APC has released a list of 24 Cleared Governorship Candidates for 2019 Elections.

http://www.metronaija.ng/list-of-apc-24-cleared-governorship-candidates/

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Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, the Osun Governor-Elect on Wednesday received his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in Osogbo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Oyo, Ekiti and Osun states, Prince Adedeji Soyebi, presented the certificate to Oyetola.

NAN also reports that the Deputy Governor-Elect, Mr Benedict Alabi also received his Certificate of Return at the event.

In his remarks, Oyetola promised not to disappoint the people of the state who gave him the mandate in the Sept. 22 governorship election.

He said the people of Osun would continue to enjoy the benefit of good governance in the state.

Oyetola, who vowed to justify the confidence reposed in him by the people of the state, said he would run all-inclusive and participatory government.

“I want to assure the people of the state that I will serve to the best of my ability and I will run all-inclusive and participatory government.

“I will always consult majority of stakeholders in the implementation of the policies and programmes that would have positive effect in the lives of the people of the state.

“I will run people’s friendly government. The focus of my administration will be the welfare of the people of the state.

“We are going to work together to ensure that we justify the confidence people reposed in me,” he added.

Oyetola also commended INEC and security operatives for ensuring that the election was free and fair.

He also thanked Gov. Rauf Aregbesola for giving him the opportunity to serve under his administration and also prepared him for the task ahead.

In his speech, Mr Segun Agbaje, INEC Resident Commissioner in Osun said that the commission had done its best to deliver credible election and also promoted the image of INEC.

Agbaje commended the people of Osun for the maturity displayed before, during and after the election.

The REC said that issues raised by the US, UK and EU and the domestic observer groups during the election would be closely studied by the commission for further appropriate action.

He said, “I remained neutral throughout the election process.

“If at the end of litigation at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the commission is found culpable for not discharging its responsibility faithfully and diligently, I will take full responsibility for any such laxity.

“And also publicly apologize to all Nigerians and thereafter resign my appointment with the commission.

“It should be put on record that the Commission carried out thorough investigation of all the allegations of intimidation of voters suspected to belong to a particular party, violence, arrest of Journalists and observers raised by some groups.

“The commission discovered that all the allegations were not absolutely correct while the case of those arrested by the police with fake observer tags are still being investigated”.

NAN reports that Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, the APC candidate, defeated Sen. Ademola Adeleke, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), candidate with 482 votes in the rerun poll.

Oyetola scored a total of 255, 505 to defeat Adeleke who scored 255, 023.

http://www.metronaija.ng/inec-issues-certificate-of-return-to-osun-governor-elect/

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The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday sought the cancellation of the governorship elections held recently in Ekiti and Osun states for allegedly failing credibility test. Consequently, the body said it would monitor the 2019 exercise for transparency CAN President, Reverend Supo Ayokunle, made the call at a roundtable with Legacy Initiative International in Lagos.

According to him, since the reports of international observers and monitors did not confer credibility on the exercise, it behooves the Independent National Electoral Commission to do the needful through outright cancellation.He said: “Presently, Nigeria is a sleeping nation. It is creeping but the Lord can make the cripple to walk. With God on our side, we know that the nation is going to rise above all her challenges.

“What we saw in the recent past state government elections is not good at all. There were cases of vote buying, intimidation of voters by the security agents, as well as complaints of compromise by INEC officials.”Ayokunle went on: “Even international observers and monitors declared that the elections were not credible. INEC should therefore set the exercises aside and go back to the drawing board.

“We have gone to INEC to register CAN as election monitors. So we are going to put three people in each polling booth to monitor the polls. This movement is going to cost us N12 million to train 300 people, 50 in each geo-political zone. Those 50 will train the people that will give us three people in every voting unit.”

The CAN president also condemned the alleged discrimination of the South East region in federal appointments, saying no region has the right to have more people in government than the others.“We need mutual respect for one another. We need to make the law enforcement and security agencies to be objective and independent. If there is no justice, there would be hatred. We are stakeholders in Nigeria, the politicians are no better stakeholders than us and it is their duty to listen to those who elected them.

The Grand Patron of Legacy Initiative, Dr. Kenny Martins, informed that the two bodies would meet with Muslim faithful to come up with a template of the minimum expectations of the inter-faith community from public officers.

http://www.metronaija.ng/can-seeks-cancellation-of-ekiti-osun-guber-elections/

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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has not endorsed Lagos APC gubernatorial aspirant Jide Sanwo-Olu who is contesting the ticket against incumbent Governor Akinwumi Ambode, it has been learnt.

Sources close to the Vice President said this in reaction to photographs of Osinbajo, the APC gubernatorial challenger and Kunle Hamzat, another APC governorship aspirant widely published on social media platforms on Saturday.

