₦airaland Forum

Senator Matthew Urhoghide represents Edo North senatorial district in the Senate. In this interview with RUTH CHOJI, the chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accouns maintains that Atiku Abubakar is the best presidential candidate the party can offer, among other issues.

How would you rate the Buhari administration in terms of performance?

To be frank, since they say they are fighting corruption scourge in Nigeria, it should have been a side issue because development should be the focus of any government not corruption. While we are fighting corruption, we should have been developing the economy by resuscitating our ailing industries, build infrastructure and secure the country alongside the fight corruption by the side. You don’t abandon development for corruption, but with this government, corruption is at the forefront while development is at the side. What is the mission of this government or what was their vision? Is it corruption, corruption and corruption? Now with TSA, we have been able to gather funds and leakages have been blocked but, what are they doing with the proceeds? We have made a lot of seizures and recoveries by the EFCC and other agencies but what is the money used for? So development should have been the major focus while we are fighting corruption. When you make corruption the issue, everybody is in a frenzy, people who are supposed to express themselves and work are all tensed up and there is a lot of pretences. A lot of pretenders are in this government. It’s not everyone that is in the APC that wish Mr. President well and supports the anti-corruption war. I also don’t believe there are experts driving this economy. The indices are very clear, that we are gradually sliding into recession again. Dangote is not the only person that can run the economy of this country, that he is the richest man in Africa does not mean that it translate to Nigerian economy. What are the plans of this government?



ASUU is currently on strike while NLC is threatening another round of industrial action over non-implementation of the new minimum wage. Does this bother you?

It is the mismanagement of our human resources. The workforce is saying they are not happy. We are going to be dragged back when they go on strike. Nobody sits down to quantify how much we lose when the system is shut down because we do not quantify effects along the line of evaluation, that is how you know the caliber of people running the government.



The PDP in Edo state has been out of power for over nine years now. What is the state of the party in the state now?

My party is very organised in Edo. I don’t think there is anything the APC can boast of that can return them to the present position they occupy apart from the fact that they can rig the elections. If the people of Edo allowed it to happen, it meant the people have not learnt their lesson. We all have something to lose if we allow this current hardship to persist and all of us will lose. If PDP is given the opportunity to be on the saddle and they don’t do well, Edo people should reject the PDP. Right now they have enough reasons to reject the APC, and the new parties in their current state are not wired to win elections. SDP and APGA cannot win election in Edo and Nigeria because they don’t have the structure to support any mandate Nigerians will give them. I don’t need to pass vote of no confidence in Edo, everybody knows what they have been going through. We in the PDP who are representing them at the National Assembly has shown them the difference. The culture of recycling people who think they can always come back to power must be wiped out of the people’s consciousness. These ‘people’ came to the forefront because when democracy returned in 1999, nobody was sure it will last or that the military will really leave, so all and sundry came and contested for positions but their performance was zero. But now people are beginning to perform because voters have become wiser and more enlightened. Some of us have put up strong representation because we want the people to benefit so that our names will be on the sand of time. Those who spent 12 years and did nothing have their legacies also engraved. Those who will come after me should be new people else the people we represent will retrogress.



The strong man of Edo politics, Chief Anenih recently passed away. What are his impacts on the PDP in Edo state and beyond?

Not only Edo but Nigeria. That was one man whose exemplary character is not known to a lot of people. His nature was not known to a lot of people. As an elder statesman, what he envisioned for this country, many people didn’t understand. I used to criticise him in the past when I was in the ANPP, but when I joined the PDP, I realised that this was one man who wanted the right thing to be done. All the time we were there, he will tell us that the recipe to winning is to campaign from house to house. He never said this is how we will rig elections. He was very dutiful, he was close to being a perfectionist. By 5am, he will wake up and tell people to do their exercise first before anything else. He was misconstrued. People from afar saw him as Mr. Fix It, meaning he can turned light to darkness but those of us who were close to him knew that he was a man of possibility. He was very selfless. He has a forgiving heart even those who insulted him, he forgave all of them. Anenih was also generous to a fault. He never gave out money and expect anything in return. He was so selfless that he never brought out his children to take advantage of his position in government or power, rather he took his family behind. All he wanted was to see good governance. When I won my election in 2015 and I was going to court, I didn’t have money after the lawyers told me what I will pay, Anenih came out, negotiated and paid for me even though I wasn’t from his constituency. I was sitting in my house one day when he called and asked me how the campaign was going, he said he will send somebody to me to bring money for me to assist me. Senator Binta Masi Garba told me that Anenih was the first person to have given her money to contest election for the first time. So she said that he was like a father to her. Ask other senators and they will tell you about Anenih. He had respect for constituted authority. Anytime a member or senator visit him, he will see you of. Anytime a government official comes, he will tell others to wait until he has attend to the person in authority no matter the person’s age.



The emergence of Atiku as PDP flag bearer was received with mixed feelings. Were you surprised when he clinched the ticket?

Not quite because knowing the personality of Atiku and his pedigree in politics, you knew from day one that he was not going to be a pushover. PDP is a party of experienced leaders. To me he is an old fox in politics, he has built bridges across the country, and he has friends who even though now are in APC, they have connections with him. You can imagine people like the Senate President who was a governor when Atiku was vice president and Tambuwal who was a member of the Hosue then. So for them to dethrone a man like that takes special grace. Yes the tide was moving in their favour but you could see that the last-minute realignment turned things in his favour. So I wasn’t totally surprised but the outcome of it with the benefit of hindsight is seen that, it was just the hand of God. Today everybody has seen that it is the best option that we could have.



The PDP has been out of power at the centre for over 3 years now. What are the chances of the party taking over power in 2019?

The chances are very bright. It has not only happened in this country, it happened in Ghana. A political party came back to power after losing it for four years in Ghana. It is the people’s choice that must prevail. The APC cannot be desperate against the wish of the people. We are not in the jungle. People did it to PDP in 2015. If the people decide that they don’t want APC and want another party to come to power, so be it.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/07/atiku-is-sure-bet-for-pdp-sen-urhoghide/

Well known American rapper, Cardi B, has made a shocking announcement that she and her husband offset are no longer together.

The mother of one who shares a five-month-old daughter, Kulture, with the Migos star revealed on Instagram on Tuesday night that she and her husband of just over a year are ‘not together anymore.’

See what she said in the video:

“We got a lot of love for each other, but things haven’t been working out between us for a long time.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/07/cardi-b-announces-breakup-with-hubby/

The Minister of Communications, Dr. Adebayo Shittu, has urged Nigerian citizenry to feel free to discuss government policies and engage in responsible political debates, expose corruption and decently express their opinions via the social media, without the use of maligning or hate speech.

He stated this recently in Abuja while addressing participants at the venue of a National Social Media Retreat on the theme “Social Media for Good Governance”.

