‘It’s embarrassing to elect thug who stole mace as Deputy Senate President’ – Ekweremadu

Latest-News ‘It’s embarrassing to elect thug who stole mace as Deputy Senate President’ – Ekweremadu

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IPOB claims responsibility for Nigeria’s exclusion from US-Africa summit

Latest-News IPOB claims responsibility for Nigeria’s exclusion from US-Africa summit

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Abba Moro replaces Senator David Mark in Benue South after 20 years

Latest-News Abba Moro replaces Senator David Mark in Benue South after 20 years

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Wike blames Buhari for general elections crisis

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmX8ttugBFeB3jA2vlTO6tlyQgxydUAPKXn_p-8HWHDGTwARzf6Olgvpz4KnzPbohTrp9xqZtyU8QUe6CeFD1WmJKhsvY850mNyY24f2L0IBTHnLY0lA1kGfoSz4YoBgGO646UlIRPMVE/s1600/wike1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="266" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmX8ttugBFeB3jA2vlTO6tlyQgxydUAPKXn_p-8HWHDGTwARzf6Olgvpz4KnzPbohTrp9xqZtyU8QUe6CeFD1WmJKhsvY850mNyY24f2L0IBTHnLY0lA1kGfoSz4YoBgGO646UlIRPMVE/s400/wike1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike says the crisis that marred the general elections would have been avoided if President Muhammadu Buhari had signed the amended Electoral Act.<br /> <br /> Wike said the amended Electoral Act would legitimise the card reader system and strengthen the process of results collation.<br /> <br /> The governor spoke during a courtesy visit by a political team from the British High Commission to  Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.<br /> <br /> He said, “If the President had assented to the amended Electoral Act, we wouldn’t have had the kind of problem we had.<br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> “That means that there must be card readers in the electoral process; it makes it difficult for the  security agencies who want to commit electoral fraud to succeed.”<br /> <br /> Wike added, “With card readers, results that don’t tally with the accredited figures in the device will not be accepted. Since card reader is not in the law, it creates loopholes for them to manipulate.<br /> <br /> “They created room for some security officials who tried to force Returning Officers to sign result sheets. Remember in Rivers State, the Army took over  INEC headquarters.<br /> <br /> “The essence of that was to see that the Returning Officers were hijacked for fraudulent purposes. But if the card reader system  had been legitimised in the Electoral Act, it would not have been possible.”

Latest-News Wike blames Buhari for general elections crisis

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike says the crisis that marred the general elections would have been avoided if President Muhammadu Buhari ...

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Nigeria worse off than in 1993 — MKO Abiola’s son

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zohT5o7hIPPcdJtxUNFY8e1f3CyZSjeWLbGrk8XG05wzYq-kBoZN-EFPCdnI74adEolaHRhwLRIrYTewSjqb_OCpGfk9FBr4u29UH_rjhkYzdg5WAbdCswE4XbubNJDNrmijbFQYiqg/s1600/Abdulmumuni-abiola2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1200" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zohT5o7hIPPcdJtxUNFY8e1f3CyZSjeWLbGrk8XG05wzYq-kBoZN-EFPCdnI74adEolaHRhwLRIrYTewSjqb_OCpGfk9FBr4u29UH_rjhkYzdg5WAbdCswE4XbubNJDNrmijbFQYiqg/s400/Abdulmumuni-abiola2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Abdulmumuni, son of the late Chief MKO Abiola, has bemoaned the lack of progress in the country since 1993.<br /> <br /> Speaking on the June 12 (Democracy Day) the late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola’s son lamented that the education and health sectors had collapsed.<br /> <br /> President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday signed into law the Public Holiday (Amendment) Bill, making June 12  a public holiday in the country.<br /> <br /> It also becomes the country’s official Democracy Day, replacing May 29, which hitherto was a public holiday.<br /> <br /> The President took the decision to honour the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, MKO Abiola.<br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> But Abdulmumuni said  June 12 should be a day of national sober reflection for Nigerians as the “people are getting poorer and the poverty rate is increasing”.<br /> <br /> Abdulmumuni, who was at the National Centre for Women Development in Abuja on Monday to receive an award on behalf of his late mother, who was inducted into the Nigerian Women Hall of Fame alongside 21 others,  said, “The recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day will get people thinking.<br /> <br /> “I don’t think it should be a day of celebration. It should be a day of reflection of where we are as a country and where we are going. It is important that we should know that for the decisions we make today, there are consequences.<br /> <br /> “This is because those who made the decisions to truncate the Nigerian people’s yearning for democracy in 1993 would now see that sometimes when you make certain decisions, you must see the consequences.<br /> <br /> “The country is worse off than it was in 1993. My father was trying to address certain issues like poverty eradication and free education. But what is going on in the country now? The education system is dilapidated. The health care system is nothing. People are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer. The poverty rate is increasing. I think the idea is that June 12 should be a day of reflection and I believe we can get out of this situation.”<br /> <br /> The Director-General of the NCWD, Mrs Mary Ekpere-Eta, said the objective of the induction was “to showcase the unique and immense productive capacities of Nigerian women and make their achievements more visible in national development records”.<br /> <br /> The late Dr Stella Adadevoh, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Senator Binta Garba and Mrs Folorunsho Alakija were among the inductees.