Contrary to the impression convened in the photograph, sources close to the Vice-President insisted that he has not endorsed anyone in the Lagos APC primary Saturday night, according to reports by Per Second news.

“Nor has the vice-president “approved any pictures, ads or mailers that might be perceived as an endorsement,” the source said.

“Vice President Yemi Osinbajo today attended a meeting of the Lagos State General Advisory Council, GAC, where he had been invited by the elders on the council, he said.

“Before the meeting, the Vice President who had been in Lagos to participate in the Presidential primaries in the State had met with Governors Akinwunmi Ambode and the APC National Leader Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

“APC gubernatorial aspirants Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Kunle Hamzat were also at the premises of the GAC meeting ahead of the Vice President’s arrival.

“It was while he was coming out of the meeting that Mr. Sanwo-Olu and Mr. Hamzat took advantage of the VP’S presence to take the photos which are now being falsely paraded as proof of endorsement.

“The VP did not go to endorse the candidate, they only took advantage of his presence,” the source said of the circumstances in which the pictures were taken.

http://www.metronaija.ng/lagos-2019-osinbajo-denies-endorsing-sanwo-olu-2/

Oshiomhole during the inauguration of the Convention Planning Committee

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has postponed its governorship primary elections for Imo and Lagos states to Monday, Oct.1.

Mr Adams Oshiomhole, the party’s National Chairman announced this on Saturday in Abuja,while inaugurating the party’s Governorship Primary Election Committee and the Presidential National Convention Committee.

Oshiomhole, who attributed logistics for postponing the primary election in the two states, said it would hold on Sunday (tomorrow) in other states of the federation as earlier scheduled.

“We have decided to postpone the governorship primary election in Imo and Lagos states to Monday Oct.1, even though it is public holiday.

“There is nothing in the law that says we cannot conduct our party affairs on the day of public holidays.

“We are sure that we will be able to rectify logistic challenges between now and the end of tomorrow, “ Oshiomhole said.

He added that the party`s secretariat would get to the committees through its chairmen to hand over documents and all materials including ballot papers and result sheets they would use for the primary election.

He further added that no fewer than 177 governorship aspirants were currently jostling to get the party’s tickets to contest governorship election in 29 states.

He thanked the committee members for honouring the party’s invitation at short notice and for accepting to serve it and the nation generally.

The APC national chairman stressed that members of the committee had a duty to ensure that the core values of the party was adhered to, adding that they should remain neutral while carrying out their assignments.

He added that the party’s leadership was doing everything possible to ensure proper security in states of the federation where the governorship primaries would be held.

Oshiomhole said the presidential national convention committee must reflect the ray of the future with gender balance.

“We want to organise a convention that is different. We want a convention that goes beyond electioneering, “ he said.

He added that the national convention should discuss the Nigeria agenda, issues of governance, development and economic issues as well as social choices.

“Let us disagree and agree within that convention in addition to confirming the presidential candidate and maybe amend any section of the Constitution that we might want to.

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state, who is the chairman of the 21-member presidential national convention committee, thanked the party`s leadership for the opportunity to serve.

“I thank you for giving us the opportunity to participate in laying the foundation for our 2019 electoral victory, because if you see the quality of the foundation, you will know how the building will be.

“The foundation you have laid today is so solid that I have no doubt that we will succeed in 2019 election, “ he said.
READ ALSO Edgal Imohimi, bans policemen from patrolling in mufti & commercial vehicles

He stressed that the committee would not let the party down and assured that it would do its best to ensure that the party`s victory in 2019, was secured.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while Kashim Shettima would serve as the committee Vice Chairman, Hadiza Bala Usman would serve as its Secretary.

Other members of the committee are Babatunde Fashola, Audu Ogbeh, Nasiru El-Rufai, Rochas Okorocha, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Kayode Fayemi, Abubakar Bagudu and Mohammed Abubakar.

Godwin Obaseki, Simon Lalong, Sen. Emma Anosike, Hajiya Hauwa Sule, Timipre Sylva, Mr Sharon Ikeazor, Dr Ramatu Tijani, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Stella Okotete and Paulen Tallen are all members of the committee.