The Minister charged operators of social media platform to guard against the distractions the social media generates and focus on their respective key deliverables.

In his words, “It behooves everyone here to imbibe and promote the ideas of excellent government-citizen interaction based on the use of cultured language, publication of facts and respect for the governed as the source from which Government derives legitimacy”.

Dr. Shittu explained that allowing freedom of expression on the internet is proof that the Federal Government genuinely adheres to the principles of democracy.

He disclosed that the Federal Government would adopt social media in carrying out e-service delivery and use same, to shape the government’s policies for good governance.

The Minister stated that government would also propound friendly and secure policies that ensure the use of technology-based social media which are development driven and urged key players in the private sector to take advantage of the social media to achieve positive image for Nigeria.

According to Dr. Shittu, the National Retreat which has been conceived and birthed by Ministry of Communications was designed to among other things to share knowledge and information stemming from recent research and analysis on the social media.

He added that the Ministry of Communications shall train and retrain IT and Information Officers in the civil service to manage misinformation being spread on the new media.

In her address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications, Mrs. Nkechi Ejele, stated that the government realises the importance of social media tools and their applications for the dissemination of government policies that the event was organised.

“Social media is perhaps one of the most innovative inventions of recent times, with technology evolving inventions at an exponential pace, and with its relentless self-integration into various facets of our daily and national lives, it is vital that governance, the most important aspect of national life is not left behind,” she said.

Earlier, the representative of Chief of Army Staff, Brigadier General, Samuel Odugu, had pointed out that the military has discovered that internet has been a veritable tool for distribution of information which had led to the establishment of Cyber Army Command with a report centre that serves current information need of the public.

He urged social media users to watch what they post and verify the fact before broadcasting unverified information to the public adding that social media users should stop castigating the military with false and baseless rumours.

•Photo shows, L-R: Managing Director Galaxy Backbone, Mr. Yusuf Kazaure, Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Nkechi Ejele, Minister of Communications, Dr. Adebayo Shittu and other dignitaries at the National Social Media Retreat on the theme “Social Media for Good Governance” in Abuja

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/06/fg-affirms-right-of-citizens-to-access-social-media/

President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, has charged striking lecturers in public universities to brace up for a long action.

Ogunyemi enjoined ASUU members “to be on the watch and prepare for a long drawn out struggle to salvage the university system”.

He made this declaration in strike bulletin No 5 sent to all members of the union, a copy of which was obtained by DAILY POST in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital on Wednesday.

Our correspondent recalls that ASUU had embarked on nationwide strike over unfulfilled past agreements by government and underfunding of education.

Ogunyemi in the bulletin charged members of the union to remain steadfast “and resolute in the face of intimidation or antics employed by government through Vice chancellors and Governing councils to undermine the ongoing struggle”.

He added that, “Government is yet to change its “keep them talking” style and stance as all the meetings held so far with the Minister of Education are yet to resolve any of the demands of ASUU”.

Also, speaking after their zonal meeting held at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso, ASUU Chairman, University of Ibadan, Dr. Deji Omole, said Ibadan chapter has been fully mobilised with her members to ensure the reason for the strike gets actualised.

Omole noted that it is regrettable that the federal government who has not put anything on the table for revitalising the comatose education sector is busy mobilising funds for re-election in 2019.

He, however, appealed to parents not to mortgage the future of their children by fighting for proper and adequate funding of public education.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/05/prepare-for-longer-strike-ASUU-tells-lecturers/

Justice Valentine Ashi of a Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja, yesterday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigerian Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and all other security agencies to apprehend and arrest a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison Madueke within 72 hours.

The order was sequel to a motion ex parte made before the court by counsel to the EFCC, Msuur Denga, praying for an order of the court, to issue a warrant of arrest against Diezani, to enable the commission apprehend and arraign her for alleged financial crimes in Nigeria.

A statement from the commission said the anti-graft agency commenced investigation of the former minister along with a former Chairman, Atlantic Energy Drilling Company, Jide Omokore, following a petition dated October 2, 2013, by Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), accusing the duo of money laundering and official corruption.

The statement said investigations into the petition revealed that Diezani as supervising minister of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was found to have engaged in illicit and monumental fraudulent dealings in oil transactions, which she entered into on behalf of the federal government.

The former minister and Omokore, are also alleged to have accepted and given gifts in properties located at Penthouse 22, Block B, Admiralty Estate, Ikoyi, and Penthouse 21, Building 5, Block C, Banana Island, Lagos.

They are to be arraigned on February 25, 2019 on a five-count charge for the offences, which are contrary to Sections 26(1) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The commission in the statement recalled that it filed application for warrant of arrest, condition precedent for Deziani’s extradition protocol to bring her back home to face trail at the last adjournment.

The prosecution told the court that Diezani, who is currently in the United Kingdom, jetted out of the country while investigations into the alleged fraudulent acts were ongoing.

The court today, granted the ex parte motion, and ordered the security agencies to provide Madueke within 72 hours, for her to face the charge preferred against her.

“The Inspector General of Police, the Chairman of the EFCC, the Attorney General, the Department of State Services, are hereby ordered in the name of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria to apprehend and arrest the first defendant and produce her before this court for further directives within 72 hours”, the judge held.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/05/court-gives-efcc-dss-police-72-hours-to-produce-diezani/

A-list artistes Yemi Alade, Duncan Mighty and Wande Coal are among the collection of stars expected to thrill guests and attendees at Celebrating You 2018 – an annual year-end awards/dinner party organized by Technology Distributions Ltd. (TD)

Holding on Sunday, December 9, 2018 at the prestigious Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, the gig is unarguably one of the most eagerly-awaited celebratory events in Corporate Nigeria.

To be anchored by Bovi, the concert promises to be a headliner and one that celebrates Corporate Nigeria. Star Rapper, Falz is expected to turn up at the After Party where another superstar, DJ Big N is expected to man the deck, Ranti – an opera and crossover singer with great versatility will perform at the main event.

In addition to a star-studded guest list including captains of industries, bank CEOs, dignitaries and other prominent representatives of the biggest brand names in Corporate Nigeria, Celebrating You 2018 will specially recognize and celebrate TD’s partner eco-system, namely a host of globally-renowned Original Equipment Manufacturers in the technology space and other channel partners.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/02/duncan-mighty-falz-yemi-alade-to-thrill-at-celebrating-you-concert-for-dec-9/

An Oyo State High Court, on Friday, ordered the immediate reopening of the over 100 houses, church, school and business centres that were forcefully put under lock and key by some gun-wielding land grabbers last week Thursday in Ibadan, the state capital.

DAILY POST gathered that the structures belonging to residents of Ekerin layout, behind Abe Technical College/New Garage/Akala expressway in Oluyole Local Government Area of Ibadan were locked by the land grabbers last week.

