₦airaland Forum

Huawei said Saturday it has fired a Chinese employee who was arrested in Poland on espionage allegations, as China’s telecom giant distanced itself from the case amid Western concerns that it could act as a proxy for Chinese security services.

This week’s detention of Wang Weijing follows the December arrest of Huawei’s chief financial officer in Canada and US efforts to blacklist the company internationally over security concerns.

While China’s government has vociferously defended Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou and demanded her release, the firm swiftly sacked Wang, who works at its representative office in Poland.

“His alleged actions have no relation to the company,” Huawei said in a statement to AFP.

“In accordance with the terms and conditions of Huawei’s labour contract, we have made this decision because the incident in question has brought Huawei into disrepute,” it said.

“Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based.”

A Polish man was also arrested for alleged espionage along with Wang on Tuesday. Both men are suspected of having “worked for Chinese services and to the detriment of Poland,” said Polish special services spokesman Stanislaw Zaryn.

He said their apartments and workplaces were searched, adding that the Polish suspect had worked “for several state institutions”.

The Chinese foreign ministry said Friday it was “highly concerned” about the case and later said it was seeking to arrange a consular visit for Wang as soon as possible.

The Chinese embassy in Poland has also asked Warsaw to “effectively ensure the legitimate rights and interests, and humanitarian and safe treatment of the person involved.”

– Western fears –

According to the LinkedIn profile of “Stanislaw Wang” — Wang’s Polish name, according to Polish media TVP — the detained Huawei employee worked at the Chinese consulate in Gdansk, Poland prior to his tenure at the Chinese tech firm.

At Huawei, Wang worked as a public relations director for more than five years before moving into his current role as sales director in 2017.
He is a graduate of the Beijing University of Foreign Studies.

His case is the latest setback for Huawei.

Its chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Vancouver on December 1 on request from the United States, which has accused her of fraud related to violations of Iran sanctions.

Meng is the daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, a former Chinese People’s Liberation Army engineer.

Following her arrest, two Canadians were detained in China on grounds of endangering national security, in what has largely been seen as retaliation.

Meng’s arrest sparked a surge of patriotism in China with companies encouraging staff to buy Huawei smartphones — and several companies even offering employees subsidies to buy phones from the home-grown company.

‘No evidence’

Huawei in December said it expects to see a 21 per cent rise in revenue for 2018 despite what it called “unfair treatment” around the world, as several countries banned its telecommunications technology.

Last month, Britain’s largest mobile provider BT said that it would remove Huawei equipment from its cellular network after the foreign intelligence service called the company a security risk.

Australia and New Zealand have also enacted similar bans, leaving Canada the only country in the “Five Eyes” intelligence network not to take steps against the Chinese firm.

Last month, a senior EU official warned that the bloc should be “worried” about Huawei and other Chinese firms.

Huawei has rejected Western concerns, saying there was “no evidence” that it poses a threat to the national security of any country.

Huawei’s business is thriving in many places. Last year the company said it had signed memorandums of understanding for 5G equipment with 45 operators in Asia, Europe and North America. (AFP)

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/13/huawei-fires-chinese-employee-detained-poland/

Former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) Isabella Ayuk, is set to provide free cervical cancer public and preventive education, screening and diagnosis services to underserved women in Cross River State through her foundation, The Isabella Ayuk Foundation.

Isabella Ayuk Foundation is a nongovernmental organisation that is formed to care, support and protect the lives of citizens living in the rural communities of Nigeria against the spread of malaria, typhoid fever, cervical cancer and other diseases, as well as improve educational standard through a scholarship scheme, skills acquisition, renovation of widows houses, feeding and clothing programme.

The Foundation’s goal is to reduce cervical cancer morbidity and mortality through early detection, public and preventive education and encourage girls and women to obtain regular screening and vaccination.

The Awareness and Prevention Campaign is scheduled to hold on January 19, 2019 in Calabar Municipal Council, Off Ndidem Usang Iso Road, Calabar. The Cecaps Awareness Walk is to kick off by 6am while Vaccination/Screening Starts 9am prompt.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/12/ex-mbgn-queen-isabella-ayuk-takes-cervical-cancer-awareness-campaign-cross-river-state/

The Buhari Campaign on Friday accused the Director General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign, Dr. Bukola Saraki, of resorting “to baseless campaign of calumny” directed at the person of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Dr. Bukola Saraki’s resort to poorly choreographed and worn-out political brinksmanship is fueled by the obvious absence of any credible agenda or bearing to present to Nigerians in their campaigns.

“In clear demonstration of hallucination with figures, Dr. Bukola Saraki claimed, in an interview with Channels Television a few days ago, that Nigeria's petrol consumption is about 20-22 million Iitres per day and that the current import level of about 50 million litres is a scam and fraudulent,” Festus Keyamo, SAN, Director, Strategic Communications, APC Presidential Campaign Council (Official Spokesperson), said in a statement.

According to Keyamo, “the same Dr. Bukola Saraki was in the 7th Senate and knows very well that in 2014 and part of 2015, the PDP Government that was in power was reporting to Nigerians daily PMS consumption of 35-40 million litres per day. (In January, 2014 for example, the average monthly consumption was 38 million Iitres per day. By January, 2015 under the same government of PDP, they reported 36 milIion Iitres per day and March 2015, the daily consumption reported by PDP government was 45 million Iitres per day, whilst importing at levels above 80 million litres per day).

“Strangely, years later, the PDP Campaign DG is peddling a phantom fuel consumption figure of 20-22 million litres per day.

“The PDP Chief Campaigner discountenanced the obvious fact that within the last three years of the current administration, the Nigerian economy that PDP left in comatose has been jump-started to vibrancy leading to remarkable changes in energy consumption needs and patterns.

“The allegation that the national oil company prevailed on Mr. President not to seek appropriation for subsidy and to rather treat it as cost under-recovery is not only laughable and mischievous, but it is a blatant lie.”

Continuing, Keyamo said: “Verifiable records indicate that NNPC has never claimed subsidy payment from any government in its history of operation. All NNPC’s transactions in this regard have been treated as product costs under-recovery.

“The Corporation, like any other business entity, does its business and recovers its cost from its revenues.