The presidential national convention had been fixed for Oct. 6 to ratify President Muhammadu Buhari as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2019 election.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-buhari-arrives-abuja-from-new-york/

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The remains of Sdqn. Leader Bello Baba-Ari, who died in an air accident involving two Nigerian Air Force aircraft, was laid to rest at Gudu cemetery, Abuja.Late Baba-Ari, who hailed from Yobe, was one of the pilots of the two fighter jets that collided while taking part in rehearsals for the 58th Independence Day Celebrations, slated for Monday. Among those who attended the burial were Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonishakin. Others were Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Siddique Abubakar, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, hundreds of officers and men of the Nigerian Army, as well as friends and relatives of the deceased. See Photos from the burial.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-ambodde-at-apc-presidential-primary-in-epe/

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Chief Bisi Akande receives Governor-Elect Osun State Mr Gboyega Oyetola along with Osun state Governor Aregbesola

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-governor-elect-alhaji-gboyega-oyetola-visits-bisi-akande/

More at http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-nff-presidentamaju-pinnick-visits-gov-obaseki/

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick paid a courtesy visit to the Edo state Governor Godwin Obaseki and assured him that the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium will be ready by January 2019, for the use by the Super Eagles.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-nff-presidentamaju-pinnick-visits-gov-obaseki/

President Buhari accompanied by his wife, Aisha departs Abuja for New York ahead of the 73rd Session of UN General Assembly on 23rd Sep 2018.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-buhari-leaves-abuja-for-new-york/

Former presidential aspirant, Olu Falae celebrated his 80th birthday today in ondo state.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-from-olu-falaes-80th-birthday/

Mr Funsho Awe, an Anglican Church priest, on Saturday emerged as the governorship candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) for the 2019 elections in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Awe, who was unopposed, emerged after delegates overwhelmingly endorsed him in a `Yes or No’ vote at the primaries.

NAN reports that candidates for the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and the Senate also emerged via consensus of the 120 delegates.

Mr Ayodele Akele,the NCP National General Secretary and former labour union leader in the state, emerged as the Lagos West Senatorial candidate, while Mr Marcus Eyahon and Mr Hector Onajobi emerged East and Central Senatorial candidates respectively.

The state chairman of the party, Mr Fatai Ibu-Owo, also emerged as one of the state house of assembly candidates for the Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 1 Seat.

The process for picking the party’s candidates was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led by Mr Titus Ugwuegbu.

Speaking at the primaries, Ibu-Owo said the exercise was a major step in the party’s preparations for the 2019 elections.

He added that the party was determined to win Lagos in 2019 and that the party had selected credible candidates to help actualise that objective.

The party chairman said the All Progressives Congress had failed to address the problems of the people in the state and the NCP was ready to provide a credible alternative.

“Lagos under APC has failed .There is the collapse of infrastructure and the poverty is high among the people even with rising debt of the state.

“We are determined to change the narrative of despair and picture of gloom. We are determined to deliver real governance to Lagosians.

“NCP is the party for the masses and by God’s grace, we will rescue the state in 2019, ‘’he said.

He commended the peaceful conduct of delegates at the primaries, saying the successful conduct showed that NCP was a truly democratic party.

Ibu-Owo, however, told party members to see the primaries as just one step in the journey to win the state, urging them to do their best to drive the party to victory.

The chairman said that the party would kick off its campaign at the right time to sell its socialist 10-point agenda to deliver impactful development.

Awe, while thanking delegates for picking him, said that Lagos needed somebody with the right vision to fix the problems in the state.

He decried what he called the near collapse of critical sectors such as education, health and environment in the state, saying residents were not feeling the impact of governance.

Awe said he had the capacity, the drive and the passion to reposition the state and make it a model state in Africa.

“I am on a mission to build a Lagos that prioritises the welfare of the people as the source of its wealth and, therefore, gives the citizenry a sense of belonging in government.

“I am also on a mission to invest in human and natural resources development, community service, poverty alleviation, safety, accountability, transparency and the development of the commonwealth, ‘’ he added.

The governorship candidate urged residents to believe in his agenda to make things better in the state.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the primaries, Mr Hakeem Keshinro, said that all the candidates for all the seats were unopposed.

He said that the governorship aspirants were two until Mr Ibrahim Adelabu wrote the party he was stepping down for Awe.

Keshinro said Awe was subjected to a `Yes or No’ vote to ensure that his emergence was a decision of all party members even without an opponent.

http://www.metronaija.ng/primary-lagos-ncp-picks-awe-akele-as-governorship/

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Former Enugu North Senatorial Aspirant, under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Chinedu Eya, has offered to sell off his Lagos property worth over 53 million naira to purchase nomination and expression of interest forms for the embattled Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, if the Governor will heed his calls to contest 2019 elections under the PDP.

Chief Eya who is also the National Convener of “Why It Must Be PDP in 2019” said he was enraged reading from the Punch Newspapers of 21st September, 2019 where the National leader of the APC, Ahmed Tinubu and the APC executives were mounting pressure on Governor Ambode to step down from office and endorse his opponent, Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the Party’s Candidates, while urging the Governor “to make haste while the sun shines.”

