₦airaland Forum

Following the unfortunate incident where a woman allegedly murdered her husband and her three children before killing herself in Benue State, a neighbour has given an account of the type of family the deceased were...

As shared by Nelson Stony Uwua;
"TRUTH AND THE REPORT OF WHAT HAPPEN ABOUT A WOMAN (RACHAEL) WHO SLAUGHTERED HER 3KIDS AND KILLED HER HUSBAND (NICK ADETSAV) IN BENUE STATE.

The neighbors are not wicked!
I happens to be one of the neighbor, we are in the house of five neighbor's which is five apartment, the four neighbors always come together for something, sometimes we even eat together, we show love to each other among the four tenant, but for nick and his wife and children, they don't greet or neither answer greeting, we don't touch anything that belongs to them, because you will not even see it at first place, they are always indoor especially the woman, the kids go to school everyday except Saturday and Sunday and during Holliday's, the husband is a worker with Mkd local government, a senior staff.

I was surprise, when they told me the wife too is also a worker with the same Mkd local government, in agric department because she's always indoor, so they care if anybody wake up or not, outside people don't come to the compound, if one try to get water, she will drag the water down and push you outside and close the gate, the woman is very wicked, I have never seen such in my life before.

That evening, the woman put her Television on with a high volume, three generator were put on in the compound, everybody was inside watching news or films, we don't see or notice any sign of fight but she kill her husband with pestle before slaughter her three children, I was not there or saw her doing it, but we notice her passed action when she come out to smarsh the car, that was when we got to know something was going on, she went inside and lock her door and there was no sign of human sound inside the room because we draw close to their window after her action outside, the neighbor's decided to call the police and vigilante and they responded immediately, when they came and broke the door, we saw them dead.

So how are we (the neighbours) wicked?"

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/she-was-very-wicked-neighbour-speaks-on.html

A former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on new media, Reno Omokri, on Saturday disclosed why he thinks the West African Examination Council, WAEC, attestation of results given to President Muhammadu Buhari may be fake.

WAEC, through its Registrar, Iyi Uwadiae, had on Friday issued an attestation of results to Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

In his continued reaction to the development, Omokri posted a series of tweets where he said, “@Cambridge_Uni confirmed that certificates they issued in 1961 had only numbers for grades and no alphabets. Read it for yourself.

“Now go back and look at the so called certificate given to @MBuhari by @waecnigeria and notice it is incompatible with that.

“Yahoo boys are learning when compared to @MBuhari and @WAECNigeria. @officialEFCC is arresting the wrong people.

“What magic is this? Same WAEC that officially wrote that they have no record of Buhari sitting for School Certificate suddenly abracadabras a certificate! #RenosDarts.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/waec-why-attestation-of-buharis-results.html

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has reacted to the attestation certificate presented to President Muhammadu Buhari by the West African Examination Council, WAEC, on Friday.

The main opposition party said the presentation of the confirmation of school certificate result to Buhari was a “tragicomedy.”

WAEC, through its Registrar, Iyi Uwadiae, had on Friday issued the West Africa Examination Council certificate to the President.

Reacting to the development, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary , Kola Ologbodiyan, told journalists in Abuja that the party never expected Buhari to come this low.

He said, “it is a tragicomedy. We never expected Mr. President to dramatically come this low because you cannot have a certificate and be calling it an attestation.

“What are they attesting to? We stand by our position that Mr. President has no school certificate.

“it is simply a political certificate. We have said that the Buhari presidency and his handlers are always fretting at the mention of a certificate.

“So, they want to mislead Nigerians to say that Mr. President has a school certificate

“if Mr. President has a certificate, why did he not use it in 2015 election? Why is the certificate suddenly emerging few months to the election? And have you checked the photograph that was attached to the certificate? In 1961, was it the requirement of WAEC to have a passport attached to school certificate?

“Even in our own generation, was a condition in WAEC that you must submit your passport to be attached to your certificate? They should come off it. It’s too low.

“You remember they procured Martin Luther Award presented to our president which later was discovered to be fake? This is a similar award, a procured. We are waiting for the story of its declaration as another procured document.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/waec-certificate-pdp-reacts-to.html

The presidency on Friday mocked the opposition and critics of President Muhammadu Buhari after the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, presented certificate to him.

Garba Shehu, his spokesman, in an article titled “President Buhari, WAEC and PDP’s Toxic Air”, said the controversy was embarrassing.

“This is a god-sent, with WAEC being a non-political entity. This should put to rest the absurd allegations by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, brought up again and again, that he did not attend a secondary school”, he wrote.

“The unreasonable position of the PDP had been sustained all along in spite of testimony by classmates who read with him in school and graduated together, and that fact that a court of law had given a ruling on the matter.

“In 2014-2015 when they raked up the issue, I remember that it took the courage of the then college Principal to issue a statement of results from available records. In doing so, he defied the ruling PDP government in the state which asked him not to.

“At the time we got the results sheet, reports said that the government had determined to send arsonists to burn the school to ashes so that the existing records will be obliterated.

“This was against the backdrop of the shocking claim by the Army Records office in Lokoja, that they didn’t keep any records of General Buhari as a military officer.

“Curiously, the Army Records office had once come under Muhammadu Buhari, as Military Secretary who, during his tenure streamlined the records of the entire officer corps, and could not, by any stretch of imagination, have left his own records in a mess. General Alani Akinrinade (Rtd) reportedly dismissed this mischief as an insult to the military.

“After doing his conscience’s duty by daringly releasing those results, the then government of Katsina State punished the Principal by stripping him of his seniority and posting.

“As we said in a number of past statements, the matter of the President’s qualification to run for office is a non-issue, nonetheless feasted upon by the PDP which has stopped thinking and have nothing to offer to Nigerians.

“Based on arguments that “education gives a human being the power to discriminate between right and wrong,” the 1999 Constitution stipulates a minimum educational qualification for citizens who intend to contest for elections at all levels, which requires that they must possess a secondary school education or its equivalent.

“The provision above has itself come under serious re-examination by scholars who argue that the possession of a secondary school certification does not necessarily mean that a person is intelligent. It is equally argued that it is a mistake to assume that a person with a certificate has higher knowledge or intelligence than the one who doesn’t have.

“As far as his educational career is concerned, President Buhari attended the Katsina Provincial Secondary School, before enrolling in the Nigerian Military Training College, NMTC Kaduna (1962), renamed Nigerian Defence Academy, in 1964.

“From NMTC, Muhammadu Buhari went to the Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot, United Kingdom (1962-63), the Defence Services Staff College, India (1973) and thereafter, United States Army War College, which upon completion, awarded its graduates a Master’s degree in strategic studies.

“In the belief that the nation has the right to know the educational details of their president, Candidate Muhammadu Buhari laid bare everything and tendered an affidavit in respect of the WAEC certificate.

“The masquerades wielding the real power behind the PDP, some of whom played an active part in his overthrow as military Head of State in the mid-eighties are deliberate in keeping this issue alive. As a thoroughbred, toughened general, he won’t cry out that his home and office were vandalized by scoopers when they threw him out of power.