“It is instructive to note that in his rush to indict the NNPC and the President, willy-nilly, Dr. Bukola Saraki forgot that a Senate Committee was set up by him to investigate the intervention of NNPC in PMS imports.

“The mandate of the Committee includes volumes, costs and any associated under-recoveries. The big question remains; why would he not wait for the outcome of the Committee he set up to investigate the matter? Is it because he believes the outcome of his Committee will not satisfy his predetermined mindset?

“Nigerians should therefore ignore the tantrums of Dr. Bukola Saraki as it concern the oil and gas sector.”

https://www.newsexpressngr.com/news/67748-Buharis-Campaign-slams-Saraki-over-oil-and-gas-figures-16

A captain of the Nigerian Army and 13 soldiers recently ambushed and killed by Boko Haram insurgents in the North East were yesterday laid to rest at Commonwealth Military Cemetry, Kaduna.

They were drawn from the One Mechanized Division of the army in Kaduna.

The had run into the Boko Haram ambush while on escort duty along Damaturu/Maiduguri road on December 24,2018.

Speaking at the burial, the General Officer Commanding, (GOC) One Division, Maj-Gen Mohammed Mohammed, said the deceased “paid the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of this great country.”

But he said they did not die in vain and said: “We will remember them forever as brave soldiers.”

Continuing, Mohammed said: “These enthusiastic and inspiring men, exemplified the values of our nation and the military which are loyalty, courage, selfless service, respect, honour and dignity.

He assured soldiers still engaged in battle with the insurgents of the ” unwavering support of the Chief of Army Staff and the leadership of our dear nation in ensuring that you are provided with necessary equipment as well as adequate welfare to carry out your duty effectively and efficiently.”

The Commandant of Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Major Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade, who was at the burial approved the sum of N500,000 (five hundred thousand naira) to each of the family of the slain soldiers

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/12/breaking-officer-13-soldiers-killed-boko-haram-buried-kaduna/

Governor of Bayelsa State, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, has said that the verdict of history would be hard on former Governor, Timipre Sylva.

Dickson said that politicians who desecrated the opportunities to serve, to abuse state resources to lure Bayelsa youths to violence would face condemnation in the courts of posterity.

The Governor, in a statement on Thursday by his Special Adviser, Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, stressed that politicians buying guns for Bayelsa youths and fanning the embers of violence would have their place of rejection on history’s pages of villainy.

Dickson was reacting to a publication in which Sylva alleged of media plot by the governor to pitch him against the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.

The Governor said that it was rather unfortunate that Sylva had descended to level of scavenging for imagined information from the gutters.

He said that while genuine and responsible political leaders respond to real issues, Sylva had continually showed that he is yet to extricate himself from the agony of excruciating rejection by Bayelsa people at the polls.

Soriwei said that Governor Dickson is too occupied with the effective execution of his responsibilities as Governor of Bayelsa State to devote attention to trivialities especially imagined media reports.

He said that it was the determination of Dickson to finish his administration well and strong insisting the Sylva was one distraction which serious leaders should avoid.

Soriwei said that Sylva’s statement was a product of blackmail inspired by the feared and anticipated consequences of hidden guilt.

He said it was rather sad that Sylva in his desperation to prove his political relevance to his political overlords saw casting aspersions on Dickson as the only route to political relevance.

He said: “Again, we are constrained to react to spurious claims and distractions from Sylva and his cohorts who are bent on misinforming the Nigerian public.

“It is indeed unfortunate that Sylva has descended to the level of scavenging for imagined information in the gutters for the purpose of attacking the Governor.

“While it is the standard for genuine leaders and serious members need politicians to respond to real issues, Sylva is yet to recover from bitterness occasion by his excruciating rejection by his own people.

“Now that Sylva knows that a leaked audio is not emanating from Bayelsa, he may try catch some sleep. Dickson has great plans for Bayelsa and Sylva is a costly distraction no leader would want to afford.

“The recent invectives from Sylva are a product of Blackmail inspired by consequences of some tormenting sense of guilt. When Sylva talks about conscience, Bayelsans shiver! There couldn’t have been better way to advertise hypocrisy.

“While Sylva is worrying over the imagined consequences of a badly buried corpse, we are mindful to remind him once again that the only thing in hot pursuit of him is his shadow.

“When he looks back, he shall find no Dickson. The Governor is miles ahead of him.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/11/verdict-history-will-hard-sylva-dickson/

Arsenal manager, Unai Emery, has admitted that the club will only do loan deals this January window.

Last week, Emery said he wanted a centre-back and a winger, to bolster his squad.

But after spending more than £70m on Bernd Leno, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi, he has conceded that the winter window will be much more frugal from Arsenal.

“We cannot sign anyone permanently. Only loan players this January,” Emery said ahead of Arsenal’s game against West Ham on Saturday.

Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez is close to signing a deal with Arsenal, according to reports from Sky in Italy.

Emery worked with Suarez at Sevilla, but said: “I do not know his situation.”

“But I know the club is working for the possibility of players who can help us with this condition (on loan).”

Another of Emery’s former players, Sevilla’s Ever Banega, has also been linked with a move to the Emirates.

The Arsenal boss called him “a very good player”, but told reporters he “cannot say any more”.

He added: “The club is working, telling me each moment different situations can happen. At the moment, I haven’t got any news.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/10/epl-unai-emery-uncovers-exchanges-arsenal-will-january/

Armed men numbering about ten have stormed the campaign office of the presidential candidate of the PDP, Abubakar Atiku, in Akure, Ondo state and beat the security guards and destroyed campaign posters.

The Atiku Campaign Organisation in Ondo State has described the attack as barbaric, and allegedly fingered members of the opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC), as culprits.

In a statement issued by the media spokesman to the Atiku Campaign Organisation, Ondo State Chapter, Mr. Kayode Fasua, he said some hoodlums, suspected to be working in favour of the ruling APC came in the wee hours of Wednesday.

“They arrived in the wee hours of Wednesday, at a time the security guards in the Ijapo, Akure area of our office would have closed from duty and descended on our campaign office.

“Numbering about 10, and fully armed, they descended on our private security guard, beat him to a pulp and then tied him with ropes.