The PDP Chieftain who also noted that the Governor must as a matter of urgency dump APC for PDP to survive the current political turmoil rearing to consume him, hinted that his decision to purchase the Governor’s reelection forms in the PDP, using his building as a bait is to help save Ambode from the gang-up by the the Mandate Movement led by the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and The chairmen of the 57 councils in Lagos who have already concluded plans to dance on the funeral grave of Ambode’s administration.

Chief Eya said, “Without mincing words, If Ambody accepts the Olive branch my Party, PDP already extended to him to join us and contest under our platform, I will sell off my building valued at 53 million naira, to help him purchase our expression of interest and nomination forms and save him from National disgrace”

“As a politician, this is a gang-up…if you look at the case properly, the question is not about Governor Ambode’s performance, but a clear case of egocentric and egomaniac superiority over the peoples will and interest.”

He further stated that the Governor has nothing to fear about joining PDP as the Party will be willing to clear the route for him and possibly form a consensus that will produce him as the Party’s candidate.

Recall that the governor and Tinubu have been in the news in the past few days because of an alleged rift over the second term bid of Ambode.

Reports also have it that Tinubu had refused to back Ambode’s second term ambition despite pleas by notable people in the state and the country while throwing his weight behind Sanwo-Olu, a former commissioner in the state, who until Sunday formally declared his intention to vie for the Lagos State governorship ticket of the APC.

http://www.metronaija.ng/i-will-sell-my-53m-naira-building-to-purchase-ambodes-pdp-form-enugu-pdp-chieftain/

Vice President, Prof. Osinbajo visits Otuocha community, Anambra State affected by the recent flood. 20th September, 2018.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-osinbajo-visits-flood-affected-community-in-anambra/

Sokoto state Governor Tambuwal was in Oshogbo, Osun State to consult with PDP delegates and stakeholders to share with them, the vision of the endless possibilities in Nigeria. We have the potential to be the best in the world.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photo-tambuwal-meets-pdp-delegates-in-osun/

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Kastina state Governor Masari pictured at Nigerian Football Federation(NFF)Elective Congress in Katsina State.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-governor-masari-at-nff-elective-congress-in-kastina/

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Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President , paid Bayelsa state Governor Dickson a condolence visit today at his country home in Toru-Orua.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-ekweremadu-visits-dickson/

No Nigerian is more Nigerian than any Nigerian. Leah Sharibu, Rann Women, 112 Chibok Girls are all Nigerians & their lives must matter just as how the life of Zahra, Kiki, daughters of Buhari & Osinbajo matters. It is not a crime to be poor-Aisha Yesufu

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-bbog-protest-for-the-release-of-leah-sharibu-112-chibok-girls/

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it was not banning the use of Smartphone around the polling unit areas, but the moment a prospective voter entered voting cubicle to cast his or her vote.

The Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, made the declaration in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

He stated this while reacting to the statement issued by the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, condemning the decision of INEC to ban the use of smart phones at polling booths.


Mr Oyekanmi said Nigerians were fully aware of the challenge of vote-buying and selling that reared its ugly head in recent elections. He said that had prompted many stakeholders to call on INEC to devise innovative ways to tackle the problem.

“In consultation with other stakeholders, the Commission came up with new measures to solve the problem, one of which is to disallow the use of smart phones and other electronic devices in the voting cubicles on election day.

“In other words, INEC is not banning phones around the polling unit area, but the ban takes effect from the moment a prospective voter collects his or her ballot paper and enters into voting cubicle to thumb print and thereafter drop the folded ballot paper into the ballot box.

“After that, the voter can have access to his or her phone.”

Mr Oyekanmi urged Nigerians to disregard any attempt by any individual or group to politicise what was purely a preventive measure.

http://www.metronaija.ng/we-didnt-ban-use-of-phones-inec/

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has re-emphasised that the National Assembly should reconvene immediately to attend to crucial and pending legislative business.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yekini Nabena on Tuesday in Abuja, said that the majority must be allowed to lead the Senate.
“We are in a democracy and are governed by laws. A few cannot hold the legislative arm of government to ransom through their selfish political games.

“The National Assembly must be reconvened immediately to attend to crucial and pending legislative business. The majority must be allowed to lead,”he said.
He, however, condemned an alleged statement by the Coalition of United Political Parties which that APC-led administration planed to attack the National Assembly leadership and abuse court processes.

Nabena said such crude practices were rejected templates of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which the so-called coalition represented and alien to the progressive APC-led administration.
He added that the APC considered the new rounds of falsehood by the sponsored coalition as a last-ditch attempt by the outgoing and minority National Assembly leadership of the President of the Senate,Dr Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

He added that their plans were to prevent the reconvening of the National Assembly and continue a minority rule in an APC-dominated federal legislature.

http://www.metronaija.ng/apc-wants-national-assembly-to-reconvene/

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The Police Command in Plateau said gunmen had killed a 62-year-old man, John Atu, and injured three members of his household at Kwall village of Miango District in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau.