The affected residents, many of whom had fled the area for fear of being attacked by the land grabbers who laid siege to their property and put their gates under lock and key, stormed the court in the early hours of Friday and secured the nod of Justice O. M. Olagunju who, in his ruling, ordered that all the affected buildings be unsealed immediately to allow fleeing residents regain their property.

The land grabbers, accompanied by some policemen last week gained entry into the property in the area and took them over, following an alleged court order dated October 31, 2018 in the suit number 1/567/84 purportedly authorising them to take possession of the disputed lands in the area.

However, in his ruling on Friday, Justice Olagunju declared that in the action filed by the plaintiffs against the defendants, there was no counterclaim.

He added that the dismissal of the plaintiff’s case did not, therefore, confer any right on the defendants and ordered that all sealed houses be immediately unsealed.

The residents who have been living on the land and whose houses were sealed by the defendants based on the execution of the court judgment filed the applications to set aside the execution.

Counsel to one of the residents, Toyese Owoade told journalists that, “A court of Justice is expected to dispense justice to all citizens regardless of his or her status in the society and that is why it is generally said that where there is a wrong, there is a remedy.

“The judgment of the court as rightly noted by the court did not confer any right on the defendants who levied execution”.

“It is trite law that in such circumstance where there is no positive order of court granting possession, a party has no right to apply for warrant for possession”.

However, all efforts to get the reaction of the defence counsel, Bolarinwa Lawal proved abortive as he was not available for comment as at the time journalists were leaving the court.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/01/court-orders-reopening-of-100-houses-school-church-locked-by-land-grabbers-in-ibadan/

Manchester United goalkeeper, David De Gea, has signed a new one-year contract at Old Trafford.

According to Sky Sports, De Gea’s contract was due to expire at the end of the season but will now run until the summer of 2020.

The 28-year-old was heavily linked with a move to both Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus in recent weeks.

The Spain International, who has made 250 appearances for the Red Devils, joined United from Atletico Madrid back in 2011.

De Gea was outstanding in his side’s Champions League 1-0 win over Young Boys on Tuesday night.

The shot-stopper has so far kept two clean sheets in the English Premier League, EPL, this season for the Old Trafford club.

De Gea is expected to be in goal when Man United clash with Southampton on Saturday in the Premier League fixture.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/11/29/epl-de-gea-signs-new-contract-with-manchester-united/

Super Falcons head coach, Thomas Dennerby said having accomplished their first mission of picking a ticket to the next FIFA Women World Cup in France, their focus now is to retain the Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) title by beating South Africa in Accra on Saturday.

The Swede tactician was on his feet for most of the semifinal against the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in Accra on Tuesday, which exhausted the statutory regulation and extra time and then went into penalty shoot-out before the Cup holders inched past their bitter rivals into the Final and a place in France.

Speaking at the post-match conference, Dennerby said: “When we arrived in Ghana, we made it clear that our first target was the ticket to the World Cup, and after that, retain the trophy. Now, we have achieved our first target. On Saturday, we have the opportunity of achieving our second target. We will go in there and give it our best shot and take the trophy back to Nigeria.

“Sincerely, I was not happy with our performance in the first 20 minutes of the match. We lost the ball too many times; we were too anxious and the defenders and midfielders couldn’t contribute to the attack. However, the positive from this tournament is that our defense is very good. We have a compact team and that is why we made it today. Going to the World Cup, we need to improve the way we attack. We need to create chances and make the best use of the opportunities that come our way.”

The Super Falcons will take on the Banyana Banyana of South Africa in the Final of the 11th Women Africa Cup of Nations at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday, starting from 5pm.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/11/29/our-focus-is-to-retain-awcon-title-falcons-coach/

A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode on Tuesday urged Nigerians to resist the All Progressives Congress, APC, tyranny.

He said this while reacting to reported moves by five APC members of the State House of Assembly to impeach the Speaker and the Akwa Ibom state Governor, Udom Emmanuel.

Reports had it that five APC lawmakers were plotting to impeach the Speaker of the House and the governor.

However, Fani-Kayode, in a tweet, maintained that the governor will not be impeached.

“What is going on in Akwa Ibom right now is unacceptable. The Speaker of the State House of Assembly cannot be impeached by 5 lawmakers, violent thugs and fake policemen and the Governor will not be impeached either.

“I call on all lovers of democracy to resist this APC tyranny,” he tweeted.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/11/27/fani-kayode-reacts-to-alleged-impeachment-moves-against-akwa-ibom-speaker-gov-emmanuel/

Nigeria has recoded over 1,640 suspected cases of Yellow fever with 41 confirmed cases according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Reference Laboratory in Dakar, Senegal, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) has said.

Meanwhile, about seven states in the country have reported the outbreak of Yellow fever and the states include: FCT, Kogi, Anambra, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Edo and Benue.

Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, who stated this yesterday in Abuja said that government has enough vaccines to contain the outbreak of yellow fever as about 6million doses were in its stockpiles while additional doses have been added.

He said, ‘’There is a global stockpile of vaccine meant for such outbreaks.The vaccines are supposed to be for prevention, Nigeria is one the high risk countries in Africa for yellow fever. So there is stockpile of vaccine and as at the last time, it was about 6m doses with additional vaccine doses that are added to that”.

Shuaib, who expressed government’s readiness in ensuring local production of vaccines, disclosed that the federal government is committed to establishing a reference laboratory in the country within the next six months to reduce the logistics challenges with sample transportation and laboratory turnaround time and ultimately reduce the response time and consequently the morbidity and mortality rates.

The ED who noted that Nigeria is one of the 27 African countries that are high risk for yellow fever, said that all the agencies involved are working swiftly to contain the spread and prevent further outbreaks.

He observed that the country has been experiencing sporadic outbreaks of Yellow Fever since September 12, 2017 when the first case was confirmed in a 7- year old child from Ifelodun LGA, Kwara State. Currently, there are over 1,640 suspected cases line-listed with 41 confirmed from the WHO Regional Reference Laboratory in Dakar Senegal.

According to him, there is an ongoing third (3rd) Preventive Mass Vaccination Campaign with a target age group of 9 months – 44 years in Sokoto, Federal Capital Territory, Plateau and some LGAs not covered in the last vaccination campaign in Niger and Kebbi. The vaccination began on the 22nd November 2018 and is expected to last till the 1st of December, 2018’’.

He said the recent report from Edo state about a fever of unknown origin is also being investigated, adding that tests done at laboratories in Nigeria have shown that 9 of the samples tested positive for Yellow Fever and as such, samples have been forwarded to Dakar, Senegal for confirmation in order to quickly respond to the outbreak.

He added that NPHCDA, The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Edo State Epidemiology team, World Health Organisation and other international development partners are working together to rapidly conduct a comprehensive investigation and respond appropriately to the situation on ground.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/11/27/yellow-fever-spreads-to-7-states-1640-cases-recorded/

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday tasked athletes at the Ministry of Interior Games (MIGA) 2018 which officially opened in Kaduna to give their best and promote unity as the Games is aimed at unearthing new talents for Team Nigeria.