“After that, they proceeded by dismantling the Atiku billboards, and then tearing all his posters.

“Not done, these agents of the devil went ahead to break window panes and kept shouting “where are those documents, where are those documents!”

“But having failed in their evil deed, they retreated, shooting sporadically into the air,” he stated.



Fasua said this was not the first time that the massive supporters of Atiku in Ondo State would be assaulted, as instances of such abound.

“But this latest attack is taking the hate politics being perpetrated by those in power to a ridiculous level, by attacking the campaign office in its little abode,” he stressed.

Fasua called on the security agents to investigate the perpetrators of the evil deed and bring them to book.

Also in his reaction, the Director General of the Atiku Campaign Organisation in Ondo State, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), described the attack as “barbaric and alien to the spirit of democracy that the Nigerian society should embrace in a fast advancing world”.

However he called for investigation into the incident saying that justice must be done.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/10/just-gunmen-attack-atiku-campaign-office/

The wife of a Norwegian multi-millionaire missing for 10 weeks is believed to have been kidnapped and a large ransom has been demanded for her release, local media reported on Wednesday.

Married to a businessman who made his fortune in real estate and the energy sector, 68-year-old Anne-Elisabeth Falkevik disappeared on October 31, the Verdens Gang (VG) newspaper said.

A ransom demand for nine million euros ($10.3 million) in cryptocurrency has been issued for her release, VG said.

The kidnappers have threatened to use violence against her if her family does not meet their demands, Norway’s newspaper of reference Aftenposten said, adding that there had been limited contact with the suspects.

Events like this are extremely rare in the wealthy Scandinavian country, which enjoys a generally low crime rate.

Norwegian police confirmed that “a woman in her late 60s is believed to have been kidnapped from her home in Lorenskog”, around 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Oslo, but did not disclose her identity.

Police were scheduled to hold a press conference later Wednesday.

The missing woman’s husband, Tom Hagen, 68, is Norway’s 172nd richest man, according to the magazine Kapital, with an estimated fortune of 1.7 billion kroner (174 million euros, $200 million).

A real estate investor, he owns 70 percent of electricity company Elkraft which he co-founded in 1992, Norwegian media reported. (AFP)

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/09/millionaires-wife-missing-ransom-demanded/

AIG Frederick Taiwo Lakanu has been appointed Force Secretary and member of the Nigerian Police Force management team.

The appointment, which takes immediate effect, was announced today by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim K. Idris.

Lakanu replaced AIG Abdul Bube, who retired from the Force on 31st December, 2018 after Thirty-Five (35) Years of meritorious service.

He was born on 12 October, 1959, in Lagos Island, Lagos State. He holds B.A. (Hons) Philosophy and LL.B. (Hons) from University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State, and Master in Law from the Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, United Kingdom.

He attended several courses within and outside the Country, including Crime Investigation Course at the Police Staff College, Jos, and Developmental Course at Kofi Annan Centre for Peace Keeping, Accra, Ghana. He is also a fellow of National Defence College, Abuja.

He served in various capacities in the Force as AIG Federal Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Commissioner of Police in Imo and Ekiti States, Commissioner of Police Airport Command, Lagos, Principal Staff Officer to the IGP (Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos) among others.

Until his recent appointment, he was the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja comprising the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Niger and Kaduna States. (NAN)

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/09/aig-taiwo-lakanu-becomes-police-force-secretary/

Jose Mourinho has given Real Madrid president, Fiorentino Perez, certain conditions to meet before he can take charge of the Los Blancos.

This was made known by a respected journalist, Francesc Aguilar, who works for Mundo Deportivo.

According to Aguilar’s report, Mourinho wants Madrid to sign a new centre-half and a striker.

If the conditions are met, he will be returning to the club which he managed from 2010-2013.

During his spell with the Spanish giants, he won the La Liga and the Copa del Rey before returning to England for a second spell with Chelsea.

He was sacked few weeks ago as manager of Manchester United.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/09/jose-mourinho-gives-conditions-met-joining-real-madrid-see-wants/

A Kwara state High Court sitting in Ilorin, yesterday, adjourned the case filed against five robbery suspects who allegedly took part in the last year’s April bank robbery in Offa till January 18, 2019 for definite hearing as the prosecution failed to bring witnesses who will testify in the case to court.

The accused brought before the court were Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salaudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran.

They are facing five count-charge of alleged conspiracy, armed robbery, murder, culpable homicide and illegal possession of fire arms.

When the case which was slated for definite hearing yesterday came up, Kwara state Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mr. Jimoh Mumini, who stood in for the prosecution said that the Police who investigated the case could not bring their witnesses who are all in the Force Headquarters in Abuja to the court.

According to the DPP, “All the witnesses in the robbery case are Policemen who investigated the case and they are all from the Police Headquarters in Abuja. No witness was taken from Offa where the robbery took place and non from Kwara state. “

Mumini said that all efforts he made to the Police Assistant Inspector General, David Igodo who is in charge of Police investigation and Mr. Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police who led the investigation team to Kwara state to produce the witnesses in court did not yield any result.

The DPP said, “on the 10th of December, 2018, I wrote a letter to the AIG, Mr. Igodo which I copied to this honorable court to make available all witnesses in this case in court today. I followed it up with phone calls on January 2, 4 and 6, 2019. It was at about 8.07 pm yesterday (Sunday) that Abba Kyari, DCP told me that the witnesses will leave Abuja for Ilorin this morning. I told him that the court would sit at 9am. The AIG then told me to beg the court for short adjournment. “

He however sought for short adjournment for the case from the court.

The Defence Counsel, Mathias Emeribe who said that the prosecution was not ready to go on with the case did not however oppose to the adjournment.

He pleaded with the court to order the prosecution to serve him with the amended charge of the case as well as the confessional statements of the five accused.

In his ruling, the trial Judge, Justice Halimat Salman said that she was adjourning the case till January 18, 2019 because the Police failed to make the witnesses available in court.

He vacated the definite hearing order slated for yesterday and ordered that the Police should send down all the witnesses to Ilorin for the definite hearing of the case on Friday next week, 18th January, 2019.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/08/court-adjourns-trial-offa-robbery-suspects/

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has condemned what it described as frivolous, unsubstantiated and perverse the statement credited to Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. Dave Umahi, against the group.

