance. Although Okorocha is an APC member, he is vehemently opposed to the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Hope Uzodinma, whose election he has threatened to work against. The governor, who is supporting his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, for the governorship race on the platform of Action Alliance (AA), fired back at Oshiomhole, dismissing the allegation that he denied Uzodinma the use of the stadium as untrue, adding that only Oshiohole could believe it. Okorocha and members of the state cabinet boycotted yesterday’s campaign of APC.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Oshiomhole said: “For the workers who no longer know what a pay day looks like, I bring a message of hope. “When a governor will look at the face of his people and say there is money to do other things but no money to pay those who are working for the government. “I bring a message of hope that appointments into your government will be made on merit and not on family connection. “I bring a message of hope that when we talk of happiness, we will not domesticate it in the hands of a sister; that the happiness of the great people of Imo State will be the primary purpose of government under Senator Hope Uzodinma. “I bring you a message of hope that in constructing buildings and building roads, they will be based on due process. “One contract will not be awarded to three people. If it must be awarded, it must not be awarded to in-laws; it will be awarded to genuine business men and women of Imo State.<br /> <br /> “I bring you hope that never again will your governor look at your leaders and abuse them because democracy is about people. “I bring you a message of hope that never again shall we govern on the basis of family connection: whether you know somebody or you don’t know somebody; you married from me, I didn’t marry from you; that shall not be the basis of winning the next election. “I bring you a message of hope that your money will be used to develop Imo land. “And through you, I bring a message of hope to the traditional rulers; that they will be able to preside over their domains without being intimidated by the governor. “I bring you a message of hope that from now on, we will govern in a way that will leave no man in doubt that democracy is government of the people by the people and for the people.<br /> <br /> “I want to assure those workers who have been lamenting, those families whose husbands have not been paid for six months to nine months, and I want to assure those pensioners that the bailout money which President Buhari gave to governors, including the governor of Imo State, that was not used for the purpose, that money will be retrieved and our pensioners will smile again. “Never again will a governor of this state look at you in the face and say that your salary depends on when he wants and not when it is due. “Never again will someone use your money to print posters with a President Obama when he is doing the opposite of Obama. “I bring you assurances of hope that you are going to have a governor who will lead you by the power of personal example. “Let me say it without fear of contradiction that those who are printing President Muhammadu Buhari’s posters, putting his face and their own faces because their faces are unknown, their party is unknown and they will put Buhari’s face and put the logo of an unknown party, those ones are fake.<br /> <br /> “President Muhammadu Buhari has APC as his party. He is our presidential candidate. President Muhammadu Buhari believes in and has adopted Senator Hope Uzodinma as the APC governorship candidate. “We want real democrats that will accept the will of the people. How can you explain that an APC governor will deny an APC candidate the use of the stadium that is built with tax payers’ money from Imo State?” Switching to pidgin English, Oshiomhole continued: “I hear say yesterday he talk am say he no wan give stadium because when he dey contest against (former governor Ikedi) Ohakim, he talk say Ohakim no give am stadium. So, he too go copy Ohakim. I say e good oh! If you copy who fail exam, you too you never fail? If you copy who fail exam, what will you get? He who copy failure will find failure awaiting him.”<br /> <br /> In a swift reaction to Oshiomhole’s allegation, Okorocha, speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, said: “For those who know Chief Hope Uzodinma very well, they won’t be surprised that he could come up with this false claim on the issue. Only men like Adams Oshiomhole would believe him. “Since Governor Rochas Okorocha became governor in 2011, the Dan Anyiam Stadium has always been made available for all the political parties and candidates to use, not minding the political affiliations.<br /> <br /> “The Stadium is the property of Imo people and Chief Uzodinma would not have been denied the opportunity of using the facility for the flag-off of his campaign if he had asked or applied for it. “He never applied to use the stadium, especially when a press release had been issued days before the flag-off of his campaign that the governor had directed that the stadium should be released free to political parties and candidates who would like to use it for their rallies or for other political activities. “As usual, Chief Uzodinma wanted to use the stadium issue to blackmail the governor and to continue to deceive men like Oshiomhole.<br /> <br /> “The truth is that Chief Hope Uzodinma cannot raise up to one thousand people, talk more (sic) raising a crowd that would fill the stadium. “He does not have the capacity. He knows his handicaps. Where would Chief Uzodinma get the crowd to fill the Stadium? “Last time, he published a crowd of an event that took place in the north as the crowd that graced his rally when he was named the candidate of the party. And Senator Araraume’s men also used the picture of the same crowd. We exposed them on that. “Men and women of goodwill should ignore Chief Uzodinma’s claim for who he is.”