“In meeting the eligibility for the contest in 2015, President Buhari presented the WAEC results and the other degree and non-degree related results. He went through the verification process in the party, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the court. He ran and won against the PDP.

“With these, the unnecessary controversy should have ended. It is equally hard to fathom how such a dead issue should get the type of attention given it by the media, considering the many matters of serious concern to the citizens – internal security that was given a short shrift for 16 years by the PDP; the diversification of the economy by focusing on key sectors (apart from oil) that can create jobs and generate revenue such as Agriculture, Solid Minerals and Manufacturing which the Buhari administration is keenly doing; the ongoing pursuit of more reforms and better governance; bolstered efforts towards poverty alleviation; ending corruption and insurgency and ploughing the savings therefrom to put in place needed infrastructure and so forth.

“Do they know that Nigeria Airways, NITEL and other pensioners they left in the cold, unpaid when they sold public assets to cronies or to themselves are getting their dues under this dispensation? If these things had been done when the oil price was as high as US$140 per barrel, Nigeria would not be in the current predicament. We would not have suffered when we had no cash reserves but we had regular supply of power, a good rail system, good roads and good housing. These are the issues dear to the hearts of our people.

“In its political fight for 2019, the PDP is not relying on the big issues of the day -security, corruption and jobs but on small, distractive matters that take little or no account of national interest.

“But what do you expect of a group that has stopped thinking, just blowing hot, toxic air, indulging in divisive politics and is raking up sectional issues so that the people will forget the real issues of corruption, infrastructure, security and economy for which they have no plans?” He wrote.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/waec-certificate-presidency-mocks-pdp.html

The Kano State House of Assembly on Wednesday invited Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, to appear before its ad-hoc committee probing videos showing him allegedly taking bribe.

Ganduje is expected to appear before the committee on Friday.

The Assembly constituted a committee on October 15 to establish the authenticity of the videos.

On Wednesday, another video surfaced showing Ganduje dressed in black Kaftan collecting alleged bribe from a contractor.

The footage exposed the names of the contractors, projects and the voice of the purported bribe giver.

It also has translation in English with dates and timelines.

Unlike the previous videos released by DAILY NIGERIAN, the latest was suspected to have been released by other parties who could have had access to them after copies were released on request to security agencies and Kano Assembly.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/kano-assembly-invites-ganduje-over.html

Legendary Fuji Musician, Adewale Ayuba, on Wednesday, advised Nigerian youths to explore the therapeutic essence of music as it could heal emotional and psychological hurts.

Ayuba gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said that music is spiritual, beyond the physical as it ministers to the spirit and soul thereby rejuvenating mental health.

Ayuba urged Nigerians to engage in listening to music with positive content because such could go a long way in making them retain sound mental health.

“Music is the food for the soul, it allays depression and psychological hurts.

“That is the reason you find Psychiatric Doctors advising their patients to listen to music because of its soothing effect to the mental health.

“Am talking about music with positive contents, that is the one that has an absolute healing effect, instilling morals in the younger ones and educating them.

“For everyone depressed or going through a challenge, cooling off with music will help such individuals because music ministers to the soul, heal emotional wounds and proffers solutions to problems,” he said.

Ayuba attributed the cause of negative musical content from artistes to the fact that most Nigerian youths prefer music with obscene content as it sells faster than those with positive contents.

He, however, advised artistes in the entertainment industry to consider morals in their music so as not to derail the youths.

He stressed that musicians were meant to correct societal ills using their music as weapon.

“Our first task as musicians is to ensure that people learn from our music and stay conscious of the messages we are passing across so that the society can be a better place,” he said.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/explore-therapeutic-essence-of-music.html

Grassroots Mobilizers for Buhari (GMB), a political association promoting President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 presidential ambition, has suspended some of its members for allegedly fraternising with Buhari’s opposition, Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku Abubakar is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate for the 2019 general elections.

A statement by the Director-General of the GMB, Hajiya Fatimah Goni in Abuja on Tuesday, gave the names of the suspended members.

Goni revealed that the affected members had been parading themselves as members of the association in spite their expulsion.

She, however, stated that the association had notified relevant law enforcement agencies on the fraudulent activities of the expelled persons, whom she said, were bent on tarnishing the good name of the association and that of President Buhari.

“The attention of the Grassroots Mobilizers for Buhari (GMB) has been drawn to the activities of some of its suspended and expelled members who are now parading themselves as executives of GMB, and are going about deceiving vulnerable politicians and organisations alike with the intent to misinform, defraud and extort them in this season of politics and politicking,

“These elements have, in the past weeks, been planning with an evil intent to bring Grassroots Mobilizers for Buhari into shame and disrepute in a grand design using the name, logo and letterheads of GMB to make a declaration in support of the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

“We hereby draw the attention of the general public that the plan, intent and actions of these criminal-minded individuals do not in any way reflect the views of the GMB and we, by this disclaimer, deny and disown their plans, intent and actions in part, whole and its entirety to be false and of criminal intentions.

“We in the GMB are volunteers for nation building. Our voluntary mobilization efforts for the support of President Buhari is neither for sale nor salable.

“Our time, energy and efforts put in the steering of this organization are with the intention that the administration of President Buhari remains the right choice and the best for the nation in these times when the evil cancer of corruption and its supporting tissues are regrouping to re-infect, re-hijack and re-inflict our nationhood.

“We at the GMB will not and shall never compromise for any article of corruption under any guise whatsoever,’’ she said.

The director-general also dismissed Sen. Bukar Ibrahim’s outburst that President Buhari might not win the majority votes in the North East in 2019.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/presidents-supporters-working-for-atiku.html

Latest report as Mohammed Atiku is the son of The People’s Democratic Party’s presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mo Abubakar as he is fondly called works in a pure water company known as Faro.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/here-is-atikus-son-who-works-in-pure.html

The Future of Nigeria, a book written by Michael Owhoko, has been unveiled in the United States of America.

It chronicles Nigerians fleeing the country in droves for foreign countries owing to injustice in the political system and poor economic policies in the country.

The book published in the U.S. is a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria’s past and present, revealing that the country will remain balkanised, except the political leadership takes drastic action urgently.

It is expected in bookstores next week.

Owhoko is a media and public relations practitioner, who worked in the banking, oil and gas sectors.

The publisher of Media Issues, an online newspaper, earned degrees in political science and mass communication.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/the-future-of-nigeria-unveiled-in-us.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that with the humongous resources at the disposal of Nigeria between 1999 and 2014, it was sad that infrastructure was not fixed.

President Buhari said the administrations then allowed infrastructure to rot completely within the period.
Buhari said this when he received the outgoing British High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency, Paul Arkwright, in a farewell audience at State House, Abuja, on Monday.

Buhari said, “Our focus now is on infrastructure; roads, rail, power, and others. How I wish we had fixed all those when we had money.
“What we earned between 1999 and 2014 is on record, but nothing was done to infrastructure. Now, we are doing a lot more, with a lot less resources. And we shall continue to do our best.”

This was contained in the details of the meeting forwarded to DAILY POST by the President’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
President Buhari commended the outgoing High Commissioner for his warm and pleasant disposition, which has seen him traversing almost the entire country.