The Public Relations Officer of the command,DSP Terna Tyopev, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Jos.

According to Tyopev, the incident occurred on Monday night.

“On Monday at about 8.a.m, one Robert Zarachi, the Youth Leader from Kwall in Miango District of Bassa, reported at our Division in the locality that at about 10:45.p.m, some gunmen attacked the house of John Atu, a 62-year-old man
READ ALSO Newly married Faith Evans and Stevie J show off their matching tattoos 'The Jordans' as they share a kiss (Photos/Video)

“As a result, Atu lost his life and three other members of his household sustained severe injuries from gunshots, ” he said.

He said the deceased has since been buried in accordance with the Irigwe rites and that the injured members of his family were currently receiving treatment at Enos Hospital, Miango.

The police spokesman said investigation had begun to arrest the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

He also said that the Police had arrested seven persons who allegedly killed three persons in Gura-Riyom community of Jos South Local Government Area of the state.
READ ALSO Why you must ensure release of Leah Sharibu, other Boko Haram victims now - TEKAN tells Buhari

He said the arrest followed a complaint jointly lodged on Tuesday at the Bukuru Police Division by Musa Ahmadu and two others.

“On Monday at about 8.a.m, one Musa Ahmadu and two others jointly lodged a complaint at our Bukuru Division that some youths from Gura-Riyom in Sot Ward of Gyel in Jos South, on Monday at about 11.p.m. attacked and killed some of their family members who were on their way to Sabongida Kanang.
READ ALSO Victims Of Gas Explosion In Nasarawa To Be Flown Abroad For Further Treatment.

“Our detectives were immediately mobilised to the scene of the crime and with the assistance and cooperation from the youths of the community, seven suspects have been arrested and they are assisting us in our investigation, ” Tyopev said.

He gave the names of those killed as Aminu Angara, 36, Aisha Musa, 40, and Daniel from Manga village.

http://www.metronaija.ng/gunmen-kill-62-year-old-man-injure-three-others-in-plateau/

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The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III and Kano state Governor Ganduje pay a courtesy call on the Governor of the State of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-alaafin-of-oyo-visits-aregbesola/

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Senate president, Bukola Saraki met with delegates and executives of PDP in Plateau State to also share with them the Grow Nigeria vision.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-saraki-meets-pdp-delegates-in-plateau/

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The Nigerian Air Force says the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, has tracked and destroyed some Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) vehicles as they were attempting to launch fresh attacks on ground troops locations at Gudumbali and Damasak in Borno.

Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said that the operation was carried out early morning of Saturday.

He explained that the mission was initiated following intelligence reports indicating that a convoy of BHT vehicles had been sighted within the Damasak – Gudumbali Axis.
READ ALSO PHOTO: Osinbajo And Ambode At Holy Ghost Service

” Accordingly, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform was dispatched to search for and locate the convoy of vehicles.

” The ISR aircraft spotted vehicles at a location 24 Km SW of Gudumbali heading in a Northwards direction. Consequently, a helicopter gunship was scrambled to attack the convoy.

“The helicopter arrived the location and was vectored to the position of the vehicles, which, at the time, were about midway between Nigerian Army (NA) locations at Metele and Arege.

” Following communications with ground troops, the BHT vehicles were positively identified, isolated and attacked by the helicopter gunship in successive strikes.
READ ALSO Terry Crews accepts Adam Venit's Apology after his Resignation

Daramola said that in the process, 4 of the vehicles were immobilized and their occupants neutralised.

” The ISR aircraft continued to track the remaining 5 vehicles, which initially dispersed but later regrouped and continued their retreat to Tumbun Rego.

” They were subsequently attacked at their harbour location by the freshly rearmed helicopter gunship; with 3 direct hits recorded on the vehicles,” he said.

He said that a follow-up attack on the newly discovered insurgents’ logistics base in Tumbun Rego was conducted by 2 Alpha Jet aircraft later in the morning of Saturday.
READ ALSO PHOTOS: Kogi Based Man To Marry Two Women

” The makeshift buildings and other facilities in the base were accordingly destroyed in the air strike.”

The NAF spokesman said that the NAF, working in concert with surface forces, would sustain the momentum of operations with a view to destroying vestiges of the insurgents in the Lake Chad green fringes and other areas in Northern Borno.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-akeredolu-visits-flood-affected-areas-in-ondo/

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No fewer than 35 communities in Etsako East and Etsako Central Local Government Areas of Edo have been sacked by flood, occasioned by unending rains and overflow of the River Niger.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that the flood which displaced over 30,000 people, also damaged hundreds of hectares of farmland across the two council areas.