Latest-News Drama as Okorocha locks out Oshiomole from Imo stadium

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State were ye...

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Swiss close to revealing Nigerian beneficiaries of $1.1 Billion Malabu oil bribes

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="750" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuCrRHKMqYy-OLr0fNJwwHZwgWXT2Vyt0hs6Ct1xyPVsuVQleB7vg9OMg9hkg0ilbYwk746yaZg6iXVa55AFiVo5gUcLg168RoHKaydnQn3sRjz-nwwD8D9bZGUC1tFHK73mDlkaXsYug/s400/dollars+d.jpeg" width="400" /></div> <br /> Materials in a suitcase seized nearly three years ago by Swiss authorities may unlock the identities of the Nigerian recipients of the $1.1billion in corrupt payments by Shell and ENI over the purchase of OPL 245 from Malabu Oil.<br /> <br /> A Geneva prosecutor is now reviewing the materials and will decide what can be shared with Italian authorities, where some trials have begun in the monumental bribery scandal.<br /> <br /> The prosecutor received the green light after Switzerland’s top court, the Federal Tribunal, rejected an appeal by Nigerian defendant Emeka Obi to prevent his bag from being unsealed.<br /> <br /> The Lausanne court’s Nov. 8 ruling, published online, said that the confiscated material – including documents, an external hard drive, British and African passports, and USB keys – could have “potential pertinence” in the criminal investigation and the sealing could be lifted without violating Swiss law.<br /> <br /> “The Geneva prosecutor now has access to all the material in conformity with the Federal Tribunal ruling,” it said in a reply to <i>Reuters.</i><br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> He will select the material to be handed over, it said. Under Swiss law, privileged information cannot be shared in international judicial assistance in criminal matters and the prosecutor’s choice of documents can be appealed.<br /> <br /> Obi’s Geneva lawyers Paul Gully-Hart and Charles Goumaz told Reuters that they were cooperating with the prosecutor’s office.<br /> <br /> “With respect to the ongoing proceedings in Switzerland, regarding the suitcase of our client, we can confirm that no decision has yet been taken in respect of the transmission of any of its contents to the Italian authorities,” they said in a statement.<br /> <br /> “Our client has maintained his innocence in regards to the various allegations made by the Milan prosecutors and is confident that the final evaluation of the contents of his bag will confirm this.<br /> <br /> “Our position remains, as it has always been from the beginning, that the only material that should even be considered for transmission to the Italians must be strictly limited to non-protected material that is directly related to our client’s involvement in the OPL 245 transaction,” they added.<br /> <br /> An Italian judge said on Monday Eni and Shell were fully aware their 2011 purchase of a Nigerian oilfield would result in corrupt payments to Nigerian politicians and officials.<br /> <br /> Eni and Shell bought the OPL 245 offshore field for about $1.3 billion in a deal that spawned one of the industry’s largest corruption scandals. It is alleged that about $1.1 billion of the total was siphoned to agents and middlemen.<br /> <br /> The Milan judge made the comment in her written reasons for the September conviction of Obi and Italian Gianluca Di Nardo, both middlemen in the OPL 245 deal, for corruption. The pair were jailed for four years.<br /> <br /> Obi and Di Nardo have been tried separately from Eni and Shell, which also face corruption allegations over the same deal in a hearing that is expected to drag on for months.<br /> <br /> Eni has denied any wrongdoing. Shell said on Monday that neither Obi nor Di Nardo had worked for Shell, and that there was no basis to convict it or any of its former staff of alleged offences related to the deal.<br /> <br /> Obi brought the Swiss case to keep the contents of the bag seized in Geneva in April 2016 from being shared with foreign authorities.<br /> <br /> Its confiscation led the Geneva prosecutor to open a criminal case for suspected corruption of foreign officials and money-laundering. Days later Italian authorities requested judicial assistance, arguing that the suitcase and its contents had been deliberately stashed in Geneva, the Swiss ruling said.<br /> <br /> Italy’s proceedings targeted 13 defendants and two companies suspected of corruption activities from 2009 and 2014 linked to acquiring prospecting rights in Africa, it said.<br /> <br /> <i>*Reuters</i>