“I always see you all over the place,” the President noted.

Arkwright, who spent over three years in Nigeria, said he visited 30 of the 36 states, and found the people quite enterprising and engaging, adding that the British government would be glad to offer a helping hand as required in any part of the country.

He thanked President Buhari for his support, adding that the relations between Britain and Nigeria have improved tremendously in the past three years.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/what-buhari-told-british-government.html

A governorship aspirant during the just-concluded All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, primary election in Imo state, Uche Onyeagucha, has criticized the Chief Victor Oye-led National Working Committee of the party over alleged sabotage against Bianca Ojukwu, the widow of the late Biafra warlord, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu.

Recall that Chief Nicholas Ukachukwu had during last month’s APGA senatorial primaries held in Anambra state, defeated Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, to clinch the party’s ticket to contest for Anambra South senatorial seat in the 2019 election.

Onyeagucha, in a statement issued by his Media Aide, MacDonald Enwere, and forwarded to DAILY POST on Friday, said,”It is disheartening and highly disgusting that Victor Oye and Willy Obiano could have the mind to defraud Ojukwu’s widow under a false pretense of securing the senatorial ticket for her in Anambra.”

The APGA chieftain explained that the action of Oye and his cohorts was a calculated betrayal of the spirit of late Odumegwu Ojukwu.

Part of the statement read, “After swindling her and collecting a huge amount of money from her, they denied her the senatorial ticket and pushed her by the side.

“Ojukwu will be weeping uncontrollably in his grave for such a mortal betrayal by these professional swindlers who call themselves APGA leaders. No man with real Igbo blood flowing in his vein could have the mind to betray Ojukwu’s widow because of money. This is the man the party is using his image to campaign during elections. Willy Obiano and Victor Oye have really lost their conscience.

“We never knew that APGA parades functional fraudsters and First Class swindlers as leaders. It is only hardened fraudsters that could have the mind to defraud Ojukwu’s widow under a false pretense of securing APGA senatorial ticket for her in Anambra state.

“The truth is that Oye and Willy Obiano deserve to be stoned to death at Onitcha main market for the sacrilege of betraying the spirit of late Odumegwu Ojukwu who sacrificed his life and wealth for the Igbo race

“We therefore, condemn in a very strong term such swindling antics and sabotage against Bianca Ojukwu by Victor Oye and Willy Obiano.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/ojukwu-weeping-uncontrollably-in-his.html

By Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

A member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Adedeji, was in the early hours of Friday shot by unknown gunmen while travelling to Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker was one of the legislators that partook in the removal of the former Speaker, Hon. Kola Oluwawole, and subsequent election of an All Progressives Congress (APC) colleague, Hon. Adeniran Alagbada, as the new occupant of the seat.

The Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Segun Adewumi, told journalists in Ado Ekiti Friday that Adedeji, representing Ekiti South West constituency II, was shot in the head.

He said the lawmaker was immediately rushed to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), where he was admitted at the Accident and Emergency Unit for intensive medicare.

The legislator, who is of PDP extraction, added that the lawmaker was accosted on the road by the gunmen and was shot while trying to escape the scene by putting his car in reverse.

“When he was accosted on the way, the lawmaker wanted to flee the scene by putting his car on reverse gear to another direction, but these evil men opened fire on his vehicle and the bullets hit him on the head.

“He was immediately taken to hospital in Ado Ekiti where he received emergency treatment,” he said.

When newsmen visited the Accident and Emergency Unit of EKSUTH at about 11.40am Friday, one of the staff disclosed that the lawmaker had been referred to the Federal Teaching Hospital in Ado Ekiti.

“He had been transferred to Ido Ekiti. The bullets hit him in the head and he would have to undergo neurosurgery as soon as possible,” he said.

The Deputy Speaker further revealed on telephone that the lawmaker has been taken to FETHI where he would have access to CT scanning of his head.

The lawmaker once had problems with former Governor Ayodele Fayose and the Oluwawole-led Assembly prior to the PDP governorship primary over his closeness to the senator representing Ekiti South district, Mrs Biodun Olujimi.

Olujimi backed the former Minister of Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, in the primary election against Fayose’s preferred candidate and former Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

The lawmaker narrowly escaped being hammered with suspension, but his punishment was commuted to tendering of apologies to the former governor which he did at the house’s parliamentary session.

When called for confirmation, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, Mr. Caleb Ikechukwu, said the incident has not been brought to his notice.

“We have not been officially briefed but when we have the information, we shall act appropriately,” he said.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/unknown-gunmen-shoot-ekiti-lawmaker.html

The Guards Brigade of the Nigeria Army (NA) has explained that the presence of military personnel at the National Assembly and other places within the Three Arms Zone was based on intelligence reports concerning the activities of the protesting members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shiites.

The Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Capt. Ht. Tagwai in a statement on Thursday debunked reports that soldiers were trying to take over the National Assembly, describing the reports as false and misleading.

Tagwai clarified that troops of Guards Brigade Nigerian Army are routinely deployed within Abuja and environs on receipt of any intelligence report of possible breakdown of law and order.

“Therefore as part of the routine responsibilities of the Brigade, troops were deployed at the Three Arm Zone of the Federal Capital Territory based on an intelligence report of an invasion by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (aka Shiite) to force their way into the Zone. Hence, Troops were deployed to forestall any breach of peace and security.

“The Brigade wishes to state that media platforms should verify their stories before publication to avoid misleading the general public,” he said.

He assured that the Nigeria Army is a professional organisation that conducts its operations in line with international best practices.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/military-deployment-to-nass-based-on.html

A group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-West, Progressives Mandate has berated the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, over his attack on the National Leader of the party, Senator Bola Tinubu.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the coordinator of the group, Hon. Biyi Akintayo, stated that Amosun’s outburst against Tinubu and a former governor of Ogun State, Segun Osoba, was unwarranted.

On Monday, Amosun while swearing in Mosunmola Dipeolu, Chief Judge of the state, at the government house, Abeokuta, the state capital wondered why Tinubu and Osoba, were silent on the controversy trailing the Ogun governorship primary.

Amosun accused the leadership of the party of forging results of the primary election in Lagos.

“He (the president) knows that they just went to Lagos, write all results, and that what they did is fraud. If the national working committee or the national chairman said there was any election in Ogun state, it was all fraud,” Amosun said.

“The issue of Chief Osoba and Asiwaju and co, what we said was that there was a deafening silence from their end, and silence means consent.
A group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-West, Progressives Mandate has berated the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, over his attack on the National Leader of the party, Senator Bola Tinubu.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the coordinator of the group, Hon. Biyi Akintayo, stated that Amosun’s outburst against Tinubu and a former governor of Ogun State, Segun Osoba, was unwarranted.

On Monday, Amosun while swearing in Mosunmola Dipeolu, Chief Judge of the state, at the government house, Abeokuta, the state capital wondered why Tinubu and Osoba, were silent on the controversy trailing the Ogun governorship primary.

Amosun accused the leadership of the party of forging results of the primary election in Lagos.

“He (the president) knows that they just went to Lagos, write all results, and that what they did is fraud. If the national working committee or the national chairman said there was any election in Ogun state, it was all fraud,” Amosun said.