Umahi had in a recent chat with journalists after the inauguration of the ‘Operation Python Dance III by the Nigerian Army said that his wife received a text message from purported members of IPOB threatening to kidnap South East governors.

The group wondered if the governor is using it as a tool to please his northern master by picking on it.

IPOB noted that Umahi’s statement is symptomatic “of the shameful and complicit role the Igbo governors have continued to play in the death of unarmed Biafrans.”

A statement made available to journalists in Awka on Monday by IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, said: “The stock in trade of the South East governors is treachery and betrayal but unfortunately for them we IPOB will match them every step of the way until their conniving treacherous scheme is brought to an end.

“Isn’t it sad Dave Umahi and his fellow quislings never foresaw Fulani herdsmen invasion of our land but are quick to invite the army to occupy our land and kill us Biafrans as usual? Why have they till date never called for the army to attack a violent Fulani group attacking every community in Biafra land but they are always in the habit of wanting the death of IPOB members?

“Dave Umahi and his cohorts should pray very hard that no Biafran life is lost during this their latest phase of Operation Python Dance of Shame 3 against innocent Biafrans.

“Fulani slaves parading themselves as Igbo governors have perfected plan to use soldiers deployed to the South East to abduct, arrest and preferably kill top IPOB leaders in Biafraland or anybody suspected to be IPOB member because of IPOB’s resolve to boycott next month’s presidential elections.”

IPOB regretted that the Ebonyi State governor and his counterparts, including Abuja politicians, were hosting the army with the way Dave Umahi did a few days ago in Abakaliki.

Continuing the statement said: “Was it not announced that this latest round of Operation Python Dance was nationwide. How come it’s only Igbo governors that are welcoming them with open arms? This question must be asked by every intelligent person. If nothing is done to checkmate the rabid treachery of Igbo governors, we shall continue to suffer the consequences for the next 70 years.

“Boko Haram is ravaging the North where this same brave army has been humiliated countless times but Igbo governors slavishly invited them into our land to fight IPOB instead.

“Years of betrayal and the sacrilegious act committed by Igbo governors and Ohanaeze against their people through Operation Python Dance is what will kill them not IPOB. Their Fulani masters cannot save them. This crop of Igbo governors will be recorded in history as the worst of the very worst.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/08/reason-ipob-tackles-governor-umahi-biafra/

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has had a closed-door meeting with the Awujale and paramount ruler of ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona at his private home in Ijebuode.

The meeting which lasted for over two hours was kept away from the prying eyes of the journalists who were eager to cover the meeting but were told it was a private meeting

Although the outcome of the meeting was not made public, still it may not be unconnected with efforts to seek the understanding of the monarch and other traditional rulers from the area in the buildup to the forthcoming general elections

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday continued the family chats and door-to-door political campaign in Saki town, Oyo State.

Prof Osinbajo during the campaign addressed an excited crowd and visited families in their homes.

He was accompanied by the Oyo State Deputy Governor, Moses Alake Adeyemo, the Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu and All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate in Oyo State, Adebayo Adelabu.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/07/osinbajo-awujale-meet-camera-ijebu-ode/

“It is time for Kogi people to say enough once and for all so that we can truly liberate Nigeria and become the leaders we were promised while we were in school. The AAC is set to send the shameless fathers like Buhari who have refused to let go of power back to Daura. The roads here are terrible; it's a sign that the people you have voted for have failed you. They do not remember you, save for election cycles when they bring a miserly N4,000, and you never hear from them again. Vote for me come February 16 and watch Nigeria transform before your eyes,” Sowore said.

Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has asked Nigerians to collectively vote out leaders who "perpetually enslave their followers by not paying salaries, and not building hospitals or equipping schools for children".

He stated this while speaking with thousands of supporters at a mega rally in Kabba, Kogi State.

Speaking on why he should be elected as president in February, Sowore said: “This is the time for young people to take power back from those who have abused it over the years. We are fighting to ensure that everyone who is working for Nigeria earns a living wage of N100,000. We are fighting for your kids, who are currently out of school, to access education for free as well as health care because Nigeria is blessed with resources, but thieves whom we have elected over the years keep stealing to take care of themselves and not you.

“Are you not tired of the suffering and poverty?”

His question met with a thunderous “we are" in response from the crowd.

“It is time for Kogi people to say enough once and for all so that we can truly liberate Nigeria and become the leaders we were promised while we were in school. The AAC is set to send the shameless fathers like Buhari who have refused to let go of power back to Daura. The roads here are terrible; it's a sign that the people you have voted for have failed you. They do not remember you, save for election cycles when they bring a miserly N4,000, and you never hear from them again. Vote for me come February 16 and watch Nigeria transform before your eyes,” he added.

The Kabba rally, which was also attended by Dr. Rabiu Ahmed Rufai, the AAC vice-presidential candidate, as well as party executives in the state, kicked off the SoworeRufai2019 Middle Belt campaign rallies, which will take the campaign caravan across cities like Kaduna, Plateau, Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe and Adamawa states, as part of a 100-city tour ahead of the 2019 general election.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/06/stop-voting-thieves-owe-salaries-says-sowore-kogi/

The Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Digital, New Media, Tolu Ogunlesi, has reacted to a short audio that has gone viral online, in which Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi allegedly spoke ill about the President.

Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, posted the clip on his page.

In the short audio released by Omokri on his twitter page, Amaechi was allegedly heard saying Buhari does not listen to complaints of Nigerians, nor read comments concerning his administration.

“The President does not listen to anybody. Does he even read,” Amaechi allegedly said.

The former presidential spokesman wrote: “Nigerians hear the audio of Rotimi Amaechi’s conversation, they may weep. The man has no iota of respect for Buhari.

“In fact, he hero worshipped former President Obasanjo in the tape and said he is the only worthy Nigerian leader. They know the truth, but hide it!”

Omokri further threatened to release more audio of Amaechi criticizing Buhari if the minister does not own up to the statement.

However, Ogunlesi has taken to his Twitter page, to claim that the recording is from 2014 and was in fact, directed towards Jonathan.

“Audio from 2014 or so. At the height of Amaechi’s fight with GEJ.