NAN reports that mostly affected by the flood are communities such as Udaba, Anegbette, Usomegbe, Uduchiz among others, all in Etsako Central Local Government.

Similarly, the flood also sacked the entire six Uneme clans in South East Uneme, Okpekpe, among others, in Etsako East Council area.

The Etsako East council boss, Mr Aremiyau Momoh and his counterpart in Etsako Central, Mr John Akhigbe, said the disaster had gone beyond the purview of the council areas.

They called for urgent intervention from both the State and the Federal Governments.

The duo said camps for the Internally Displaced Persons had been placed in strategic locations across the council areas.

Akhigbe said aside the Resettlement Camp built aftermath of a similar disaster in 2012; about five other camps are being prepared for the victims.

Similarly, Momoh said six camps had been opened in Etsako East for the same purpose.

“We have tried our best as far as the councils are concerned, we are hoping and appealing to the Federal Government to urgently intervene on this matter,” he said.

In his remarks, the clan Head of Uzanu, South East Uneme in Estako East local government, Benjamin Ikani, also cried out over the sacking of six communities in his domain by flood.

The Monarch said more than 1,700 persons from the six communities are now displaced looking for where to stay.

Ikani listed communities affected by the flood to include Uneme-Ekwuekpele, Uneme-Ogwoyo, Uneme-Ukpeku, Uneme-Ogbethaya, Uneme-Yeluwa and Uneme-Unubu.

He said he relocated some widows, old women and children to Uzanu community to enable the children go to school.

He said the displaced persons had been moved to higher ground at Uneme-Yeluwa waiting for interventions from the state.

Ikani said he has reported the matter to the relevant authorities but was yet to get any help.

He expressed worry over stranded pregnant women that could no longer get access to ante-natal care.

“The flood started last week. You can see the women and children in my palace. Nobody died in the flood but my people need help.

“The most pathetic situation is the pregnant women because of lack of health care, food stuff, medicine. The people can no longer harvest their crops.

“I brought 18 persons because all of them have left their villages to stay at Uneme-Yeluwa.”

http://www.metronaija.ng/flood-sacks-35-edo-communities-renders-30000-homeless/

A Mitsubishi pick up van on Friday knocked down a nursing mother backing a baby and holding another child at Odeda on the Abeokuta/Ibadan road, killing both the mother and baby.

Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, spokesman for Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the accident was caused by a speeding driver of the vehicle with registration number LSR 604 XQ.

“The vehicle lost control due to speeding and rammed into the woman and her child, killing her and the baby on her back while the other child she was holding was injured.

“Unfortunately the driver ran away, but the vehicle has been towed to Odeda Police Station for more investigation.

“The pick up van was coming from Ibadan, heading towards Abeokuta,” he said.

The TRACE spokesman explained that the bodies of the deceased had been taken to Odeda General Hospital mortuary while the injured child was taken to Omo Arewa Hospital, Odeda.

http://www.metronaija.ng/speeding-vehicle-kills-mother-baby-in-ogun-2/

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The North West zone of National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) on Friday said 53 lives were lost to flood in both Katsina and Kaduna States, while 30 others were missing in the last four months.

Mr Ishaya Chonoko, North West Zonal, Coordinator of the agency, gave the figures in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

According to him, the agency recorded 51 deaths in Katsina State, two in Kaduna State, while 30 persons were confirmed missing in Jibiya, a border town in Katsina State.

NAN reports that the floods occurred between May 3 and Sept. 8, affecting 29 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the two states.
Chonoko said a total of 12, 041 persons and 262 houses were affected in Katsina State, while 3,775 houses and 7,929 farmlands were similarly affected in Kaduna State.

He listed the affected areas in Kaduna State as Abubakar Kigo road, Tudun wada, Malali, and Ungwar Rimi in Kaduna North.

Others are: Barnawa in Kaduna South; Karatudu, Narayi, Rido village, Gonin gora and Sabon Tasha in Chikun; Hayin Na’iya, Rafin Guza, Hayin Dan- Mani and Kawo in Igabi LGAs.

Areas in Katsina State included Malumfashi, Kafur, Bakori, Kusada, Kankai, Rimi, Musawa, Daura, Baure, Maiaduwa, Dutse – ma, Batsari, Kaita, Zango, Sandamu, Kurfi and Faskari LGAs.

Chonoko said the agency had distributed relief materials to victims of the flood in the state.

He said blankets, corn, rice, mattresses, cement and detergents were distributed because these were the immediate needs of the victims.