“The issue of Chief Osoba and Asiwaju and co, what we said was that there was a deafening silence from their end, and silence means consent.

“We have not heard a word from any of them. Was there any election in Ogun state? Yes or No? They should come out and speak… they are hiding behind one finger, they cannot come out.”

But according to the group, accusing the top cheiftains of perpetrating fraud in the emergence of Prince Dapo Abiodun as APC governorship candidate in Ogun State, despite the endorsement by the National Working Committee (NWC), was unfortunate.

The statement read: “How could Amosun accuse Osoba and Tinubu of electoral fraud? Has Amosun suddenly forgotten that these were the duo that worked for his emergence in 2011?

“As new decampees into the now defunct ACN, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun and Hon. Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade were the stars of the party in the build up to the 2011 polls.

“We recall that seven other aspirants at that time decided to select a candidate. At a meeting held at Ikeja and chaired by Aare Remi Bakare with the likes of Dr. Kayode Soyinka, Prince Kayode Tejuoso, Mr. Temitope Kuyebi, Gbenga Obadara and Hon. Akinlade among others in attendance, Akinlade emerged and his name was to be forwarded to the leadership of the party the following week.

“Shockingly, before his name could be officially communicated, a meeting was summoned by Osoba, the leader of state chapter, at an hotel in Abeokuta GRA, close to Amosun’s residence.

“With the then chairman of the ACN, Alh. Tajudeen Bello and late Baba Adeniji presiding over the meeting alongside the Abuja stakeholders, Amosun, was to the chagrin of other aspirants announced as the choice of the party hierarchy. After all the hues and cries, the other aggrieved aspirants agreed with the decision and moved on.

“Just about a week after the name of Sen. Amosun had been forwarded to INEC as ACN candidate, Amosun left for CPC, but swiftly showed up when the guber ticket had been conceded to Hon. Akinlade to beat the electoral body’s submission deadline.

“After pleading with the same Asiwaju Tinubu that he is deriding today, Baba Osoba was prevailed upon to forgive Amosun and the rest is history.

“In sum, it is on record that Osoba and Tinubu were conspicuously instrumental to his emergence as the Governor of Ogun state. For the records, all these happened without Amosun going through any election. The question begging for answer is, has Amosun forgotten so soon?

“One is not unaware of how Amosun begged his way to the Oke Mosan Governor’s office in 2011; he was even at the Owode-Yewa residence of Hon. Abiodun Akinlade to commend him for conceding the ticket to him in the build-up of the 2011 polls.

“For Amosun to call on these duo agent of fraud as regards their silence on the emergence of Dapo Abiodun as APC candidate for 2019 polls, leaves more to desire especially for the discerning minds in Ogun State,” the statement said.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/apc-amosun-under-fire-for-attacking.html

The third edition of the Delta State Principals’ Cup being organised for all secondary schools in the State and sponsored by Zenith Bank Plc starts next week.

According to the organisers, the preliminaries of the revived annual ‘catch-them-young’ initiative will kick-off on October 31, 2018.

The competition which was grounded for many years is back courtesy of sponsorship by Zenith Bank Plc and over 1,200 private secondary schools and 446 public government secondary schools in the state are competing in this edition.

On November 1, 2018 the preliminaries will start in all 25 Local Governments of Delta State and registered schools would compete to emerge the group stage representative from their Local Government Areas.

Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in Delta State, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, is expected to play a supervisory role to ensure the smooth running of the competition, which is very dear to the heart of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Peter Amangbo, has assured that this year’s competition would be an improvement on the last edition. Amangbo also stated that Zenith Bank was always elated to contribute to the development of Nigerians youths by supporting various endeavours across the country.

“This is a youth football competition, but our impact goes beyond just football. We are also involved in other sports in a bid to continually identify talents for the country, while also engaging Nigerian youths positively in their various areas of competence”.

“We are going to make this edition better because improvements must be recorded as we move on. So far, we are proud of this partnership with the Delta State Government and we expect all the participants to enjoy themselves.” Amangbo said.

A media conference to start the competition is scheduled to take place on Monday, October 29th, 2018 at Asaba, Delta State.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/zenith-bank-delta-principals-cup-kicks.html

Mobile money operators (MMOs) services gained traction between July and September this year as the volume and value of transaction done via the channels as well as the number of customers using it soared.

Data released by the Nigeria Inter Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) showed that the value of transactions done via mobile money rose from N429.79 billion to N1.22 trillion within a three month period.

The volume of transactions had likewise grown from 35.94 million that was achieved between January and June this year to 59.72 million as at the end of September this year.

The figures are however much lower than what was recorded in the 2017 January to September period. Last year, volume of mobile money transactions was 560.86 million, while value of transactions was N4.61 trillion.

Despite the decline in volume and value of transactions done via the channel, there was a rise in the number of customers using the channel. Number of mobile money operators’ customers as at last year September was 3.2 million, dropping to 1.5 million as at the end of June this year before rising to 5.54 million last month.

There has been an aggressive agents mobilisation which was also aided by the Shared Agent Network initiated by banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The number of agents had grown from 8,613 last year September to 13,113 in June and 21,400 in September 2018.

Meanwhile, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transactions rose from N3.17 trillion done in 429.79 million transactions as at the end of June to N4.76 trillion done in 650.06 million transactions on 18,321 ATMs across the country.

Point of Sale transactions was also on the rise as more bank customers made use of their cards to pay for goods and services. PoS transaction volume rose from 120.79 million with a value of N1.02 trillion in the first six months of the year to 196.8 million with a value of N1.61 trillion as at the end of September this year. This shows a 99.3 per cent improvement over the 98.73 million transactions with a value of N975 billion that was recorded as at September 2017.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/mobile-money-operators-record-n12trn.html

The Israeli government yesterday said it has no evidence about the appearance of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu in the country.

According to the government, the pictures and videos showing Nnamdi Kanu praying in Israel could be old.

Speaking during an interaction with some African Journalists in Jerusalem, the spokesman of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Mr Emmanuel Nashon said there was no evidence that the leader of IPOB was in their country of recent.

“There are no details about his recent visit to this country yet,” Emmanuel said adding that the pictures and videos could be old ones.

Speaking on their relationship with Africa, Emmanuel said Israel has been misconstrued adding that they are getting back to their old friends.

“Our relationship with Africa is extremely important,” Emmanuel said insisting that the continent stand to benefit more from Israel.

“Israel is a peaceful nation that believes in the process of the world at this changing times,” Emmanuel disclosed, adding that they have different religion such as: Judaism, Christianity and Islam that live peacefully with one another.

“Jerusalem is one of the great cities in the world. We have Judaism, Christianity and Islam as religions. We are considering a lot of networks with Africa and African Journalists will get direct contact with Israel journalist so that you don’t need to take news from a agencies.”