Addressing the opening ceremony at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna, President Buhari, who was represented by Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state, said that the MIGA Games will foster unity and harmony among the services under the ministry.

He said, “We welcome the services and the ministry of interior to Kaduna state, as we promise to do all possible to make the Games a success.

“As we prepare for the 2019 general elections in February and March, it is important that peace and unity be our watchword. We appreciate the efforts of the ministry of interior and other security agencies, they have done a lot to ensure peace in Kaduna state,” the President added.

The Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd), in his address, noted that the Games is in line with the commitment of President Buhari’s administration to promote harmony and collaboration among the services.

“The Games will enable the services to share idea and relate warmly on issues around us to impact positively on internal security,” he said, adding that 1,784 athletes will compete for 218 gold, 218 silver and 242 bronze medals.

The 2018 MIGA games is featuring the Nigerian Police, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Prisons Service, Federal Fire Service and Ministry of Interior.

The MIGA Games is also featuring 13 events namely; athletics, badminton, basketball, football, handball, karate, squash, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, tug of war and volleyball.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp are the defending champions, having won the 2016 edition of the Games which also held in Kaduna.

The opening ceremony was attended by representative of various military and paramilitary chiefs, ex-Director General of National Sports Commission, Alhassan Yakmut who is the Chairman of the Main Organizing Committee, Kaduna state Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Daniel Danauta among other dignitaries.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/11/26/pmb-harps-on-unity-as-miga-games-begin-in-kaduna/

A farmer, Martina Akpan and her family are still in shock with palpable fear evident on their faces following an attack by hoodlums suspected to be Indian hemp merchants over missing bags of Indian hemp allegedly kept on their farm.

The hoodlums, who allegedly threatened to wipe out the family, were said to have attacked Isaac Akpan, the younger brother of Martina while working on their farm at Bolorunduro, in Akure North local government area of Ondo State.

It was gathered that the suspected Indian hemp traders numbering about 40, who were armed with dangerous weapons, invaded the farm where they allegedly beat Akpan to a pulp after he was said to have been queried over the disappearance of bags of Indian hemp kept on the family’s cocoa farm.

According to Akpan’s sister, Martina Christopher, who was on her way to the farm on the said day, she met the hoodlums with her brother forcefully sandwiched on one of the motorcycles.

Martina, who rushed back home, alerted her father, Joseph Akpan, 72, about the incident, as both later traced the hoodlums to Ilu-Abo, few kilometers from Bolorunduro where they met Akpan in a lifeless state after series of torture.

Martina, who was also attacked at the residence of the hoodlums, narrated the experience she and her father went through, which she described as harrowing.

She said, “I went to the farm very late on the fateful day because I just had a miscarriage and was tired but decided to join my husband and brother at the farm because we had left the farm unattended to for some days because of my father in-law burial.

“I saw about 40 of them on 15 motorcycles, and I saw my brother who had been beaten and injured tucked into some two persons on one of the bikes, I had to turn back and I was told he had been taken to Ilu-Abo.

“I went there with our father, only to find my brother has been beaten injured and immediately they saw us, they descended on us and beat my father to coma, demanding to know where the bags of Indian hemp were kept.

“My father fainted and as I tried to touch him, they matchetted me while some of them beat me with sticks and I also fainted because I have lost a lot of blood.”

She further explained that the hoodlums who boasted that they cannot be arrested, threatened to wipe out the whole family if they failed to produce the bags of the Indian hemp, disclosing that some officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, were invited to the scene “who advised them to hand us over to police”.

Martina also revealed that the quick intervention of her husband, Augustine Christopher and the Akwa Ibom community in the area, who reported the case to the police saved her life as they were taken to the hospital where she said they were revived.

While speaking on the attack, the husband of the victim, Augustine Christopher, 42, said “We are cocoa farmers and have nothing to do with Indian hemp. I am calling on the security agents to fish out these people, though two of them have been arrested but we still have many of them across the communities in Ogbese, Bolorunduro and other communities around here who have been a pain in the neck to ordinary farmers”.

Confirming the incident, the State’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Femi Joseph, who disclosed that some arrests have been made in connection with the development, maintained that investigation is still on to apprehend others involved in the crime.

He also confirmed that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gbenga Adeyanju, has ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department, CID.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/11/25/hoodlums-attack-farmers-in-ondo-threaten-to-wipe-out-family-over-missing-indian-hemp/

The managing director and chief executive officer of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), Dr Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna (Sardaunan Gombe) has expressed optimism over 24-hour power delivery in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States within the nearest future.

Dr Gwamna in a chat with newsmen said the improvement in power generation over the last three years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration triggered his optimism.

According to him, “If what has been generated within the last three years is sustained by the federal government, it will be possible to distribute power to serve a 24-hour service delivery to our numerous customers.

“The improvement in the power sector where at least 1,000MW is being added to the national grid every year by the federal government, it is possible to get a 24-hour power delivery to our customers.

“For our customers who are asking for an improvement upon the increase in power distribution to a 24-hour delivery, I assure you that with what the federal government in doing in the sector, it is very possible.

“Before now, KEDCO has been distributing below 250MW. But now as power generation keeps improving, we now distribute nearly 350MW. With over 1,000MW yearly which had increased the national grid by over 3,000MW in 3 years; 24-hour power delivery would be possible in the nearest future.

“It is generation that determines power distribution. We are monitoring events in the sector and we know what the minister of Power, Babatunde Fashola is doing. It is based on the yearly improvement that gave me the confidence to assure our customers of 24-hour power delivery, he said.”

The Kano DisCo boss also noted that other diversification means through Renewable Energy Technology (RET) which is being pioneered by investors are also yielding positive results, adding that all these collective efforts had increased power distribution and the company was poised to up distribution as the power generation improves.

http://www.mcebiscoo.com/2018/11/24-hour-power-delivery-possible-kedco.html

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in its latest Monthly Financial and Operations Report revealed that the nation’s three refineries incurred an operational deficit of N10.79 billion in August. This makes them one of the largest loss-making subsidiaries of the corporation, FESTUS OKOROMADU writes.

The downstream sector of the Nigerian petroleum continues to draw attention due to its primary of energising the economy. Most analysts of the industry agreed that the emancipation of the economic wellbeing of the country would depend largely on how soon the sector’s performance can be perfected.

This is why it becomes worrisome when the foremost driver of the sector, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) continues to exhibit poor performance in such a vital aspect of its operations.

It is no longer news that but the management of the NNPC and the ministry of petroleum resources has at various times, assured Nigerians of the frantic efforts being made to rehabilitate the nation’s refineries. However, the reports emanating from them continue to cast aspersions on the authenticity of such proclamations.