Latest-News Swiss close to revealing Nigerian beneficiaries of $1.1 Billion Malabu oil bribes

Materials in a suitcase seized nearly three years ago by Swiss authorities may unlock the identities of the Nigerian recipients of the $...

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Only God and PDP can save Nigeria now - Doyin Okupe

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYkiIzHEgWn6XvMphlySsWnwpgeyLYD4N565oITC1pCu3y0vcsFIfbbDSP9QvsaTDNj7BGOOpfnYELqpqlxelN-o48JgA2rNbYEmbsu0W8JRz6HOeHZZVnYT8X8Z31G2_bqPSE_T1-angR/s1600/doyin+okupe+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="237" data-original-width="399" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYkiIzHEgWn6XvMphlySsWnwpgeyLYD4N565oITC1pCu3y0vcsFIfbbDSP9QvsaTDNj7BGOOpfnYELqpqlxelN-o48JgA2rNbYEmbsu0W8JRz6HOeHZZVnYT8X8Z31G2_bqPSE_T1-angR/s400/doyin+okupe+2.png" width="400" /></a></div> <b>Doyin Okupe, special adviser to former president Goodluck Jonathan on media and publicity, says only God and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will save Nigeria.</b><br /> <br /> Speaking on Arise TV on Friday, Okupe, who claimed Nigeria is in perilous times, asked Nigerians not to vote for a president who they are not sure is in charge of the economy and affairs of the nation.<br /> <br /> The former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State said Aisha Buhari, the wife of the president had made it clear to Nigerians that her husband, Muhammadu Buhari is not in charge.<br /> <br /> “The presidency is totally affected, they are unconcerned and totally disconnected from the suffering of the masses, the president does not know about many things going on,” Okupe said.<br /> <br /> “His wife came out on television and said the president is not in charge. Mrs. Buhari said two men are the people that are running the country.<br /> <br /> “Mrs. Buhari came to the Nigerian public said you guys have to fight for yourselves because right now, my husband has lost the grip on this administration, and some two people, who we do not know, are the ones running the economy.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “Is that what we want to vote for? The same government that you don’t know who will run the administration? A country of 200 million people with so many youths?<br /> <br /> “We are in dangerous and perilous times, and only God and PDP will save this country in 2019”.<br /> <br /> Okupe said the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has brought indecency into Nigeria, and has continuously peddled lies.<br /> <br /> He said the Buhari admin has not created 12 million jobs as claimed, stating that Akinwumi Adesina, minister of agriculture under Jonathan, had over 10 million farmers on his mobile wallet database.<br /> <br /> Okupe said Buhari may have added two million farmers to what Adesina had done, only to come and be celebrating 12 million jobs that they did not create.<br /> <br /> The former spokesman to former president Olusegun Obasanjo also said his son’s support for Buhari is based on his education and gullibility.

Latest-News Only God and PDP can save Nigeria now - Doyin Okupe

Doyin Okupe, special adviser to former president Goodluck Jonathan on media and publicity, says only God and the Peoples Democratic Party (...