“Our embassies will also provide you with information any time you want it. Israel is a place with a lot of diversity and you see Jews from Africa and other parts of the world. We have Christians we have Muslims also. We are united in Israel,” he added.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/no-evidence-of-kanus-appearance-in.html

Jose Mourinho described conceding a 96th minute equaliser to draw 2-2 at Chelsea as an “awful result” for Manchester United, but played down a melee involving players and staff from both sides after Ross Barkley’s late strike. Mourinho had to be restrained by stewards when one of Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri’s backroom staff, Marco Ianni, ran in front of the Portuguese to celebrate as the hosts salvaged their unbeaten start under the Italian. The United manager then also gestured with three fingers towards the Chelsea fans in reference to the three Premier League titles he won for the club in two spells in charge.
“I did not get respect back from Chelsea (fans) but that is not my responsibility,” said Mourinho. Sarri said he had gone with Ianni after the match to offer his apologies to Mourinho.
“After the match I have spoken with Jose and I understood that we were wrong,” said Sarri. “I (have) spoken immediately with the member of my staff and then I bring him to speak with Mourinho and to say sorry to Mourinho.” Mourinho accepted that apology. But his frustration at blowing what could have been a huge win in the context of a stuttering season was obvious. The visitors remain seven points adrift of Chelsea, and could fall nine points behind Manchester City and Liverpool should they win their respective fixtures later Saturday. “(It was) not celebrations, but bad education. But I also made mistakes in football matches and I will make more so after the game when he came to offer his apologies, I accept,” added Mourinho.

“A fantastic game with a fantastic result for Chelsea and awful result for us. “We were so much in control, so much the positive team in the second half.” Mourinho’s decision to hand Anthony Martial a start in an attack-minded line-up came good as the Frenchman scored twice in 18 second-half minutes after Antonio Rudiger headed Chelsea into an early lead. The German defender easily peeled away from Paul Pogba to plant a powerful header past the helpless David de Gea from Willian’s corner. That was the fourth time United have conceded from a corner in the league this season, having also done so in defeats to Brighton, Tottenham and West Ham. “Players make mistakes and I prefer to focus on the global performance and again my midfield was very good,” added Mourinho on Pogba’s error. It wasn’t so costly this time as Chelsea paid for a lack of killer instinct despite dominating possession for the rest of the first-half. “I am happy with the performance of the team for 60 minutes because for 60 minutes we played our football,” said Sarri. “Then after the goal of 1-1 we haven’t played our football. We only played the long ball and we are not organised to go on the second ball. “In this kind of football, United is better than us so I am really disappointed for the last 30 minutes.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/mourinho-furious-as-chelsea-salvage.html

US President Donald Trump has praised a Republican congressman who assaulted a journalist last year with a “body slam”, referring to him as “my guy”.

“Greg is smart,” Mr Trump said of Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte, adding “by the way never wrestle him”.

“Any guy that can do a body slam… he’s my guy,” he said to cheers and laughter at a rally in Montana.

After praising Mr Gianforte, Mr Trump then mimicked a person being thrown forcefully to the ground.

Mr Gianforte, 56, pleaded guilty to assaulting a journalist from the UK’s Guardian newspaper on the eve of his election last year.

He was ordered to pay $385 (£304), complete 40 hours of community service and 20 hours of anger management counselling.

This latest praise from Mr Trump will only worsen his relationship with the media, which he has previously labelled the “enemy of the people”.

Recalling his fear that the 2017 assault could hinder Mr Gianforte’s chances of winning the special congressional election that followed, Mr Trump told supporters: “I said wait a minute, I know Montana pretty well, I think it might help him – and it did”.

Ben Jacobs, the reporter who was attacked after asking the candidate whether he supported the Republican healthcare plan, agreed not to sue Mr Gianforte if he wrote a letter of apology and donated $50,000 (£39,500) to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

A letter sent by Mr Gianforte to Mr Jacobs offered a “sincere apology”.

“My physical response to your legitimate question was unprofessional, unacceptable and unlawful,” it said.

In a statement, the Guardian’s US editor John Mulholland said he hoped the president would apologise for his comments, adding: “To celebrate an attack on a journalist who was simply doing his job is an attack on the first amendment [of the US Constitution] by someone who has taken an oath to defend it.”

He said the incident “runs the risk of inviting other assaults on journalists”, coming at the same time as the alleged killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/trump-hails-montana-rep-who-body.html

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has distanced himself from an online grant scheme meant to defraud Nigerians.

An online scheme code-named ‘Atiku Grant Disbursement Programme’ had surfaced online, asking members of the public to contribute a certain amount of money which will be multiplied after they have downloaded a particular social media application.

Reacting to the scheme, Atiku’s Presidential Campaign Organisation, APCO, urged members of the public to “discountenance” the scheme.

In a statement issued by APCO, entitled “Atiku disowns online grant scheme,” the organization said, “The attention of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organization (APCO) has been drawn to an on-going scheme that purports to disburse grants to unsuspecting Nigerians.

“Information available to us reveals that the scheme code-named ‘Atiku Grant Disbursement Programme’ (see link /2NP4vup) is asking unsuspecting members of the public to contribute a certain amount of money which will be multiplied for them after they have downloaded a particular social media application.

“APCO disclaims this scheme and any other in such manner. For the avoidance of doubt, the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organization is not in any way involved with the scheme or any other in such manner and neither did it give a proxy authorization.

“APCO also wishes to inform the general public that the official/verified social media handles of His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the PDP and former Vice President of Nigeria remains the following: www.atiku.org (Blog) www.facebook.com/atiku.org (Facebook) www.twitter.com/atiku (Twitter)
www.instagram.com/aatiku (Instagram)

“The public is therefore put on notice to discountenance communication that did not emanate from any of these social media accounts and to refrain from participating in any online scheme that is aimed at defrauding innocent Nigerians, with the ulterior motive to embarrass the presidential campaign of Atiku Abubakar.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-atiku-speaks-on-his-online-grant.html

Last week, former President Olusegun Obasanjo did what he knows how to do best- playing god and trying to determine the fate of 180 million Nigerians. His former deputy, Atiku Abubakar, who is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, went to reconcile with his former boss. Atiku has been seeking reconciliation with his former boss as if his political future depends on it.

We have been erroneously made to believe that anybody Obasanjo endorses becomes president. Recall that he practically foisted the late Umaru Yar’adua in 2007 and turned against him when the chips were down. He jumped on Goodluck Jonathan’s wagon in 2011 and when he stopped doing Obasanjo’s bidding, he wrote him one of his infamous letters. In 2015, when he saw the public anger against Jonathan’s administration, he joined the change train. Unless you have been living in the moon, you will know President Buhari has frittered away part of the goodwill he had in 2015 and Obasanjo, being a smart man, is now jumping on the Atiku wagon.

But the question I ask is, is Obasanjo’s endorsement all a candidate needs to win the presidential elections in Nigeria? I don’t think so. Let’s look at all the cases.

In 2007, Nigeria witnessed one of the worst, if not the worst, election conducted in the history of the country. Even the eventual winner of the election; the late Yar’adua, was embarrassed by the outcome of the result. Election was still going on in some polling units when the then INEC chairman, Maurice Iwu, announced the results. Yar’adua was so embarrassed that he publicly admitted that the election that brought him was flawed and inaugurated the Justice Uwais committee on electoral reforms. In 2011 after Jonathan was made acting president and president after the death of his boss, Nigerians from all over the country were unanimous in their decision to give power to a minority, even without Obasanjo’s support, Jonathan would have won the 2011 elections because he was seen as an underdog and his no-shoes story resonated with a lot of Nigerians. After Jonathan bungled his opportunity in 2015, it was anybody but Jonathan’s campaign. Even when there were questions about Buhari’s certificate then, most Nigerians stated that even if Buhari presented a NEPA bill as certificate, they would still vote for him. Buhari would also have won in 2015 without the endorsement and support of Obasanjo.