Unproductive Refineries

According to the NNPC Monthly Financial and Operations Report August 2018, the nation’s three refineries incurred an operation loss of N10.79 billion in August. Indicating the refineries remains a huge challenge despite proffered solutions.

The performance analysis reports presented in the monthly report showed that the refineries’ production capacity dwindled during the period to 21.51 million litres of petroleum products as against the 38.64 million litres produced in July 2018.

Interestingly, the report explained that only the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries were operational during the period, stating that they produced 53,881 metric tons (MT) of finished petroleum products and 8,017MT of intermediate products out of the 56,804MT of crude processed at a combined capacity utilisation of 3.02 per cent compared to 4.83 per cent combined capacity utilisation achieved in the month of July 2018.

In its usual characteristics, NNPC attributed the lower operational performance recorded to the ongoing revamping of the refineries, adding that when completed it was expected to further enhance capacity utilisation.



Kaduna Refinery Remains Idle

Meanwhile, performance analysis of the three refineries located at Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna showed that the later has been idle since February this year leading to its reporting a cumulative loss of N18.67 billion at the end of August 2018.

According to the NNPC report, the Kaduna refinery posted a lost of N 3.81 billion in February, N2.63 billion in March, N4.22 billion in May, N2.98 billion in June, N2.35 billion in July, and N2.68 billion in August. However, the company was said to have made a profit of N2.96 billion in April, even when production did not take place.

Trading Crude Instead Of Refining

One of the biggest irony of the NNPC refineries and why they they may possibly not work until further notice is the fact that they have been converted to crude trading agents instead of the original purpose of refining.

The NNPC said, “The Corporation has been adopting a Merchant Plant Refineries Business Model since January 2017. The model takes cognisance of the products worth and crude costs.”

Expatiating further, the report said, “The combined value of output by the three refineries (at import parity price) for the month of August 2018 amounted to ₦8.67billion while the associated Crude plus freight costs and operational expenses were ₦9.78billion and ₦9.68billion respectively. This resulted to an operating deficit of ₦10.79billion by the refineries.”

Keeping Hope Alive

Meanwhile, both the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and the group managing director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, have continued to assure Nigerians of their determination to resuscitate the ailing refineries as well as initial new ones.

Baru while speaking at the 7th International Seminar of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna, Austria in June this year, said, “NNPC’s goal to become a net exporter of refined products by year 2019 was on course as there are ongoing discussions to revamp all the four existing local refineries through utilizing private capital in form of a contractor financing model.”

This was a confirmation to an earlier statement issued on January 23, 2018, by the corporation’s spokesman, Ndu Ughamadu.The statement quoted the GMD as saying that it was inching closer to arriving at the choice of financiers for the refineries. Baru explained that the agreements on the potential financiers for the refineries were being fine-tuned.

However, in another statement issued on August 14, 2018, Ndu said as part of NNPC’s refinery collocation initiative designed to boost local refining capacity to end the era of petroleum products importation, the Corporation (NNPC) was planning to establish a 100,000-barrels-per-day brownfield refinery each in Port-Harcourt and Warri.

Baru, who was said to have described the move as efforts being made to achieve self-sufficiency in local refining besides the rehabilitation of the refineries, explained that a group of investors had commenced the process of relocating a refinery that used to be owned by BP from Turkey to Nigeria to be installed near the Port Harcourt Refinery under the NNPC refinery collocation initiative.

“Our collocation initiative aimed at getting private sector investors to bring in brownfield refineries so that they can share facilities is also yielding results.

“For example, there is one that is going to be brought in from Turkey to be located near the Port-Harcourt Refinery. It’s not a modular refinery; it’s a normal refinery with about 100,00bpd capacity. It was owned by BP, but it has been sold off now to the companies that want to bring it over from Turkey to install it here,” he stated.

Baru was said to have further explained that a similar plan to establish a brownfield refinery near the Warri Refinery was also in the offing.

“There is another one of about the same size being looked at to be sited near the Warri Refinery. But the one for Port-Harcourt is at a more advanced stage. Our drive at the NNPC, as a leader in the industry, is to expand our local refining capacity and make Nigeria a global refining hub,” he said.

Similarly, Dr. Kachikwu, was quoted by S&P Global Platts earlier this month as saying in an interview on the sidelines of the Africa Oil Week conference in Cape Town that he was hopeful the government would pin down details on the overhaul of the country’s refineries by the end of this year

While Nigerians continue to hope that these assurances coming from these key managers of the sector are not mere political statements, the current reality shows that the country’s economy is seriously hampered by the absence of local refineries.

http://www.mcebiscoo.com/2018/11/worry-over-non-performing-refineries.html

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has condoled with the family and friends of popular On-Air-Personality (OAP) Tosyn Bucknor, saying he was deeply saddened by her untimely death.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister described Tosyn’s death as a great loss to the nation’s burgeoning creative industry, where she excelled in her lifetime.

He urged Tosyn’s husband and her entire family to take solace in the fact that she left great footprints on earth in her short but memorable life.

The statement reads: “Since the news of Tosyn’s death broke, there has been a widespread expression of sympathy for her family and an outpouring of accolades for her. There is no better indication that she made her mark while on this side of the great divide.

“This should be a source of consolation for Tosyn’s family during their most difficult time. I pray that God will grant repose to the soul of the departed and also give strength and comfort to her family.”

DAILY POST reports that the OAP died at the age 37.

The deceased was reportedly found dead by her husband, Aurelien Boyer, when he arrived at home from work on Monday night.

The news was confirmed by her former colleague at Top Radio, Wale Adigun, via his Twitter account.

http://www.mcebiscoo.com/2018/11/fg-reacts-to-death-of-tosyn-bucknor.html

A former Ogun State Governor, Chief Segun Osoba, on Tuesday said that governors who served under former President Olusegun Obasanjo were able to cage him and stop him from doing a lot of unconstitutional things because of their maturity and unity among them irrespective of political affiliations.

Osoba spoke at the 80th birthday celebration of former Akwa Ibom state Governor, Obong Victor Attah.

The former Ogun State governor, who spoke on behalf of other former governors present at the event, including former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Odigie Oyegun and his successor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said the governors spoke with one voice and stood against the antics of the former President and dragged him to court on a number of occasions and won.

He said “Today we are happy to celebrate a man of honour. In our time we do not know the differences in the party you belong to and Obasanjo then dare not play with any of us governors. I am happy to say that Obong Attah was from the PDP, I was from the AD.

“The AD group made up of the late Lam Adesina, and Bisi Akande. When we speak, to our surprise, Obong who is of the PDP will take it up from there contributing intelligently to the issues we raised. It is on the ground of his style of leadership that we were seriously able to cage former President Obasanjo.

“I used the word seriously because first of all, Abdulsalam Abubakar left a huge sum of money that was to be distributed to the governors. The first thing Obasanjo did was to seize the money and use it to buy vehicles for local government councils.