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Nigeria’s oil revenue rises by over 100%

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="620" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawjeFZOMfySO_V3bv_-c5eOKRkm0wFys6ylsungNdkWQKiS1ywMzlshJfh3MTTp90YppHhpNXSu-zs4JE0WWra6mbebOismSpQs38LfOOK9e3oizC3EvVmDee2VhMPVdbPqtX09FxaDxv/s400/crude-oil.jpg" width="400" /></div> <b><br /></b><b>Nigeria’s oil revenue has recorded a jump of over 100 percent in 2018 alone.</b><br /> <br /> According to Udo Udoma, the minister of budget and national planning, Nigeria’s aggregate revenue as at the end of September 2018, is 40 percent more than the revenues recorded in 2017.<br /> <br /> “As at the end of the third quarter, Federal Government’s actual aggregate revenue wasN2.84 trillion, which is 40 percent higher than 2017 revenue,” Udoma said.<br /> <br /> He revealed that Nigeria’s oil revenue as at the end of 3Q18 was N1.51 trillion — 101 percent higher than 2017.<br /> <br /> Company income tax (CIT) stood at N500.37 billion, 23 percent higher than 2017, while value-added tax (VAT) was five percent higher at N100.37 billion<br /> <br /> The Nigerian customs collections peaked at N229.62 billion — 11 percent higher than 2017.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “The overall revenue performance is only 53 percent of the target in the 2018 budget largely because some one-off items such as the N710 billion from oil joint venture asset restructuring are yet to be actualized and have been rolled over to 2019,” Udoma added.<br /> <br /> “Of the total appropriation of N9.12 trillion, N4.59 trillion had been spent by 30th September, 2018 against the prorated expenditure target of N6.84 trillion. This represents 67% performance.<br /> <br /> “Debt service and the implementation of non-debt recurrent expenditure, notably payment of workers’ salaries and pensions are on track.”<br /> <br /> The minister who gave a breakdown of the 2019 budget said it is a “budget of Continuity is intended to further reposition the economy on the path of higher, inclusive, diversified and sustainable growth, and to continue to lift significant numbers of our citizens out of poverty”.<br /> <br /> “The Budget also reflects the key execution priorities of the ERGP, namely Restoring Macroeconomic Stability; Agriculture and Food Security; Energy Sufficiency (in Power and Petroleum Products); Transportation Infrastructure; and Industrialization (focusing on SMEs).<br /> <br /> “Government will continue to create the enabling environment for private sector to increase their investment and contribute significantly to job creation and economic growth.<br /> <br /> “Already, diversification efforts are yielding positive results with significant growth in the non-oil sector (2.32% growth in Q3 2018, up from 2.05% in Q2 2018).”

Latest-News Nigeria’s oil revenue rises by over 100%

Nigeria’s oil revenue has recorded a jump of over 100 percent in 2018 alone. According to Udo Udoma, the minister of budget and national ...

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Atiku’ll divide Nigeria if he becomes president — Miyetti Allah