It is also important to note that unlike now, in 2003, 2007 and 2011, the opposition was not united so the PDP was having a easy ride in all the elections. In 2015, when the opposition spoke with one voice, we all saw what happened.

When Atiku emerged the PDP candidate, I was wondering what Obasanjo’s next line of action would be. We all know the Owu chief likes to be the centre of attention and I was waiting to see whom he would endorse. His coalition and a call for a third force were dead on arrival and even his party, the ADC, is right now in the mortuary waiting for its final burial rites.

Early this year, he wrote a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari calling on him not to seek re-election in 2019. After the letter, the former military president, Gen Ibrahim Babangida followed it up with his own letter, echoing Obasanjo’s thoughts. The president dismissed their call and went on to seek re-election. Obasanjo’s spat with his former deputy was well documented and when asked if he would forgive Atiku and support his ambition, he said God would not forgive him if he supports his vice. So what has changed?

While receiving Atiku last week, Obasanjo publicly admitted that he had been having a running battle with the PDP candidate but said he had forgiven him.

Obasanjo was caught between a rock and a hard place and the safest option for him was to support Atiku. Either way, suporting Atiku or Buhari is going back to his vomit; so either way; he is doomed. The 2019 election would be a referendum on Obasanjo playing god in Nigeria. If Atiku wins it will reinforce the false notion that whoever he endorses wins, but if Buhari wins, Obasanjo and his fellow generals will proceed on permanent retirement from playing god and determining the future of Nigerians.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/as-obj-rides-his-luck-once-again.html

Rapper Diddy and his girlfriend Cassie have reportedly gone their separate ways after their 10-year long relationship. LoveBScott says Cassie’s rep has confirmed the break, and Diddy is actually already seeing someone else, 26-year-old model Jocelyn Chew.

This isn’t the first time the couple is taking a break from one another. In 2015, the couple had a brief breakup and Diddy was spotted with a woman named Gina Hunyh.

Cassie is said to be no longer interested in the relationship though, especially if Diddy continues to be involved with other women. Her rep reportedly said: “They are indeed no longer together and haven’t been for months.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/diddy-and-cassie-reportedly-split-after.html

Malaria, a disease caused by a plasmodium parasite, transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes, has continues to claim thousands of lives in Nigeria.

The World Malaria Report of 2017 indicates that the country contributes 27 per cent of the 216 million malaria cases and 24 per cent of the 445,000 malaria deaths.

According to the report about three out of 10 persons having malaria in the world live in Nigeria; one out of four deaths from malaria globally occur in Nigeria and over 54 million malaria cases recorded annually for the last three years.

The prevalence across zones in the country according to 2015 National Malaria Indicator Survey (NMIS) revealed that North West Accounts for 37 per cent; North Central, 32 per cent; North East, 26 per cent; South-South, 19 per cent; South West, 17 per cent and South East 14 per cent.

Nevertheless, the country has over the years formulated policies all in a bid to stamped out malaria for good. For instance, the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NEMP) has formulated Strategic Plan which covers 2014 to 2020 and the aim was aims to achieve pre-elimination and reduce malaria related deaths to zero by 2020.

While increased malaria prevention and control measures are dramatically reducing the malaria burden in Nigeria, stakeholders are however advocating for more political commitments, continued collaborations with development partners and high investment towards malaria prevention, control and treatment. With collaborative efforts by the federal government, development partners and the private sector, stakeholders are optimistic that Nigeria will achieve pre-elimination stage by 2020.

Dr. Lynda Ozor, from World Health Organisation (WHO), said the control and eventual elimination of malaria requires political leadership at the highest level, as well as leadership of programmes, resource mobilization, intersectoral and cross-border collaboration.

Ozor said WHO remains a technical partner to the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health, and encouraged strong coordination, clear strategies and determined actions towards malaria control.

She however advised that the country should remain vigilant of the emerging threats of insecticide and drug resistance which have devastating potential to reverse the gains made.
WHO Malaria Containment Programme Officer, Lagos, Dr. Tolu Arowolo , stated that WHO recommends that every pregnant woman living in malaria endemic areas receives the Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT) with Sulphadoxine Pyrimethamine (SP) medicine.

She however disclosed that as at 2015, only 19 percent of pregnant women in Nigeria were reported to have received at least 3 doses of SP. She added that the survey carried out revealed that women in urban areas were more likely to have access to IPT than their rural counterparts.

She therefore urged pregnant women to request for the IPT at their various ante-natal clinics so as to prevent malaria. “It is the right of a pregnant woman to request IPT”, she added.
National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Dr Godwin Ntadom has said pregnant women and their unborn children are still at risk of dying from malaria.

Ntadom, in an interview with LEADERSHIP said Nigeria has a population of about 200 million and the people who suffer from malaria are the children and the pregnant women because they cannot develop partial immunity.

The solution according to Ntadom is for the pregnant women to go for early Antenatal Care (ANC), which can help prevent complications during pregnancy, adding that they should take at least three doses of SP for IPT to prevent malaria.

He said SP is recommended by government for pregnant women to prevent malaria and should be given after the pregnant woman feels the child kicking. He also advised that pregnant women should always sleep inside the Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) to prevent malaria in pregnancy.

National coordinator, NMEP, Dr Audu Mohammed, has called for more donor agencies and increased domestic financing to drive malaria elimination in the country.

Mohammed, who was represented by Mr Chukwu Okoronkwo, head, advocacy, communication and social mobilisation, NMEP, made the call at the Integrated Health Parley organised by Breakthrough Action-Nigeria in collaboration with the Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) in Lagos.

He said the malaria burden in the country called for concern and required concerted efforts and funding to achieve malaria free Nigeria.

“Quite a lot of donor partners are supporting malaria elimination in the country but in spite of their supports, we still have huge gap which is why malaria is still endemic in Nigeria.
“We are appealing to more donor agencies to come in and government at all levels should increase their funding for malaria elimination,’’ he said.

Mohammed said the prevalence of malaria in Nigeria is 27 per cent and there are variations of endemicity across geopolitical zones going by the 2015 Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS).
“The World Malaria Report of 2017 indicates that Nigeria contributes 27 per cent of the 216 million malaria cases and 24 per cent of the 445,000 malaria deaths.

“About three out of 10 persons having malaria in the world live in Nigeria; one out of four deaths from malaria globally occur in Nigeria and over 54 million malaria cases recorded annually for the last three years.

“We also have prevalence across zones in the country according to 2015 National Malaria Indicator Survey (NMIS).

“North West – 37 per cent, North Central- 32 per cent, North East -26 per cent, South-South- 19 per cent, South West 17 per cent and South East 14 per cent, ” he said.
He said another malaria survey is ongoing and the report will be out by 2019, to show the true situation of Nigeria’s malaria status.