“We kicked, went to court and we won. On the fiscal responsibility Act, he (Obasanjo) said he will not implement section 8 where all revenues were to go into an account from where it will be distributed according to the constitution. When it became almost impossible, we went to court and we won. In all of these, it was not resource control. Obong Attah was in the fore front of all these struggle.”

Osoba who recounted how governors in those days rallied behind Attah and his other Niger Delta counterparts to agitate for resource control, expressed reservations on the quality and character of those aspiring to become governors these days.

“I want to appeal to all us. We should go back to the characters that formed government in 1992 and 1999. 26 years ago, most of us who were governors have had exposures. John Odigie Oyegun was a former permanent secretary, I was former Managing Director of Daily Times, I can go on to give you backgrounds of all those who became governors in 1999. None of us were people you will say where you are coming from. We need to go back to that this days of governors of any kind should stop.”

http://www.ebiscoo.com/80/how-governors-caged-obasanjo-as-president-%E2%80%93-osoba#146

Thugs suspected to be hired by the All Progressives Congress sacked lawmaker in Akwa Ibom, State Idongesit Ituen have besieged the State House of Assembly in the early hours of Monday.

The thugs who appeared violent were seen in their numbers barricading the Assembly Complex in Uyo-Akwa Ibom State.

Chanting ‘APC, Change’ slogan, the thugs stopped lawmakers including the Speaker, Barr. Onofiok Luke entrance to the complex.

DAILY POST reports that the aggrieved youths were agitating for the reinstatement of Idongesit Ituen, member representing Itu state constituency who was sacked by the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

It was also gathered that on getting to know about today’s plenary in commemoration of the 80th birthday of former governor, Victor Attah by the State House of Assembly the embattled lawmaker allegedly organized the thugs to disrupt the session as well as hinder the Speaker from declaring his seat vacant as scheduled today.

Though the state government has detailed some policemen to calm the situation, thugs had rendered the area impassable.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/akwa-ibom-house-of-assembly-shut-down.html

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Chairman in Cross River State, Dr. Mathew Achigbe, is death.

Achigbe died this morning (Saturday) in a fatal motor accident.

He was said to have travelled to his village in Obubra when the accident occurred along Afikpo Road in Ebonyi State.

DAILY POST gathered that some noticeable personalities died with him.

An eyewitness, who pleaded for anonymity, said, “My brother, I’ve just heard it now that he died in a motor accident in Afikpo. I’m shocked myself”.

Efforts to speak with the family members of the deceased and the state publicity secretary of APC, Mr Bassey Ita, proved abortive.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/cross-river-apc-chairman-achigbe.html

Tunde Akinsanmi, ex-member of popular music group, Styl Plus, has said the government can afford to pay workers N100,000 minimum wage if it musters the political will to do so.

He stated this on Thursday in a chat with DAILY POST in Abuja.

Recall that the Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and Governor of Zamfara state, Alhaji Abdul’aziz Yari, had said the proposed N30,000 minimum wage would be paid if labour would agree to downsizing of the workforce across the country.

Reacting to the governor’s statement, Tunde disagreed with him, saying, the nation had huge deposits of petroleum resources and adequate human capital to drive itself to prosperity and cater for the its workforce.

The music star, now known as Tunde T Dot, said: “The current N18,000 is already too low. To make matters worse, workers are not even paid regularly.

“When citizens become so aggressive, hurt each other, and attempt suicide, it is the same government that will prosecute the people for trying to take their own lives and those of others.

“For me, I think N100,000 is ideal minimum wage for workers and I think we can afford it because we have crude oil which, to me, is even a bonus.

“Most importantly, we have enough human capital to make our nation productive, develop, and prosperous.”

http://www.ebiscoo.com/52/minimum-wage-govt-can-pay-workers-n100000-%E2%80%93-tunde-ex-styl-plus#116

The Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano has commended the members of the Anambra State House of Assembly for the mature way they handled the misunderstanding that arose in the House on Tuesday.

Speaking from Paris where he is on an official tour with President Buhari, Governor Obiano commended the Speaker of the House, Hon Mrs Rita Maduagwu, the principal officers and other members of the House “for rising to the acid test of true democracy and peacefully resolving the mild misunderstanding that erupted among them saying that the matter would have degenerated to something unpleasant if handled by a less competent crop of leaders.”

The Governor expressed confidence in the ability of Anambra lawmakers to always resolve their differences in the truest tradition of representative democracy and forge stronger ties that would accelerate the development of the state.

He also expressed contentment with the assurances by the Speaker and the Principal Officers of the House that whatever grey areas that might be still lingering in the House would be amicably resolved in the next few days.

Speaking further, Governor Obiano assured that Anambra remained Nigeria’s most peaceful and safe state and that his administration would continue to work assiduously to ensure that the state maintained that status.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/obiano-speaks-on-anambra-assembly.html

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has blamed past governments for not effectively utilising earned crude oil revenue to develop road and other infrastructures in the country.

The minister said this on Monday in Abuja while presenting a three-year scorecard of his ministry.

Fashola said “If those who came before us had done their work, we won’t meet bad road. That is the simple truth. We earned $100 per barrel of crude oil for about five years.

“We knew what other countries like Abu Dhabi (UAE), Saudi Arabia did with their own, what did we do with ours? So this is a president and a government that is now trying to do more with less that it has. So give us some time, we will get there,” Fashola said.

The minister said the federal government was executing road projects across every state, especially abandoned projects like the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the second Niger bridge, Enugu-Port Harcourt road, Jebba-Mokwa way, among others that have drastically cut down travel time.

The ministry also gave statistics of road projects in the last three years. It said in 2016, 277 kilometres of road was constructed, 345km was rehabilitated and 17,749 people were employed in the process.

“For 2017, the FG constructed 488 roads, rehabilitated 256 others and engaged 31,227 persons. For 2018 till November, 497km of road has been constructed, 284 rehabilitated and 30,402 persons employed,” he said.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/buharis-minister-blames-past-govts-for.html

Juventus manager, Massimiliano Allegri says he is very happy at the club amid reports of him getting interests from Premier League giants, Manchester United.

Allegri was heavily linked with a move to United before the transfer window closed in the summer.

The Italian was offered a three-year contract by United worth €9million to replace under-fire Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford.

Allegri has, however, insisted that he hopes to stay at the Turin club for many years.

Speaking after winning the 2018 edition of the Golden Bench award for the best coach in the Serie A, Allegri told Sportmediaset on Monday: “It was not easy after a daring defeat like the one against Manchester United.

“We were a bit stunned because it was from April that we did not lose a match, but the boys played a serious match, both from the defensive and offensive point of view.”

Allegri added: “My future? Surely an experience abroad would be nice. But I am fine at Juventus. I am at a big team, a solid club that works for the future. We share everything and I hope to stay here for a long time.”