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1056" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAzSuzS_UMbHrU687rMhudhGV5iqWn1MXIjMm1wx909olMiSz-j_531NfLla14g8qj6OFaXYJy1fOa3m6NqJAhyphenhyphenstvWWsHNcBSaFVZQm3t0mitVfdHUIiGv30eneZAjI2c13Uz7cuRtbm/s400/Atiku-Abubakar-5.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> The National Coordinator of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Benue State, Garus Gololo, on Thursday took a swipe at the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, stating that if elected, he (Atiku) would create division in the country.<br /> <br /> Gololo was reacting to a statement by Atiku campaign media organisation. One of the Alhaji Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign spokesmen, Phrank Shaibu, had earlier in the week said there would be more killings of farmers by suspected Fulani herdsmen if President Muhammadu Buhari was re-elected next year.<br /> <br /> The Miyetti Allah leader in Benue State said it was wrong for Atiku to have made such inciting statement, noting that it was not only Fulani herdsmen that had issues with farmers in Nigeria.<br /> <br /> He said, “We Fulani herdsmen are not killers and before Buhari came to power, there were crisis between farmers and herders in Benue, Tarawa, Nasarawa, Adamawa and some other states.<br /> <br /> He said, “I am disappointed in Atiku because he had already divided Nigeria even when he has not come to power. Buhari has nothing to do with herdsmen, he is a Nigerian and it is the people of Nigeria that voted him into power and l believe they will still vote him again in 2019.”<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “Nigerians should ask Atiku about the N68.8bn proceeds from NEPA which he sold when he superintended over the privatisation process of the then NEPA.<br /> <br /> “People should talk about the power plants or the money he raised from the sale of that public asset. As far as I am concerned, Atiku is not a credible candidate to contest the coming presidential election in Nigeria because he is so sentimental and if they vote him in as president, he would divide Nigeria the more.<br /> <br /> “So, for us Fulanis, we are not killers, neither are we criminals nor kidnappers and President Buhari has nothing to do with herdsmen. It is the people of Nigeria who voted Buhari in 2015 and they will still vote him .The crisis between farmers and herdsmen is a common thing everywhere across the world it is not peculiar to Nigeria.”<br /> <br /> Gololo asked the PDP presidential candidate if herdsmen were responsible for killings when he was a vice president.

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The National Coordinator of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Benue State, Garus Gololo, on Thursday took a swipe at...

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Don’t fall in love on Facebook, jailed man warns

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM04DkEfS9vpx7BRxZ1zKlZsVq3_d1CLlo7DevnqrfHy2SYIR1casE9-EExKFmYfKa7ADNJWInzEIiPWyVXraIE2QncOxrNQCDPvrItwR95DDKIRt2yq41tNfkKrcV70m8bXUOnjxCt1ai/s640/jail+5.jpg" width="640" /></div> <br /> An Indian man released this week after being jailed for six years in Pakistan issued advice on Friday not to follow his example and fall in love on Facebook.<br /> <br /> Hamid Nehal Ansari illegally entered Pakistan from Afghanistan in 2012 to meet a woman he had fallen for on the social media network.<br /> <br /> But Pakistani police were waiting for him at the woman’s house and arrested him on the spot. The engineer was later jailed for spying and forging documents.<br /> <br /> “Do not be emotional about strangers and don’t fall in love on social media including Facebook,” Ansari told AFP three days after being released and returning to India.<br /> <br /> Local media showed Ansari hugging his mother and bowing to touch his head to the ground after crossing over to India at an overland border on Tuesday.<br /> <br /> “Getting deported was the happiest moment of my life,” the 33-year-old later said by phone from his home in Mumbai.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “(Now I will) start a business, get married and work on building back my life. No more social for me,” Ansari said.<br /> <br /> Arch-rivals Pakistan and India have fought three major wars since independence from Britain in 1947. They routinely arrest each other’s citizens on spying charges.<br /> <br /> (AFP)

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Don’t disrupt 2019 elections over minimum wage issue, Lai Mohammed warns Labour

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="640" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqIQ2-Ednz9rMdXW0X02Mx5AFP_7IEJt-L3ngUOFszBafbqUZU2TP7yxp7uzdJqDLq78Q-Q559hyVpAs9SohyphenhyphenQbPRuptLNUpxXXC_OgYNhVrsFbNpHqP9pSCgS6ymROTdOoI8jq23AT_n/s400/lai+mohammed2.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> The Federal Government has enjoined the Nigeria Labour Congress to discard the December 31 ultimatum issued over lingering disagreement between organised labour and state governments on the proposed N30,000 national minimum wage.<br /> <br /> The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, made the appeal after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.<br /> <br /> The organised labour on Thursday gave the ultimatum following Buhari’s statement that a “high powered technical committee” would be set up to devise ways to ensure that implementation of the new minimum wage would not lead to an increase in the level of borrowing.<br /> <br /> However, President of the NLC, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, who addressed newsmen on Thursday, expressed organised labour’s reservations over Buhari’s position, saying that setting up a technical committee could not be a condition for passing the minimum wage report to the National Assembly.<br /> <br /> “We reject in its entirety the plan to set up another high powered technical committee on the minimum wage. It is diversionary and a delay tactics.”<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> But, Lai, who described the NLC as “a very patriotic union,” said he was confident the organised labour would not do anything to embarrass the government or Nigerians.<br /> <br /> He said: “The Nigeria Labour Congress is a very patriotic union and I am very confident that they will not do anything that will embarrass the government or do anything that is going to worsen the situation.<br /> <br /> “Continuous engagement, I think, is the key. We will continue to engage them and I think they do also fully understand what the challenges are, and both parties are determined to ensure that a common ground is arrived at which will be comfortable for all.’’<br /> <br /> (NAN)