The agency attributed the flood to blocked drainages, construction of structures along water channels and illegal mining along river banks.

According to Chonoko, the incident came days after the agency, SEMA and the Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA) had issued an alert that some Local Government Areas in the states were likely to experience flash flooding.

He said the agency had always embarked on sensitisation campaign in flood prone-areas to prepare them.

Chonoko stressed that the campaign was undertaken because of the need to remind the residents on the need to relocate from flood-prone areas to safer places, in view of the predictions of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).

He, however, expressed confidence that the Kaduna State Government had made adequate arrangements to cater for potential Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the flood-prone areas.

http://www.metronaija.ng/flood-claims-53-lives-in-katsina-kaduna-states-in-4-months-2/

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The new All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, comes into the saddle at a time when the party is in crises. This was why TheNEWS team, made up of Ademola Adegbamigbe, Ayorinde Oluokun and photo journalist, Femi Ipaye, went after the APC boss. For over one hour in his Abuja office, Oshiomhole fielded questions on his style, defections, Bukola Saraki, reconciliations, Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, 2019 and other burning national issues



Q: Congratulations on your emergence as the chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, at a very dramatic period in Nigeria’s history. How have you been coping with all the ‘political’ drama which has been happening at a dizzying pace since your appointment?

I think you should have completed the two parts – to congratulate is one part, the other side is to commiserate. It is clearly a big honour to be elected unanimously by all shades of opinion within the All Progressives Congress as the national governing party controlling, as of that time, 24 state governments. And for me, when you consider where I am coming from – having been President of Nigeria Labour Congress which is clearly an organization that is devoted to protecting and advancing the interests of the underclass, to move from there to become a state governor, and then, from there to becoming the chairman of the governing party which cannot be said to be a working class party in the true essence of the word, is a whole life story. I am humbled by the experience, the trust that people repose in my person, including people I thought I have offended over the years.
You should know that I led a protest against the Senate and members of the House of Representatives over furniture allowance and that protest was very massive – the parliament was shaken to its foundation. I argued that we must make sure that having fought so hard to get democracy, we must make sure that those we elected on that democratic platform must not derail. But those who have to vote for me to become chairman include those senators, because our constitution says “serving and former senators.” The same thing goes for House of Representatives. And that just shows that people recognized the difference between what you have to do to protect the interest of the class that you represent and that it is nothing personal. So, it has been for me a very humbling experience. My background has also helped me to understand the complexity of the country and also equipped me with the things I needed to deal with the challenges arising from the office. So, everything considered, I am humbled, to God be the glory.

You were elected into ‘crises’ so to say and the biggest of the crises will seem to be in the National Assembly, especially, the Senate where the situation now is that of the PDP which is still the minority party presiding over the majority party at least as at now due to the recent gale of defections. You’ve been very vocal that the APC will not allow that situation, but how are you going to solve this problem now?

I think it is correct to say I came in at the peak of the crises within the APC. And that crisis was deepened by the way the previous leadership handled the congresses – in a way that completely subverted basic democratic principles in many cases. And that complicated the issues before I assumed office. I have told people that one is like a child born during the war and if you survive the war, you can only be stronger. And somehow, my life has been like that. I went into the union work when the local unions weren’t doing much and the workers had to revolt. That was how I got into my first union job. I got into NLC after the military government had proscribed it, taken it over and appointed a sole administrator that ran down completely the entire idea of a working class movement. I took over NLC from a military administrator and within time, we turned NLC into what I called a ‘fighting machine.’ The Nigerian people are the best judge on my stewardship at the NLC. There is a sense in which when you get into a job at the most difficult moment and you survived it, obviously you can get on cruise control. So, I can say that the worse is over for our party.
Thank God, I am one of the founding fathers of our party – I was one of the state governors then on the platform of ACN who joined one governor from CPC, few other governors from ANPP and one governor from APGA to form the APC before Senator Bukola Saraki and about four or so PDP governors then decamped to also join APC. So, I am very clear about what our mission was. I’m very clear on what our mission is and I am very clear on what the primary purpose of the All Progressives Congress is. To that extent, I don’t need to be tutored to understand the reasons for the formation of APC. And because I know that we consciously choose to be progressives and the party was supposed to be open only to all those who are progressives, I knew that it was only a matter of time before the internal contradictions will manifest.