Mohammed however said increased funding for malaria elimination would provide equitable, comprehensive, cost effective, efficient and quality malaria control services.

He appealed to Nigerians to stop self-medication and go for Rapid Diagnostic Test for proper malarial testing.

In her remarks, Dr Bolatito Aiyenigba, Deputy Director, Malaria and Tuberculosis Project, Breakthrough Action-Nigeria said that the project was focused on integrated social health behaviour of Nigerians.

Aiyenigba urged the media to write stories and feature articles to provide adequate information to all Nigerians such that at least 80 per cent of the populace habitually takes appropriate malaria preventive and treatment measures.

The Minister of Health Professor Isaac Adewole lamented the fact that malaria still poses as a major health challenge to the country.

Isaac said, “It is sad that malaria still poses a major health challenge to the country and is a major cause of death of children under the age of five.”

The minister however assured that government is concerned about this and is working towards additional funding to close existing gaps and move towards elimination.
He said, “We need to de-normalize malaria and nobody should die of malaria because malaria is preventable and treatable.’’

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/malaria-epidemic-achieving-pre.html

Super Eagles bid to qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon received another massive boost with 3-2 defeat of Mediterranean Knights of Libya in Sfax, Tunisia, yesterday.
The victory catapulted the three times African champions to top position in Group E following South Africa scoreless draw with Seychelles in the second match of the Group. The third successive win after a disappointing start against South Africa, means Coach Gernot Rohr-led squad are now closer to the 2019 AFCON finals in Cameroon. The third straight qualification victory – and the second on the road, takes Super Eagles’ points tally to nine, and one-point gap ahead of the second-place South Africa.

South Africa’s goalless draw against Seychelles at the Stade Linite in Victoria, Seychelles, had opened up the chance for the Super Eagles to move into a commanding position in the log and Ighalo’s clinical showing helped the West Africans’ hold off a much improved Meditteranean Knights side, which lost the first leg in Uyo 4-0. The Pirates of Seychelles were looking to avenge the 6-0 defeat to South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in an encounter which was played in Johannesburg over the weekend. Bafana were the better side in the opening stages of the game and they came close to scoring nine minutes into the game.
Lebohang Maboe’s goal-bound effort was blocked inside the Seychelles box with goalkeeper Jerome Dingwall well-beaten. Dingwall was then called into action by Percy Tau, whose cross was pushed away by the shot-stopper in the 25th minute. South Africa’s China-based centre forward Dino Ndlovu was working hard upfront as he looked to put his side into the lead. Ndlovu’s shot from the edge of the Pirates box was deflected out for a corner-kick just after the half-hour mark. The Seychelles’ defence looked organised and impenetrable most of the time in the first half.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/afcon-qualifiers-nigeria-beat-libya-3-2.html

Will Smith has opened up about his once-faltering marriage to Jada Pinkett.

In a sneak peek for his wife’s web chat show Red Table Talk, the 50-year-old can be seen shedding tears as he discusses the darker times in their 21-year union.

‘There was a period where mommy woke up and cried 45 days straight, I started keeping keeping a diary,’ he says to their daughter Willow in the clip.
‘You missed some days,’ Jada interjects with a smile.

‘It was every morning. I think that’s the worst I’ve ever felt in our marriage,’ Will added. ‘I was failing miserably.’

Further on in the preview, Will is seen admitting he and his wife ‘don’t even call ourselves married anymore,’ which Jada finishes in unison, prompting shocked looks from her mother.

The couple have discussed the point previously, declaring themselves more as ‘life partners.’

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/will-smith-weeps-reveals-jada-cried-for.html

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it will field candidates for all elective positions in Zamfara in the 2019 general elections, despite its disqualification by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Mallam Lanre Onilu, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, stated this while reacting to the insistence of INEC’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on Monday in Abuja on the issue.

Yakubu made the emphasis while speaking on the sideline of the ongoing three-day validation workshop on the cost of election in the ECOWAS region.

The APC spokesman, however, said the party would go ahead to submit list of its candidates for all positions in Zamfara.

He added that the party would meet all requirements for submission of candidates from Zamfara state.

“INEC cannot say that we don’t have candidates for election until the deadline has expired.

“We have options of consensus, direct and indirect primaries and we are going to apply, like we have done in other states, our energies, time and concerns to pick our candidates.

“I can assure you that before the Oct. 18 deadline, we are going to meet all INEC requirements and we are going to submit names of all the candidates for not only Zamfara but the 36 states and the FCT,” he said.

The APC spokesman also dismissed the suggestion that the party might sue INEC, saying: “It is not yet something for the party to take legal action.

“Nothing calls for that. We would not be reacting to what INEC said in the public,” he said.

He explained that after the party got a letter from INEC, it replied it but was yet to receive a reply from the commission.

“We are on the side of the law, we had a primary in Zamfara. We are operating within the guidelines of INEC and the Constitution of the Federal Republic Nigeria.

“We believe that INEC does not have the correct information on what happened in Zamfara and this we have stated in our letter to the commission.

“They haven’t replied our letter, we also ask INEC that if they need more information from us, that we will be ready to offer it,” Onilu said.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/zamfara-apc-will-field-candidates-in.html

The Presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN, Oby Ezekwesili on Sunday challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to a 20-hour debate.

Ezekwesili said the challenge was aimed at allowing Buhari defend his achievements.

In a statement she personally signed, the former Minister of Education, said the debate by proxy should not be accepted by Nigerians.

She stressed that those who shy away from presenting themselves before Nigerians don’t deserve to take the position of leadership.

Stating that nothing less than 20 hours of debate was acceptable to a country of approximately 200 million people, Ezekwesili stressed that the debate should be split in five sessions of four hours each, or four sessions of five hours each.

According to the Presidential candidate, the first debate should be held within a week of when campaign officially starts.

The statement reads, “It appears that there is a conspiracy of the minority to trivialize the issue of presidential debate in a bid to exempt President Muhammadu Buhari from defending his performance and presenting his plans before the Nigerian people.

“This is unacceptable. The people need to know why they should vote for each of the candidates, and they need to know now.

“Make no mistake, the only people Nigerians want to hear from are their presidential hopefuls. Nigerians vote for presidents, and presidents are the ones who get the job done.

“Vice Presidents will not take Nigeria out of poverty. So this is not the time to shortchange citizens with a Vice Presidential debate. Nigerians are voting for top of the ticket, not VP, and they are aware that this is what matters. Anything less than a presidential debate will be considered gross disrespect for the millions of citizens we hope to lead.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-presidency-oby-ezekwesili.html

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has declared that People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, will dethrone the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government in 2019.

He spoke at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Sunday during a Special Thanksgiving Service for the successful hosting of 2018 PDP National Convention.

Admitting that he wanted Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, Wike said he had accepted the party’s choice.

He said: “I supported the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal fully. I have no regrets for my support for Tambuwal.

“But the party has made a choice and as a loyal party man, I stand by the choice of the party. I will support His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar to victory in 2019. That is what is called party loyalty.

“We must put our heads together to ensure that this bad government is sacked. We must ensure that this bad government goes in 2019.