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Court seals off Abuja Banex plaza

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5JfXb7GrJL4TAUB8x4WMdPvTA4b4UhNiLdEgSO3WMZYjZj2id-NIK9D5BgFqc7oVsfG6iC4nWsLBpr8KR_5N1tegxr71b5840GlHqh2xd0ks4HHcX2m-oCQSLDUWVwfOeHCiofRVda-j/s400/banex+plaza.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> The popular Banex Plaza located in Wuse 2, Abuja, was on Friday sealed off on the alleged order of a magistrate court.<br /> <br /> Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) had gone to court asking for the vacation of the premises by Banex Plaza tenants.<br /> <br /> Mr Chibuike Nzedinma, Chairman, Banex Plaza Wuse 2 Tenants Association, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the closure was uncalled for.<br /> <br /> Nzedinma said that the board failed to officially notify them about the said court order.<br /> <br /> “Some weeks back, the AEPB told us that they were going to use the plaza as a mobile court.<br /> <br /> “But we could not see any mobile court on the said date, I personally went round to check but could not see, surprisingly, today (Friday) they sealed off some of our shops,” he said.<br /> <br /> The chairman, who sued for calm, said they would seek redress in court for such an order to be vacated.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Also, Mrs. Nkoli Unachukwu, a tenant, said that such closure was detrimental to economic development of the country.<br /> <br /> Unachukwu said that they had lost millions of Naira due to the closure.<br /> <br /> She called on the Federal Government to intervene to prevent shut down of business in the plaza.<br /> <br /> AEPB had allegedly demanded to use the premises for mobile court.

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The popular Banex Plaza located in Wuse 2, Abuja, was on Friday sealed off on the alleged order of a magistrate court. Abuja Environment...

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Okorocha missing as Imo APC governorship campaign begins

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="412" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAlmrmGo8kgnDqtI5qf04OO_Gqk8ydI9mhW8MAmtNoos903PETxY3wmDm07OiX2Zqnxio_pNZR84C489Zi3pX5sqNXrnEevXrHImyvUbfQOckERWmHRqyKmo6vMJlyIqoHSgoyvfWpgFm/s400/Rochas-Okorocha.png" width="400" /></div> <br /> The governorship campaign of the All Progressives Congress(APC) kicked off on Friday in Owerri with Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha conspicuously missing.<br /> <br /> But the National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomole led other national officers of the party to the event.<br /> <br /> Members of the State Executive Committee of the party were also absent at the scantily attended ceremony.<br /> <br /> The usual crowd that attends APC gatherings in the state was missing as only supporters of the governorship candidate, Hope Uzodinma, gathered at his Campaign Headquarters along Okigwe road where the event held.<br /> <br /> Oshiomhole, who has been in a running battle with the Imo governor, accused him (Okorocha) of frustrating the APC candidate, an action he described as anti-party.<br /> <br /> He stated by denying the APC candidate use of the stadium, the governor has shown he is working against the party.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> But the Okorocha swiftly described claim he locked the stadium as false.<br /> <br /> Oshiomole said the stadium was built with tax payers’ money and not Okorocha’s personal fund, recalling how Okorocha cried out in 2011 when the then governor, Ikedi Ohakim, stopped him from using the stadium for his campaign.<br /> <br /> Oshiomhole also accused the governor of neglecting the people of the state with his style of governance.<br /> <br /> He said: “Let me appreciate the members of the National Working Committee for coming to join the governorship candidate of our party, we approach with one simple message.<br /> <br /> “It is a message of Hope, not a message of lamentation. I want you to listen because for me campaign is not about entertainment.<br /> <br /> “Today, we have come to deliver the message of Hope although things have gone wrong in the past.<br /> <br /> “We have come to return the government of Imo state to the great people of Imo state.<br /> <br /> “We have come to tell you that we have respect for you people. The next governor in the person of Senator Hope Uzodimma will restore all that have been destroyed.<br /> <br /> “Please Imo people cool temper. Today is a day to pass a message of Hope. Today we desire to talk to the young people especially to my fellow colleagues the civil servants.<br /> <br /> “The days are gone for a governor who will look at people and say there is money to do other things and not to pay civil servants”.<br /> <br /> He went on: “I want to tell you that those governors that were given money including the governor of Imo state that did not use it for that purpose will be retrieved.<br /> <br /> “Buhari has adopted Hope Uzodimma as the governor of Imo state. I want you to go and tell people what I said.<br /> <br /> “Nigeria needs to produce political leaders that have political concentration.<br /> <br /> “How will you believe that an APC governor will lock the stadium against an APC, governorship candidate?<br /> <br /> “It is the tax payers’ money that is used to build that stadium and not his personal money”.