When I declared my intention to contest for the chairmanship of APC, what is happening now, I predicted it. I said it is hoped that one day, we would organize the party in a way that it cannot be a platform for extreme right – the most conservative, reactionary or even fascist in the far right, hobnobbing on the same platform with the most progressive or even socialist, if you like, or even communist on the same party platform. It just wouldn’t work for a long time because the core value of the people that drives the system simply doesn’t coincide. So, those who are not progressives, over time, would just have to drop out because they can’t cope with the internal dynamics and I think that is what has happened. Some said because of the nature of the merger, rather than enjoy what could have been an organic or chemical reaction, what we witnessed was a physical reaction and the non-progressive elements within the system now found themselves falling apart.
And if you look at some of the key leaders who have dropped on the wayside and where they choose to return to, I believe it is quite revealing and it confirmed this theory. You look at the person who led the group – the coordinator of those who defected on the floor of the Senate, look at his background, these are people who are born with not just silver, but platinum spoon and so, they have never known hard work and they have never achieved anything through hard work. Their business of banking doesn’t have to survive for them to remain afloat, even though depositors of their banks may not have recovered and you can go on and on. People, who have lived that sort of life truly by the simplest, liberal definition of the word ‘progressive’, simply can’t fit in. There could be several other examples, but let’s stop there.

Now, where they choose to return to is also important because if you play back the statement made by this people about this time three years ago when they were leaving PDP, they used all sorts of names to describe the party. And since they were inside PDP, we believed them. They called PDP “a rogue party, self-centered, unpatriotic, incompetent, lacking internal democracy, subjecting the country to wallowing in unmitigated corruption” and stuff like that. There is one from Adamawa who said PDP is ‘irredeemable’ – they pronounced with such magisterial finality, just three years ago. If they say all those bad things about the party and they cannot fit into APC, they have the option to find a new place where they can also associate on the basis of a shared value. But they realized that their value is more in tune with this same party that they have used such unkind words to describe. So, their return to PDP confirmed that any system that is not based on ‘share the money’ they can’t fit into it. And so, they can go back only to a party that guarantees that. And so, it will also be of interest to the Nigerian people- this debate that we read about some say ‘we have to change the name of PDP because we have been notorious – the Nigerian people know that we are a notorious lot’ and within them, some are saying, if we are notorious, so be it. People know that we are notorious, we cannot change.’ Some say ‘we may not change our notoriety, but we can wear new mask’, the way a double star master will do in those days – they will drop their actual names, passport, relocate to another country and do change of records and wear a completely new face. But that was before the era of digital fingerprint and eye detector.

The fact that they chose to return to PDP shows that they are incurably committed that the resources of Nigeria is their birthright to share for themselves and nobody else. I think that settles that. But we are also beginning to see that while they are leaving, some other people who have progressive inclinations are also jumping into the APC, saying we cannot cohabitate if these characters are returning to PDP. If we ever had hope that PDP can change itself, the return of these characters can only deepen the very corrosive, corrupt nature of PDP. And recently, I went to receive a senator from PDP into the fold of APC in Ebonyi State. I also went to receive the leader of the PDP in the Senate into the APC and he promptly resigned his position as leader and joined the APC. And there are still quite a few who understand that once these reactionary, conservative forces are back, obviously, they do not have business remaining in the PDP. I said so in my speech that this is going to happen. And it is my hope that after this shake up, you are going to see clearly, the difference between PDP, APC and indeed, any other political party.

I also mentioned that it doesn’t excite me when we described a political party as the largest in Africa or the largest in the universe. I would rather talk of a political party that is smart, well organized, people oriented, people driven, mass based, all inclusive and pro-people. That’s what I would like to celebrate. That coincides with my own background, my own values that government and institutions should work for the people and not for those who operate the system.

http://www.metronaija.ng/how-we-foiled-sarakis-plot-adams-oshiomhole-2/

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he Controller General of Prisons, Ahmed Ja’faru has presented commendation letters to six prison officers who foiled escape of two inmates of the Enugu Maximum Security Prisons on May 5.

ASP Emeka Monday, Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Prison Service, Enugu State Command made the disclosure in a statement in Enugu on Thursday.
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Monday recalled that two inmates with minor offence who evaded custody in May 5 were recaptured by the six officers.

He listed the gallant officers as Theophilius Martins, Ezekiel Yohanna, Christopher Nwaforenyi, Philip Nnamani, Nwadinobi Nwoke and Emmanuel Igwe.

The command spokesperson said that the Controller of Prisons in Enugu Command, Mr Ndubuisi Ogbodo presented the commendation letters to the officers on behalf of the controller general.
READ ALSO Aisha Buhari honoured with PhD by Sun Moon University,South Korea(Photos)

He said that Ja’faru encouraged other officers to always be committed to their duties as there was reward for excellence in the service.

Inspector Theophelius Martins, who spoke on behalf of the recipients, thanked the CGP for the recognition accorded them and pledged their commitment to the service.

http://www.metronaija.ng/prison-boss-rewards-six-officers-for-foiling-escape-of-inmates-in-enugu/

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