Latest-News Nigeria worse off than in 1993 — MKO Abiola’s son

Abdulmumuni, son of the late Chief MKO Abiola, has bemoaned the lack of progress in the country since 1993. Speaking on the June 12 (Dem...

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Nigeria greatest contributor to wealth creation in West Africa — AfDB

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCROjl2xECwlP_tASyW0G8EPrEc3nF4b1fQvSD9fNbMrfAWDsP70dr6ZOcYu56OMRypv9oMwBNIs4JZiKA58detdjZLdsYn7h3_xpwIV0VPkhFcSeThWoQGI07XdkS25MtWJXdNwAI6ds/s1600/Nigeria1000.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1283" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCROjl2xECwlP_tASyW0G8EPrEc3nF4b1fQvSD9fNbMrfAWDsP70dr6ZOcYu56OMRypv9oMwBNIs4JZiKA58detdjZLdsYn7h3_xpwIV0VPkhFcSeThWoQGI07XdkS25MtWJXdNwAI6ds/s400/Nigeria1000.png" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> The African Development Bank (AfDB), says Nigeria is the greatest contributor to wealth creation in West Africa, contributing about 75 per cent of regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP).<br /> <br /> Mr Ebrima Faal, AfDB Senior Director for Nigeria said this in an interview with newsmen at the ongoing Annual Meetings of the Bank in Malabo.<br /> <br /> According to Faal, Nigeria’s trade policy is anchored on ECOWAS, as it continues to play a coordinating role in the region through both the government and its vibrant private sector.<br /> <br /> He said that in terms of free movement of persons, Nigeria had performed relatively well by ratifying the relevant ECOWAS instruments concerning free movement of persons, rights of establishments and free movement of workers.<br /> <br /> According to him, Nigeria allows nationals holding valid travel document from all other ECOWAS countries to enter its shores visa-free.<br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> Faal said that Nigeria had continued to make strides in trade integration with efforts to harmonise documentation and streamline processes that would allow for the free flow of trade across its borders.<br /> <br /> The country director said “Nigeria has an active Export Promotion Council (NEPC), which champions implementation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, the main operational tool for promoting Free Trade in West Africa.<br /> <br /> He, however, said that there was still much to be done on the integration of its productive value chains, especially in the areas of agriculture and the manufacturing sector for exports.<br /> <br /> To this end, he said that the Ebonyi Ring Road project approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in April, would open up Enugu State to trade with Cameroon and other neighbours.<br /> <br /> He said that the project, though the initiative of the state government, was a regional road as it crosses through the Enugu-Bamenda road corridor at two points, thereby providing residents in the area with easier access to Cameroon.<br /> <br /> According to him, the AfDB is partnering with the Ebonyi Government to realise the project.<br /> <br /> “In April 2019, the Bank approved a loan package of 70 million dollars for the Ebonyi State Ring Road project.<br /> <br /> “While the project is a state initiative designed to link eight of the 13 local government areas in the state, it has strategic dimensions as it crosses the Bemenda road corridor at two points.<br /> <br /> “Thereby providing residents in its zone of influence with easier access to Cameroon."<br /> <br /> Faal said the Bank would continue to focus on improving the institutional framework for the coordination and management of regional projects through capacity support ECOWAS and other regional specialised institutions.<br /> <br /> The specialised institutions, he said, are “power pools, corridors development authorities, river basin authorities, and regional statistical authorities’’, and national regional integration coordination agencies.<br /> <br /> The theme of this year’s meeting is “Regional Integration for Africa’s Economic Prosperity’’.<br /> <br /> The Annual Meetings provide opportunities for experts, governments, businesses, civil society, think-tanks and the academia to share their candid assessments on regional integration efforts and dialogue on critical issues concerning Africa’s development.<br /> <br /> The meeting which opened on Monday with closed door sessions with dignitaries continues on Thursday.