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Presidency reacts after Saraki dismissed 2019 budget as ‘hopeless’

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Interpol issues arrest warrant for Allison-Madueke

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6rSFOfSGTjmv6ukFUu-L18M3OvV3lVp7XVtosnsaa3fvWW7dDhV8o8-y2IciyEpOgPrOJGJFqdlEz2_an_2tsU1CssnqjgLOUB5zF__wbthbULHthKru70JAAaEi26qQT5PEPMGQP0Ok/s1600/Diezani+Alison-Madueke.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6rSFOfSGTjmv6ukFUu-L18M3OvV3lVp7XVtosnsaa3fvWW7dDhV8o8-y2IciyEpOgPrOJGJFqdlEz2_an_2tsU1CssnqjgLOUB5zF__wbthbULHthKru70JAAaEi26qQT5PEPMGQP0Ok/s320/Diezani+Alison-Madueke.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The international police has issued an arrest warrant for ex-minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke.<br /> <br /> “We have filed the necessary processes and the Interpol has red-flagged Allison-Madueke. This means that the extradition process has been kick-started and the former minister may be arrested by the United Kingdom police or any police agency all over the world and repatriated to Nigeria,” Punch’s report quoted a source as saying.<br /> <br /> Recall that the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, had, December 5th, vowed to comply with a Federal Territory High Court order mandating the commission to produce former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in court within 72 hours to stand trial for alleged graft while in office.<br /> <br /> Magu, who made the vow at a briefing in Abuja, had also lamented that 80 percent of Nigeria’s looted funds were still trapped abroad, while 60 percent of the stolen wealth was hidden in Nigeria by fraudulent and highly placed persons he described as “sharks.”<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> He, however, vowed to take all necessary steps to unravel and retrieve the stolen wealth and bring the perpetrators of the crime to justice, no matter how long and tedious the judicial process might be.<br /> <br /> He had said, in compliance with the court order, that the commission had stepped up effort to persuade the British authorities to extradite Diezani to face prosecution for sundry economic and financial crimes, having not charged her for any offence in the last three years, as widely expected.<br /> <br /> According to him, “We are going to comply with the court order to bring back the former minister. Our only predicament is that the former minister is in another country, which we are talking with over the matter. If she is here, we would simply hand her over to the judge.<br /> <br /> ‘’Let me also say that it is not true that Diezani has no case in Britain. All the EU countries are aware of her money laundering case. If we cannot get her within the deadline, we will go back to the court.”<br /> <br /> He denied claims that the United Kingdom’s Serious Fraud Office had not established any case against the former minister and was, therefore, not pressing any charges against her but expressed fears that the prolonged delay in charging her to court had already sent wrong signals to Nigerians at home and abroad.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, according to the revelation on Friday, the sources cited said, with the extradition process started by the UK government, that the former minister would be arrested by any police in the world.<br /> <br /> The source as cited said, “By this request, all Interpol member countries were obliged to arrest the former minister anywhere she is seen on their territories.”<br /> <br /> “Attached to the extradition request was the November 4, 2018 order for her arrest by Justice Valentine Ashi of the FCT High Court.”<br /> <br /> Allison-Madueke had left Nigeria for UK since 2015, just before the Buhari administration came onboard.</div>