“If this same government returns in 2019, then Nigerians are digging their graves. The suffering now will be a child’s play. That is why we must work for the good of our people”.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/apc-vs-pdp-wike-speaks-on-atikus.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has mocked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate.

He stated that dollars were shared at the PDP national convention and opined that most Nigerian politicians were more materialistic in nature.
The president, who stated this at the closing of the 3-day Interfaith Conference on “Religious Harmony in Nigeria: Towards the 2019 General Elections’’, in Abuja on Saturday, said such politicians did not always mean what they said.

Buhari narrated how he was cheated (politically) during his previous attempts to occupy the presidential seat in 2003, 2007 and 2011 by those he described as members of his religious and ethnic groups.

The President rhetorically cited the 2015 APC presidential primary where dollars were disbursed to delegates to edge out of the race as well as one of the just concluded party primaries where dollars were also used by aspirants to secure presidential ticket.
“The question of religion and ethnicity is fraudulent. Some people are not sincere they don’t mean what they say.

“I’m telling you and some of you know during my primary (in 2015) my opponents said naira had finished and people were given dollars.
“Even in their late primaries recently dollars were being given, nobody takes naira.

“Really, it’s materialism that we will fight to make sure that we stabilize every level and do justice to our country.
“But, what I found out regrettably is that we refused to learn by other people’s experience and we are refusing to learn from our own mistakes,’’ he said.

In his keynote address, Archbishop Justin Welby the Archbishop of Canterbury, stressed that it was the responsibility of religious leaders to speak up and condemn all forms of violent activities during political campaign or elections.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/buhari-mocks-atiku-says-dollars-were.html

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says President Muhammadu Buhari’s hands were too weak to sign the African Free Trade Agreement (AfCTA).

He made the statement on Saturday while speaking at the Babacar Ndiaye lecture series in Bali, Indonesia.

Obasanjo said he hoped that Nigeria will soon have a president who will sign the agreement.

“Africa cannot overcome fears of trade wars till it achieves 50 percent intra-Africa trade,” he said at the ongoing World Bank Group/International Monetary Fund meetings.

“The AfCTA is a good idea and for Nigeria, hopefully, we will have a president that will be able to sign it because the one that is there now, his hands are too weak to sign.”

Nigeria was absent in March as leaders from 44 African countries signed the agreement to form a $2.5 trillion continental free-trade zone.

The Free-Trade Zone is the largest in the world since the creation of the World Trade Organisation in 1995.

Explaining its decision not to sign, the federal government had said a committee was reviewing the treaty and that it needs more input from stakeholders.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/afcta-agreement-obasanjo-bombs-buhari.html

Renowned prophet and founder, Evangelical Church of Yahweh Worldwide, Primate Theophilus Olabayo, has claimed that God showed him how the 2019 election will end.

The cleric called on Nigerians to gird their loins and embark on spiritual exercises to avert imminent danger ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Speaking to Daily Sun, Primate Olabayo revealed that President Buhari would face the toughest challenge of his life in the election year.

He said God told him the election will be declared inconclusive following a serious fight between President Muhammadu Buhari and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar.

He said, “For the coming 2019 general elections, it will be men fighting men, and not boys fighting men because Buhari, and APC would want to use power of incumbency to influence the elections, but Atiku will not agree. They are going to fight each other, and the elections will be inconclusive.

“We are in a very serious situation that requires prayers and fasting. To avert looming crisis, Nigerians should pray and fast between November 1st and 3rd to seek the face of God.

“With prayers all things are possible. We have to pray for peace, unity and progress of our nation as 2019 elections approach. In 1993, I was the first prophet to reveal that the late MKO Abiola would win the election but that he will not be allowed to take over and that in the process there will be problems, which will lead to his death.

“Also during Yar’adua/Jonathan’s time, I told Nigerians that God revealed to me that Yar’adua would die from his sickness and that Jonathan would become President in spite of stiff opposition that will come from certain quarters.

“Even during recent elections in Ekiti, and Osun, I told APC that if the party presented Dr. Kayode Fayemi that APC would win the election and it came to pass that when APC fielded Fayemi it won the polls.

“I also remember prophesying to the nation long before the last governorship election took place in Anambra state that God revealed to me that Governor Willie Obiano would win the election, and it also came to pass.

“Whenever God speaks through His own prophets it must surely come to pass. However it is quite unfortunate the way some people are going about prophesy nowadays.

“Look at how some prophets have been talking about Saraki, that he will be President, I just shake my head.

“What Nigerians don’t know is that some of these politicians, especially when they are looking for certain positions they look for a prophet, and give money to such prophet, and the prophet who has been compromised will now be giving positive prophecy about the man, saying what God has not said about the man.

“These prophets will be deceiving Nigerians talking about the man who gave them money as if it is God that asked them to talk about the man.

“Saraki’s father was my friend. But Saraki, the current Senate President , God didn’t send me to him. I knew he would not be President contrary to what some prophets have been saying about him that he is the best material for the Presidency.

“Before the PDP’s convention where Atiku Abubakar emerged as the PDP Presidential candidate, God revealed to me that Saraki and others are going nowhere, and that it is Atiku tha would clinch the ticket, and I passed the message across, even this I told some members of my congregation.

“Eventually, Atiku Abubakar emerged PDP flag bearer. For God has not told me about Saraki becoming President for now, and I serve a living God who never fails.

“We need to pray against series of crises that may plunge this nation into bigger problems.

“Nigerians should get this message now. Henceforth, it is no longer going to be business as usual in the nation’s political landscape.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-prophet-olabayo-reveals-whatll.html

Following the controversies over the just concluded gubernatorial election in Osun State, an Election Petition Tribunal, on Friday directed the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner to allow the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its Governorship Candidate in the September 22, 2018, election, Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola to inspect the election materials.

Chairman of the Tribunal, Mrs T A Igboche granted the order while ruling on the application by Oyetola and the APC seeking the relief of the tribunal for the purpose of filling defence that may arise from the election.

Oyetola and the APC in the application sought the order of the tribunal to obtain the true copies of the electoral materials and conduct physical inspection as it relates to form EC8A, EC8A, and Card Reader Verification records showing the status of the accredited voters.

Lead Counsel to Oyetola and APC, Yinka Okedara while arguing the ground of application said Oyetola contested the September 22 and 27 governorship election and was declared winner by INEC.

The tribunal in the ruling granted four out of five relieves sought by Oyetola and APC to inspect the materials in the presence of all interested parties; it also ordered that INEC should make all the documents and their personnel available between 8 am to 6pm, including Saturday and Sunday.

Igboche however refused the request of APC’ relief to carry out joint inspection with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who has earlier secured its order to carry out similar inspection.

According to the chairman, such will contradict the earlier order granted to PDP in October 11, 2018 by the same tribunal.

The tribunal had earlier granted similar order of inspection to the All Progressive Allaince (APA) and its candidate Prince Adesoji Masilo and other three political parties.

DAILY POST recalls that the tribunal on Thursday granted order to PDP and its candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke to inspect election materials to enable them file their petition.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/osun-guber-tribunal-grants-apc-leave-to.html