“In the (paraphrased) words of Victor AD – WETIN YOU GAIN #DubaiStrategy,” Ogunlesi wrote.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/05/presidency-reacts-leaked-audio-amaechi-criticising-buhari/

Kao Xiong, a California man has pleaded guilty to sending more than 150 threatening or hoax letters in 2017 to President Donald Trump and to former presidents, FBI offices and other individuals and businesses.

Prosecutors say Xiong, a former Amazon employee from Oroville, allegedly sent the letters, which contained bomb threats, death threats, assassination threats and extortion demands.

The 34-year-old Xiong usually sealed envelopes containing white powder that turned out to be flour.

“I need one million dollars or Donald Trump is dead,” two letters said, according to the Chico Enterprise-Record.

Other targets included former presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan who was dead 13 years at the time.

“Pipe Bomb, Everyone is going to die,” one letter mailed to Texas read, according to court records.

In a federal courtroom in Sacramento, Xiong pleaded guilty to a single count of conveying false information concerning use of an explosive.

He faces up to 10 years in prison.

His lawyer, Tim Zindel, described the case as “just a touch of mental illness” after his client admitted in court to previously being treated for mental problems.

In two letters sent November 2017 to Hmong TV in Minnesota and the FBI Boston’s field office, Xiong demanded $1 million be dropped off at a McDonald’s in Minnesota, according to court records.

No evidence was found that indicated Xiong ever built any device, and he told investigators he had no access to explosives training or any intent to hurt anyone.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/05/man-confesses-writing-threat-letters-trump-fbi/

Senator Magnus Abe, representing Rivers South Senatorial District at the National Assembly has said that the current crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers will boost the party’s chances.

The ruling party in Rivers is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Abe on Friday in a statement signed by his spokesman, Mr Parry Benson, urged the leadership of the party to do the right thing to sustain the unity, rather than taking the issues of the party personal.

Abe stated that one of the issues that had brought the party to its knees was the failure to produce a governorship candidate that was acceptable to the law.

“First of all, the issue of whoever that emerges as the candidate of the party, I totally subscribe to that, but what is the process by which the candidate would emerge.

“This is the issue, when you use a process that cannot produce a candidate who is acceptable to the law.

”Our party is made up of human beings, people that have put their lives on the line to create and sustain the party called APC in Rivers State, they are still alive and not dead.

“Those people have the right to fight for what they believe is right and I do not think that it will weaken the party.

“I think at the end of the day, our party will come out stronger if we do the right thing,” Abe said.

The senator said that the legal foundation on which Mr Tonye Cole candidacy was based, was very faulty both morally and legally.

“However, if the leaders of the party decide to keep quiet and ignore such a trend, it may lead to party being completely shortchanged.

He called on members of the party to speak up and help the party to stand in the state, noting that some members had suffered so much to put in place the party and should not be left without any option.

“Whether it is Tonye Cole or I, it will get to a point where we see clearly that this is where we stand; then all of us must be able to come together and put aside our pride and our differences and help the party to survive,” he said.

Abe insisted that lack of internal democracy in the party made Mr Dumo Lulu Briggs, one of the party governorship aspirants to dump the party.

“If the process was free, fair and credible, how come people who participated in the process when it started didn’t accept it,” Abe said.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/05/apc-vs-pdp-abe-speaks-rivers-guber-election-tonye-coles-candidacy/

President Muhammadu Buhari, Friday, in Abuja called on Nigerian youths to prepare themselves for political leadership as his generation will eventually quit the scene for the younger ones to takeover.

Receiving the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing led by the Acting National Leader, Kingsley Dozie Lawrence, President Buhari described Nigerian youths as very active and critically important in the Nigerian project.

‘‘Youths are very virile and active. A greater part of the Nigerian population is made up of youths. They must always be a factor at all times.

‘‘Youths must begin to groom themselves for the leadership of Nigeria.

‘‘I said this to the leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students yesterday (Thursday) – sooner than later we will leave the stage and you will takeover. You have to equip yourselves properly,’’ he said.

President Buhari welcomed the group for appreciating his administration’s effort in providing the much-needed infrastructure across the country and for ensuring that Nigerians celebrated the Yuletide with the availability and price stability of petroleum products.

‘‘I am glad you appreciate government’s efforts. That is why we are here to make a difference in the lives of Nigerians and on infrastructure, We will ensure that the resources of Nigeria work for Nigerians,’’ he said.

On the industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the President expressed the hope that ‘‘good reason will prevail’’ in the on-going talks between the Federal Government and representatives of the union.

Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing hailed the Buhari administration for stabilising the economy, improved security during the Christmas season and sustaining the development of infrastructure, particularly the Second Niger Bridge.

‘‘We, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing, are partners-in-progress in the Nigerian Project and will extend hands of partnership to any administration that guarantees the interest and welfare of Ndigbo.

‘‘There’s no gainsaying the fact that President Buhari’s administration has impacted the Igbos in some positive ways, but there are still areas the Igbos need more impacts,’’ he said.

The Youth leader, therefore, appealed to the President to make a categorical statement on the issue of Igbo Presidency in 2023, in addition to initiating a process for the creation of an additional State in the South-East, among others.

Meanwhile, DAILY POST reports that the Ohanaeze youth wing led by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and a coalition of other Igbo groups have since dismissed the youths on the entourage as impostors.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/04/details-buharis-meeting-igbo-youths-emerge/

Nigerians on social media have reacted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, appointment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s niece, Amina Zakari as its head of Collation Centre for the 2019 elections.

By her new appointment, Zakari, who was once the Commission’s Director of Operations, will be responsible for announcing the result of the presidential election.

This has since stirred reactions online from Nigerians and the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Here are some comments gathered by DAILY POST from Twitter:

@Balogunoluwasey “It is sad! INEC chairman is a puppet. The opposition parties should rise and demand immediate redeployment of Amina Zakari. In fact she should not have anything to do with 2019 presidential election program.”

@Eltahir1 “How does appointment tend to affect 2019 elections?Are Nigerians foolish that Zakari could manipulate the results? At this age.”

@Donboat “INEX chairman must resign. Amina Zakari must resign. No election in 2019 until this is redressed.”