Allegri’s men currently sit on top of the Serie A table with 34 points from 11 games following their 2-0 victory over AC Milan on Sunday.

http://www.ebiscoo.com/15/epl-juventus-coach-allegri-speaks-on-coaching-manchester-united#78

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the alleged harassment of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, by security agents.

DAILY POST had reported that Atiku, who returned to Nigeria after his stay in Dubai, on Sunday hinted that he was intimidated by security operatives.

He was quoted as saying, “I arrived to Abuja this morning to a search by agents of the state, aimed at intimidating me and my staff.”

Speaking on the incident, PDP, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, described the incident as an attack on democracy and the collective sensibility of the overwhelming majority of Nigerians.

The party claimed that the supposed intimidation of Atiku was done by a special security squad of army, police and paramilitary agencies sponsored by the Muhammadu Buhari government.

The statement read: “We condemn in the strongest terms the unleashing of a special security squad of army, police and paramilitary agencies by the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency to physically harass our Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, at the Abuja airport, upon his return from Dubai.

“It was shocking when the deadly squad, in a Gestapo style attack, and acting on ‘orders from above’ rushed our candidate immediately he landed and attempted to physically manhandle him before invading his aircraft with dangerous weapons to conduct a violent search.

“While they did not find anything incriminating on our Presidential candidate, this deadly squad, violently tampered with certain personal documents and gadgets belonging to him, including some of his campaign documents.

“The PDP completely rejects such violence against the person of our Presidential candidate by the Buhari Presidency, which we know has been jittery over Atiku Abubakar’s soaring popularity since his emergence as our candidate.

“We invite the world to note that having failed to drag down our Presidential candidate with spurious allegations and smear campaign, the APC has now resorted to state-backed violence against him and must be held responsible should any harm befall him or any member of his campaign team.

“The PDP is for peace, but we will not accept this recourse to violence, which we believe is orchestrated to directly harm our Presidential candidate, foist a siege mentality on the system and set the stage for series of coordinated violence, ostensibly to truncate a peaceful conduct of the 2019 general election.

“The Buhari Presidency and the APC should bear in mind that this is an attack on our democracy and the collective sensibility of the overwhelming majority of Nigerians, across board, who have accepted the choice of Atiku Abubakar as Nigeria’s next President and they will vigorously deploy every means available in a democracy to defend him and our democratic process.

“Today, Atiku Abubakar, as a Presidential candidate, has the highest demography of supporters and volunteers across our nation and we will not hesitate to call them out in defence of democracy if another such attempt is made against our candidate.

“Nigeria is not a conquered territory and anybody that wants to foist a totalitarian regime on our land will be firmly resisted

“We invite President Buhari to recall that as a Presidential candidate, he had occasions to travel out of the country and the government in power never besieged or harassed him in any way. His administration should therefore not introduce such violence in our democratic space.

“Finally, the PDP counsels the APC and the Buhari Presidency to know that power belongs to God and that the time has come for Nigerians to choose a new President, for which they have collectively rallied around Atiku Abubakar and that their resort to violence, smear campaign, character assassination and rigging will not change this resolve.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/pdp-blows-hot-over-alleged-harassment.html

Paulo Dybala has revealed what he said to Jose Mourinho after confronting the Manchester United boss, as he taunted the Juventus fans on Wednesday night.

Mourinho cupped his hand to his ear at full-time following United’s sensational comeback win in Turin, having claimed he was the subject of abuse throughout the match.

United went behind to a stunning strike from Cristiano Ronaldo, but rallied late on as Juan Mata netted an excellent free-kick and an own goal secured all three points.

When Mourinho goaded the home fans, he was quickly confronted by the likes of Dybala and Leonardo Bonucci and the Argentine felt he could have shown more tact.

“I just told him that there was no need to make that gesture,” Dybala told Sky Sport Italia.

“There was no need to create more tension than there already was, sometimes you get insulted and it’s bad, but to create more tension than there already is…

“I told him there was no need, I didn’t insult him. I just told him that and left.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/dybala-reveals-what-he-told-mourinho.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged the commitment of his administration to revive the cotton and textile industry in the country.

Buhari said he will bring back the ‘good old days’ when it employed hundreds of thousands of Nigerians.

According to a statement made available to DAILY POST on Friday, by the President’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari said this while receiving the CEO of Vlisco Group, David Suddens, at the Presidential Villa.

President Buhari welcomed the proposed investment of $200 million by the company in Nigeria, which will, in turn, create 700,000 jobs.

”I am very much aware of your company’s effort especially your investments in the textile industry, and it is one area that we are trying to develop because it will create employment and boost agriculture,” he said.

”To get cotton to grow again in the country is like going back to the good old days when the textile industry used to employ more than hundreds of thousands of people.

”I am very excited about the prospects of reviving the industry because it will keep farmers busy, create employment which brings more security, help the economy, transfer of technology and of course we have a large market to absorb the products,” the President said.

President Buhari reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to forging a stronger economic partnership with the Netherlands, assuring the Dutch investor that the Nigerian authorities will continue to do the utmost to keep smugglers at bay at borders.

In his remarks, Suddens told the President that the 172-year-old company plans to use cotton grown in Nigeria for production.

”I want a new strategy that brings Vlisco manufacturing to Nigeria. I want to change the supply chain from Asia to Nigeria.

”For the total supply chain for cotton, textile and garment industry from weaving, spinning, printing to retail, we want to use Nigeria cotton and we have already started to encourage the creative industries in the country to find a voice and give them a platform across the world.

”I am convinced that it is time for the textile industry to move from Asia to Africa, ” he said.

Also speaking, the Dutch Ambassador to Nigeria, Robert Petri told President Buhari that the company’s visit was a follow-up to his successful visit to the Netherlands in July, during which he met with Chief Executive Officers of Dutch companies.

”Also during that visit, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between our two countries seeking more intensified cooperation. After that visit, there were more successive visits by top Dutch officials to Nigeria.

”This shows that we are seriously committed to furthering our collaboration,” Petri said.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/president-buhari-identifies-one.html

DMW boss, Davido has reacted to recent online reports and has cleared air on the rumoured Idowest‘s DMW Contract termination.

Speaking via his Instagram story, Davido said that the reports are lies, and rumours, adding that Idowest will be on DMW for a long time. He shared a photo of Idowest and wrote;

PLS STOP THE STUPID RUMOURS!
@officialidowest! DMW 30BG 4 LIFE! NO CONTRACT WAS CANCELLED ALL LIES ❤ JI

The DMW Boss also revealed that his signee, Idowest, will be the Opening act for his much anticipated O2 Arena Show in London. The show is reportedly almost Sold Out. This will be the biggest stage Idowest stage Idowest is going to mount on in his Career so far.