Latest-News Nigeria greatest contributor to wealth creation in West Africa — AfDB

The African Development Bank (AfDB), says Nigeria is the greatest contributor to wealth creation in West Africa, contributing about 75 pe...

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Democracy Day: Buhari hosts world leaders to dinner, gala night

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIMvN1IrT3npJzpeqSdogmXSkdhGYc7vDda0-Kvo0WAphJltqDYGNIoM-kQTYB2w6TByXGDG0V7uG7a5xzXpFjQJVXLV1U3vG2n4K2Gxfx-w97WbD45Uz8JTzvovUQGrTiYAUVqs4XvM/s1600/buhari3-691x430.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="691" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIMvN1IrT3npJzpeqSdogmXSkdhGYc7vDda0-Kvo0WAphJltqDYGNIoM-kQTYB2w6TByXGDG0V7uG7a5xzXpFjQJVXLV1U3vG2n4K2Gxfx-w97WbD45Uz8JTzvovUQGrTiYAUVqs4XvM/s400/buhari3-691x430.png" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday night hosted World leaders to dinner and gala night ahead of Wednesday’s maiden edition of the country’s Democracy Day celebration.<br /> <br /> It was gathered that other dignitaries at the event including State Governors, members and leadership of the newly inaugurated National Assembly, Diplomats, captains of industries were treated to best of Nigerian cuisines and hospitality.<br /> <br /> Speaking at the event, the President said his administration was ready to move the nation to the next level of prosperity, peace and stability.<br /> <br /> ”We will restore peace, justice and bring prosperity for all Nigerians,” he said.<br /> President Buhari, who narrated the history of June 12 general elections in1993 and the subsequent signing into law June 12 as a public holiday every year, said the celebration was a recognition of the resilient of the Nigerian people.<br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> He thanked the visiting Heads of State and Presidents for honouring the nation’s invitation.<br /> <br /> Earlier in his remarks, the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, said the maiden celebration of Democracy Day on June 12 was unique and only coincided with the election of the new leadership of the National Assembly.<br /> <br /> Those at the event included President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz; President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame; President of Liberia, George Weah; President of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso and President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo.<br /> <br /> Others were President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa; President of Senegal, Macky Sall; Prime Minister of Uganda, Ruhakana Rugunda, President of the Gambia Adama Barrow and President of Niger Republic, Mahamadou Issoufou.<br /> <br /> The dinner was also attended by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, the wife of the president, Aisha Buhari and wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege and Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase.<br /> <br /> Some APC state governors, APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, APC national leader, Bola Tinubu, diplomats, former ministers also attended the event.<br /> <br /> Highpoint of the event was a toast to the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Vice-President Osinbajo and unveiling of a photo book tagged, “ Being Buhari” by the president.<br /> <br /> The ceremony which was held at the State House Conference Center Abuja, also featured music and cultural display showcasing the country’s diversity.

Latest-News Democracy Day: Buhari hosts world leaders to dinner, gala night

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday night hosted World leaders to dinner and gala night ahead of Wednesday’s maiden edition of the count...

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