@SlayQueenNaija “From her biography: 2011, Zakari was appointed as one of the National Electoral Commissioners at INEC by former President Goodluck Jonathan. So GEJ was so clueless that he appointed “Buhari’s relation” as INEC Commissioner.”

@Emekame9712 “It’s glaring that Mr President does not want peaceful election but a war that will tear Nigeria apart.”

@Lakeside_1 “Definitely NO. Her blood relationship already establishes her as an interested party in the poll.”

@Mercyson12 “Politics is now a family business, if that is the case, the possibility of a free and fair election is not certain, sorry for Nigerians.”

@Sulaimanikr “Amina has been an INEC commissioner since Jonathan and she was appointed by Prof Jega and did a wonderful job during both 2011 and 2015 general elections. Hence, she’s fit and qualified for the new post. Allow meritocracy to play, an honourable bigot!

@Omoosaomo “Imagine if Amina was in anyway related to Saraki, BMO / BMC boys would be crying foul, how can a direct relative to the imcumbent president be the collation officer for presidential election result, let’s stop this joke.”

@Shedracksaidu “Their is nothing wrong with Amina Zakari. Only that as the niece of baba she should not referee a football match that include baba as an opponent. Base on merit and experience she is OK. The question is: is she going to be fair and just?

@Kingkurookorow1 “If the President is fair and just, Amina Zakari, has been on the eye of controversy for God knows how long, centered around elections and manipulations. Why still rub it on the faces of Nigeria. Good or worse, it’s only four years, there’s always an after.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/04/amina-zakari-nigerians-react-inec-names-buharis-niece-official-announce-presidential-result/

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana SAN, has declared that Nigeria as a country has not yet decided to fight corruption.

Falana stated this while pointing out that no state in Nigeria is fighting corruption, adding that only Kano has an anti-corruption commission.

Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria, said this on Thursday when he was featured on a show on Arise Television.

Falana said the fight cannot be limited to the federal government alone.

“In line with section 15, subsection 5 of the constitution, the provision says the Nigerian state shall abolish corrupt practices and abuse of office,” he said.

“That does not mean the federal government. The Nigerian state, including the federal government, state government and local government. But apart from the federal government, no state in Nigeria is fighting corruption.

“That’s why some of the state governments are saying they cannot pay minimum wage because they are not blocking the leakages going on. Kano state is the only state, this may interest you, has an anti-corruption commission. No other state in Nigeria.

“In fact, access to information is denied by all state governments in Nigeria apart from Ekiti state. Only Ekiti state government, under Fayemi, has adopted the freedom of information act.

“So, it’s difficult in any state to ask for information with respect to public affairs. So, you can’t just single out the federal government fighting corruption in a country where majority of state governments are not bothered.

“So, it will not be fair to limit the fight against corruption to the federal government. As a country, Nigeria has not decided to fight corruption.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/03/no-state-nigeria-fighting-corruption-buhari-falana/

A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter, has crashed while providing support to troops of 145 battalion, at Damasak in Borno State on Wednesday.

The Director of Public Relations and Information, Ibikunle Daramola, disclosed this, but failed to give details of the model of the helicopter nor how many personnel were inside it at the time the crash happened.

The Nigerian Air Force has over a dozen of Russian-made helicopters, MMil Mi-17 and Mil Mi-24 models.

“The incident, occurred about 7:45 pm today, 2 January 2019. Details of the cause of the crash are still scanty.

“As soon as the details of the crash are known, they will be made available to the public,” he said in a statement.

The incident happened hours after Daramola announced that the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, destroyed a building being used as meeting venue by Boko Haram fighters near Baga, still in Borno.

“The attack was conducted on January 1, 2019, after series of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions confirmed that the building was being used as an assembly point by the terrorists. Consequently, the ATF dispatched a NAF Alpha Jet aircraft to attack the building.

“A direct hit was recorded on the target leading to significant damage to the structure and neutralisation of the occupants,” Daramola said.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/03/boko-haram-nigerian-air-force-jet-crashes-operation-insurgents/

Suspected armed herdsmen a few days ago, allegedly set ablaze one of Governor Samuel Ortom’s rice farms in Gbajimba, Guma Local Government Area of the state.

Conducting newsmen round the burnt farm today, the governor’s farm manager, Hon. Kena Iordzua said the herders came to the farm with a large number of cattle during the day and set the farm on fire at three different points.

He stated that due to the wild nature of the fire as a result of the harmattan, the inferno could not be put off despite concerted efforts by those who were working on the farm.

” I was on the other side of the farm when information got to me that the farm was on fire. Before I could get here, most parts of the farm had been engulfed,” he said.

According to Kena, security agents were mobilized to go after the herdsmen who shot sporadically in the air as they retreated towards the Nasarawa border.

He said, ” When the military arrived at the scene, they had to fire a shot and the herdsmen responded with four shots while they set the bush ablaze and retreated to the Nasarawa axis.”

He estimated the burnt portion of the rice farm to be 250 hectares which worth he said was well over a N100 million.

In an interview with newsmen, Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, Hon. Abrahams Kwaghngu, described the act as barbaric and a threat to food security.

He stated that a law prohibiting open grazing of cattle was still in force in the state and should be obeyed by all, stressing that the federal government needs to act fast to stop the impunity by the herders.

Hon. Kwaghngu lamented that after displacing the people from their ancestral homes for over a year, the herdsmen would not allow the little that had been cultivated to be harvested.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/02/herdsmen-attacked-farm-governor-ortom/

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has said Nigeria would miss the fatherly counsel of former President, Shehu Shagari, especially at this time when the country was going through difficult challenges ahead of a major election.

Secondus, who said this on Monday in a statement by his Media Adviser, Ike Abonyi, described Shagari as a compassionate, humane and father of modern democracy in Nigeria.

He said that Alhaji Shagari was the last man standing among principled leaders upon whom the democratic foundation of the nation was established.

According to the PDP National Chairman, Shagari as President in second republic ensured that his reign provided minimum pain on the people because of his human approach to governance.