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Imo governorship not family affair - Oshiomhole

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHmDZz7ZhjPlGjHrQIw14dM3Hzeb19NlcLvuu48FO7GOg9pmsCAgGSCDe-DygF4TOubh8ccqtTFgTglnj8ro2u6ADj6iFsJwSN_pVr8JemDCSG_hHh70F9GA7ISXZpNlPBwN3NfwMtrAY/s1600/Adams+Oshiomole.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHmDZz7ZhjPlGjHrQIw14dM3Hzeb19NlcLvuu48FO7GOg9pmsCAgGSCDe-DygF4TOubh8ccqtTFgTglnj8ro2u6ADj6iFsJwSN_pVr8JemDCSG_hHh70F9GA7ISXZpNlPBwN3NfwMtrAY/s320/Adams+Oshiomole.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, has condemned nepotism in the government of Imo State.<br /> <br /> Oshiomhole, who spoke at the just concluded rally to launch the APC campaign in the state, said the party’s governorship candidate, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, would return Imo to the people and bring an end to government by a single family.<br /> <br /> The incumbent governor, Mr Rochas Okorocha, and the state Chairman of the APC, Mr Dan Nwafor, were absent from the rally.<br /> <br /> Oshiomhole stated that the days were gone when a governor would look at the faces of his people and say there was no money to do other things besides pay those who were working for the government.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> He said, “When you elect Senator Hope, appointment into government will be based on merit, not family connection.<br /> <br /> “I’m assuring you that we have a governorship candidate, whose purpose is to develop and bring prosperity to the Igbo young man, the Owerri young woman, the carpenter, the mechanic and, above all, my own comrades, the civil servants of Imo State who don’t know any longer what a payday looks like.<br /> <br /> “When we talk of happiness, we will not domesticate it in the hands of a sister. The happiness of the great people of Imo State will be the primary purpose of government under Sen. Hope Uzodinma,” he said.<br /> <br /> According to the APC chairman, due process will be the basis for constructing buildings and building roads.<br /> <br /> “One contract will not be awarded to three people. If it must be awarded, it will not be awarded to in-laws. It will be awarded to the genuine businessmen and women of Imo State.<br /> <br /> “Never again will any of your governors look at your (traditional) leaders and abuse them because democracy is about people.<br /> <br /> “Never again shall we govern on the basis of family connections. Whether you know somebody or you don’t, whether you marry from me or I don’t marry from you, that shall not be the basis for winning the next election,” he said.<br /> <br /> Oshiomhole assured families with breadwinners and pensioners who had not been paid for six to nine months that “the bailout, which President Muhammadu Buhari had given governors, including the governor of Imo State, and was not used for that purpose, will be retrieved and our pensioners will smile again.”<br /> <br /> He added, “Let me also say without fear of contradiction that those who are printing posters and putting President Buhari’s face on it with their face and logo because their face and party are unknown — those ones are fake.<br /> <br /> “President Buhari has the APC as his party. He is our presidential candidate. He has adopted Sen. Hope Uzodinma as the governorship candidate.”<br /> <br /> Earlier, Uzodinma assured the APC chairman that, at the end of the day, the party would be vindicated.<br /> <br /> “We are not going to disappoint the people of Imo and we’ll have victory, five over five. I promise, in the name of the almighty God, it shall never be the same again. The Egyptians you are seeing today, you shall see no more,” he said.</div>

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