He said: “The second republic President will be remembered for his principled approached to governance and his God fearing disposition as evidenced in the way and manner he piloted the affairs of the country within the rule of law, without nepotism, bias of religion, tribe or geography from 1979 to 1983.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/01/shehu-shagari-nigeria-will-miss-late-ex-president-secondus/

The lawmaker representing Bayelsa East in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, Ben Murray Bruce has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to pay more attention to the incessant killings going on in Zamfara State.

According to the lawmaker, the President must not focus on his campaign for a second term, while the people die in the hands of bandits.

The Bayelsa-born politicians also called on other well-meaning Nigerians to forget political differences and help save the people of the state.

Ben Bruce stated this in a tweet on Monday morning.

He wrote, “I appeal to President @MBuhari not to focus on campaigns and forget Zamfara.

“Life there is now hell on earth due to bandits, who steal and kill at will. I strongly urge Nigerians to forget their political differences and unite to save Zamfara or we may all go the way of Zamfara.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/31/2019-buhari-mustnt-forget-now-senator-ben-bruce/

The lawmaker representing Kaduna Central district in the National Assembly, Senator Shehu Sani has advised his colleague Senator Dino Melaye to submit himself to police with his legal team.

DAILY POST reported earlier that the Police stormed the Maitama residence of Senator Dino Melaye on Friday, seeking to arrest him.

The siege on Melaye’s residence came within 48 hours after the Senator representing Kogi West raised the alarm that the Inspector General of Police ,IGP, Ibrahim Idris, had plans to arrest and inject him to death.

Senator Sani also noted that the method employed by the police to arrest the lawmaker was not good for the image of the force.

Shehu Sani tweeted, ”The police should end the siege on Senator Dino’s House and the Senator should voluntarily present himself to the police with his legal team.

“The Gaza treatment is unhelpful to the image of the Police,the Government and the nation.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/31/submit-police-shehu-sani-tells-dino-melaye/

Pep Guardiola has warned his Manchester City side a failure to beat Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday will effectively mean their title challenge is “over”.

Reigning champions City revived their bid to retain the Premier League trophy with a 3-1 win away to Southampton on Sunday that followed shock defeats by Crystal Palace and Leicester.

Victory at St Mary’s, however, still left City seven points behind leaders Liverpool and for a while, it seemed Guardiola’s side might drop more points on the south coast.

David Silva put City ahead after 10 minutes but they then squandered several chances and gifted Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg a 37th-minute equaliser.

But the uncertainty that crept into City’s play was ended by a James Ward-Prowse own goal and a Sergio Aguero header just before half-time that left City 3-1 up.

Saints’ frustrations boiled over with a red card for Hojbjerg after a wild challenge on Fernandinho late in the game.

“We knew it, that with the position of Liverpool, if we drop points then it is over, it (the title race is finished,” Guardiola said.

“It would be almost impossible. Of course, they are going to drop points but not too many. If you want to be there as far as possible until the end we have to remember what happened last season and this as well –- apart from the last few days,” the City manager added.

Guardiola was adamant he had not lost confidence in his side, despite the Palace and Leicester reverses.

“How can I doubt them?,” he said. “Football is like this. We make 30 exceptional minutes again, especially without the ball, we create chances to go 2-0 or 3-0, we concede one goal.

“Against Crystal Palace and Leicester they were happy with 1-1 and they found a second one, I always judge our intentions of the game and always our intentions are to try.”

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss added: “We won a lot of games but unfortunately we lost two and we have a rival (Liverpool) who at the moment is the best team in Europe, or in the world.

“That’s why it’s a challenge for us next Thursday, to try and win and sustain this position as far as possible to arrive at the end of the season fighting for the title.”
‘Know what we have to do’

City may again be without Kevin de Bruyne against Liverpool because of the influential playmaker’s muscle problem, but Guardiola rejected suggestions that a defeat of Southampton had sent a message to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side.

“We’re not here to send a message,” he said. “Liverpool know what they have to do, we know what we have to do next Thursday. I know the distance is big, seven points, especially because they’re so solid and consistent, but we’re at home.

“Hopefully our people at the Etihad can help, they can support us. Not just for the game, but these players deserve it. What they have done in the last 14 or 15 months, how they defend this club, is incredible, it’s massive,” Guardiola added.

Southampton had hoped to contain City and to an extent it worked, as Hojbjerg robbed Oleksandr Zinchenko before equalising.

But Ward-Prowse’s unlucky deflection of Raheem Sterling’s shot between goalkeeper Alex McCarthy and the near post and Aguero’s unchallenged header from Zinchenko’s cross effectively settled the match before the interval.

“First 20 minutes we had no chance, they were very dominating,” Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl said. “But suddenly you saw that they are not perfect.

“They take a lot of risks and if we are sharp we can maybe win the ball and score and we did, a fantastic goal by Pierre. That gave us the hope that we can spring a sensation.

“But two horrible mistakes before the break and we gave it away in a way that was too easy. That changed everything.” (AFP)

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/12/lose-to-liverpool-and-title-race-is.html

Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari has a fusion of world famous dictators, Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin put together.

He anchored his claim on facts that innocent and defenceless Nigerians have been “slaughtered by bloodthirsty ethnic and religious militias” than at any other time in Nigeria’s history.

In a post on his Facebook, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain warned that Buhari’s return in 2019 would lead to the secession of Nigeria.

According to Fani-Kayode: “This is a man, Buhari, that cannot tolerate criricism or opposition and that is a living manifestation of Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin and Pol Pot all rolled into one.

“This is a man under whose watch more innocent and defenceless Nigerians have been slaughtered by bloodthirsty ethnic and religious militias than at any other time in our history except during the civil war.

“This is a man who has actively supported and encouraged the Fulani terrorist herdsmen to butcher their compatriots and steal their land.

“This is a man under whose watch Boko Haram has been encouraged, supported, funded, strengthened and protected.

“This is a man under whose watch a new Malian Fulani militia has risen and has terrorised and butchered the people of the north west.

“This is a man under whose watch ISIS has taken firm root in our country, massacred hundreds of our people and conducted lethal terrorist operations in our shores.

“This is a man under whose watch the Nigerian treasury has been pillaged, raped and utterly drained.

“This is a man whose deep-seated and pathological hatred for people who do not share his Muslim faith and for people that are not from his Fulani tribe is legendry.

“This is a man that has consistently insulted, maligned, demarketed and demeaned his own people before foreign leaders and foreign audiences more than any other.

“This is a man that is sociopathic in all his ways, that suffers from low self esteem, whose real identitity we do not know and whose wife has attested to the fact that he is not in control of his faculties or his government.

“This is a man who has defied court orders, locked up his perceived enemies, sought to jail his adversaries on politically motivated and false charges and labelled ALL his critics as being corrupt, inept and unfit to hold public office.

“This is a man whose incompetence and ignorance knows no bounds and who has impoversished his people and made them the laughing stock of the entire world.

“This is a man that has fought and sought to intimidate the legislature, the judiciary, the media and the Nigerian people and that seeks to impose his will on each and every Nigerian.

“This is a man who will go down in history as the most brutal, insensitive, bitter, divisive, unforgiving, vicious, wicked and intransigent leader that Nigeria has ever known.

“And finally this is a man who, if Buhari is allowed to come back to power in 2019, will be the last President of a united Nigeria.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/30/2019-buhari-combination-adolf-hitler-stalin-nigeria-will-breakup-wins-fani-kayode/

The last set of Premier League fixtures for 2018, will be played this weekend across stadiums in England.

Tottenham Hotspur, who are now in second place, welcome Wolves on Saturday.

Leicester City take on Cardiff City and Newcastle United are away to Watford.

The big game of the day, will see Liverpool host Arsenal at Anfield.

Saturday, December 29
16:00 Brighton & Hove Albion vs Everton
16:00 Fulham vs Huddersfield Town
16:00 Leicester City vs Cardiff City
16:00 Tottenham Hotspur vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
16:00 Watford vs Newcastle United
18:30 Liverpool vs Arsenal

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/29/livescore-latest-premier-league-results-week-20-saturday-2018-2019-epl-scores/

The Director-General of President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election campaign and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has cautioned Nigerians against voting for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, in the 2019 elections.

According to him, PDP is a party of very hungry politicians who will spare nothing to loot the public treasury again, increase the ‘hunger’ of the masses and take the nation back to recession.

He said this yesterday at the flag-off of President Buhari’s campaign in Uyo Akwa-Ibom state.

Amaechi blamed the ‘hunger’ currently suffered by Nigerians on the havoc wreaked on the nation’s economy by the previous administrations of the PDP.

He said: “They (the PDP) said you are hungry. You are hungry because they stole the money. If the money was here, you wouldn’t have been hungry.”

Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers state, added: “If you vote for the other party (PDP), let me tell you what will happen. They are so hungry that if they come out, they will be too busy stealing money that by the time Nigerians realise it, we are back to recession.”

He said corruption is one of Nigeria’s major problems, and that President Buhari was not giving up on the anti-corruption fight.
“We got in and saw the challenges. We never knew they had stolen all the money. We thought they had a conscience to leave some money behind.
“You know, the difference between us and the other party (PDP) is that they are not saying that they are not corrupt.

“They say we are corrupt, but APC is also corrupt. They agree that the president is not corrupt. What they are saying is those around the president are corrupt. But they agree that they are corrupt.
“We are saying as APC that we are not corrupt and that we are fighting corruption. Whether you are APC or PDP, when you are corrupt we will fight you,” he said.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/29/2019-atiku-will-increase-hunger-take-nigeria-back-recession-amaechi-warns/

The Nigerian Army has said it will conduct exercise “Egwu Eke III’’ – Python dance nationwide, to tackle already observed upsurge in security challenges as the 2019 general elections draw nearer.

NAN reports that according to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, who announced this at a news conference on Friday in Maiduguri, the exercise will be conducted from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28, 2019.
Represented by Maj.-Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, the Chief of Training and Operations, Buratai identified those threats as stockpiling of arms by criminal groups, formation of ethnic militia and violence induced by political activities.

The army had in 2016 and 2017 conducted exercise Egwu Eke I and II to address peculiar security challenges in the South-East geo-political zone, particularly during Yuletide.

“These challenges coupled with other security threats across the country such as terrorism, militancy, kidnapping and banditry portend that dissident group and criminal elements could cash in on the situation to perpetrate large scale violence before, during and after the 2019 general elections,’’ he said.

According to the army chief, the Nigerian army troops need to be prepared and equipped with requisite skills in order to professionally and effectively respond to these challenges and security threats in collaboration with the Nigerian Police and other para-military oganisations.

Responding to question why Egwu Eke III is being conducted nationwide and not restricted to the South-East in line with its code name, Buratai said there is python everywhere.

“Even in the desert of Borno, don’t forget, the Lake Chad basin is there, python can also dance within the desert.
“In fact, we have desert python, so python will dance all over the country this time around,’’ he said.

The army chief explained that the success of the exercise Egwu Eke I and II in checkmating security threats in the South- East informed its simultaneous implementation across the country now.
Buratai called on Nigerians to provide the army and other security agencies with useful and timely information to enable them to deliver on the mandate of exercise Egwu Eke III.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the army to fight against terrorism and insurgency in the country.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/28/2019-army-begin-python-dance-nationwide-january/

Igbo pressure group, the Eastern Peoples Front, EPF, yesterday described as vexatious and provocative Vice President Yemi Osibanjo’s comment on 2023 elections.

Osinbajo had in Ibadan postulated that President Muhammadu Buhari will hand over the presidency to the south west after completing his two terms of eight years in office.

According to Elder Ken Emechebe, National Coordinator & Leader, EPF, the VP’s comment was an affront to the people of the South East whose turn it is to produce the president of Nigeria when power returns to the south.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Emechebe said:”We are not unaware of what this insidious campaign is all about. It is a devious blackmail aimed at arm-twisting the Igbo into voting for Buhari. But the plot is dead on arrival.

“Osinbajo’s revelation that Buhari promised to hand over power to the Yoruba is instructive . The implication is that any Igbo vote for Buhari is a wasted vote.

“We want to make it clear to the day dreamers from the south west that the political destiny of the Igbo does not rest in the hands one man or any individual, be it Buhari or any other person. The Igbo know what is best for them and will make their choice without intimidation or blackmail from the Osinbajos and Fasholas of the South West.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/28/igbo-group-blasts-osinbajo-comment-2023-presidency/