Now we know that all is well in the DMW camp, we hope that Idowest lives up to expectations, or rather beyond.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/idowest-is-dmw-for-life-stop-stupid.html

The Academic Staff Union of Universities yesterday shut down all academic and non academic activities at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) in solidarity with the nationwide industrial action embarked upon by the academic body .

The Union also declared a “no teaching, no examination, no attendance to statutory meetings” until its demands are met by the Federal Government.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of an enforcement rally by the unionists, ASUU chairman in FUTO, Christopher Echereobia, accused the Federal Government of working towards the setting the nation’s public education system back.

Echereobia said that it was unfortunate that the government was sabotaging the country’s education sector .

The ASUU chief informed that the goal of the indefinite strike was to compel the government to address various issues affecting ASUU .

He said, “We demand the provision of a platform by the federal and for ASUU to engage governors on the proliferation of universities, underfunding of university education and undue interference in the affairs of state universities.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/strike-ASUU-shuts-down-futo.html

Sylvester Aigbogun, a Deputy Director with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has told the Ekiti governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in the FCT High Court, Apo that the July 14 governorship election in the state was free and fair.

Aigbogun, who was the Electoral Officer for Ikole Local Government Area of the state during the election, said this on Tuesday while testifying for INEC in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Prof Olusola Kolapo, the party’s candidate in the election.

The PDP and the Olusola had dragged INEC, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Gov. Kayode Fayemi, the winner of the election before the tribunal.

The petitioners are challenging the declaration of Fayemi as the winner of the election by the first respondents, INEC.

Aigbogun, while being cross-examined by Yomi Aliyu SAN, counsel for APC, stated that his assertion that the election was free and fair was based on what he saw while visiting some polling units in the local government during the election as well as what was presented to him from various units and wards.

“The election was free and fair. This was based on what I saw and what was presented to me.

“PDP and its candidate, Professir Kolapo did not make any complaint to me on the conduct of the election in my local government.”

While answering question from R O Balogun SAN, counsel for Fayemi, the witness stated that APC won in Ikole LGA without any hitches with a total of 14,522 votes as against PDP’s 13,961.

He asserted that the election was conducted substantially in line with the Electoral Act and the manual for the election issued by INEC earlier tendered and admitted as Exhibit RA9.

The witness stated that he did not see any presiding officer or other persons deliberately voiding ballot papers during his visit to some polling units in the course of the election.

According to Aigbogun, under-cross examination by the counsel for the petitioners, Adebayo Adelodun SAN, that entries on Form EC8A had to tally with those on the pink copy issued to agents of parties at polling units.

The witness added that wherever an alteration in the entries was not initialed by either the presiding officers or collation officers, there was no way he could know that such was an honest mistake.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/ekiti-guber-what-i-saw-during-election.html

Four youths between the ages between 20-30 years were on Sunday gruesomely murdered by rivalry cult group in Bendeghe Ekeim in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The incident, DAILY POST gathered was linked to the renewed secret cult war between two rival cult groups in the area.

It was further gathered that a disagreement between some of the young men, suspected to be members of the Vikings and Klans, led to the first shooting to death of one of the youths before reprisal attacks, which consumed another three.

An eyewitness, who pleaded that his name should not be mentioned, said that the incident occurred on Sunday night and extended to early hours of Monday where four youths were gruesomely murdered.

“The incident started on Sunday and extended to early hours of Monday. It has recorded the death of four hefty youths. You can see the corpses; that one has a cut to the lower back which exposed his kidney (He pointed at the corpses).

“The other one has a bullet hole in the chest which means he was shot on the chest and killed. Look at the other one lying on the stretcher, see the matchet cuts; these kids are heartless unto themselves,” a source stated.

Speaking with our correspondent in Calabar, an indigene of the community, who is the Special Adviser to Governor Ben Ayade on Cocoa Development, Dr Oskar Ofuka regretted the incident.

He said, “I left my community (Bendeghe Ekeim) yesterday (Sunday) to Calabar and in the morning of Monday, I got information that by 9pm Sunday, there was mayhem and four hefty youths full of life were murdered by suspected rival cult group.

“Bendeghe has been known for peace for over two years and these boys went round and murdered four youths in cold blood, the boys were gruesomely murdered and their bodies taken to Ikom mortuary by the Police.

“We are not happy with this development. What the community is in need of for now is development and development cannot come in this atmosphere of war.

“What happened is regrettable and a cause for serious concern and we called on the people of the area to eschew violence and embrace peace as initiated by Governor Ben Ayade.

“This one clash too many is not welcome at all, fighting between two rivalry groups does not bring development, our children should give peace a chance.

“We have just celebrated two years of continuous peace in the area before this happened. Our youths have been maintaining this peace before this incident occurred on Sunday

“The entire community is thrown into mourning and I called on the police to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime, they should investigate the causes of this clash and brought the suspects to book

“This is not the time for this kind of incident; we should see ourselves as brothers and sisters” he advised.

When contacted on phone on Monday, the Commissioner of Police, Cross River Command, CP Mohammed Inuwa Hafiz, said the command received information about clash this morning (Monday).

“The incident happened around 3-4am on Monday, it was an incident that continuously happened between two rivalries cults groups, vikkings and klans men.

“Actually, they have fought between themselves and some people have sustained various degrees of injuries. We have deployed team of police men to the area.

However, he said that the village has been deserted because they knew what they did. “We are not going to rest until we arrest the culprits. We have not received any information whether it was politically motivated or not but I am sure it was a clash between two cult groups,” he stated.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/cult-clash-four-youths-gruesomely.html

As part of efforts to encouraged members to exercise their civil right during general elections next year, Nagari Nakowa Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Lagos (NNAMORAL), has carried out operation show your Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) among the members who visited their headquarters.

Speaking with journalists at the operations show your PVC exercise in Lagos , the group chairman, Alhaji Adesina Raji , said the activities was part sanitizing members on the importance of having their PVC and be ready to exercise their civil right as citizen of the country.

Raji noted that as citizens of the great country, his members have right to vote for leaders who would bring good governance in Nigeria.

He said,” If you refused to get your PVC and believe that it is not your business to choose those who lead your today, tomorrow their policy may bring hardship to you and your children.

“As citizens, I encouraged you all to get the PVC for those who have gotten theirs and please, don’t sell them for peanut. When a politician gives you N10, 000 for your vote, when elected into the office will get over double of the money on your head and your children head.”

He appealed to members to take the advantage of the one month grace given by the state government on checking vehicles papers to quickly get complete documents for their motorcycles.

Araki noted that of the over 45,000 members of the group 39,000 of them have gotten their PVC because the executive members were very serious about it, as power belongs to the people.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/2019-group-mobilises-members-for-pvc.html

Twitter Inc deleted more than 10,000 automated accounts posting messages that discouraged people from voting in US election.

The accounts wrongly appeared to be from Democrats, after the party flagged the misleading tweets to the social media company.

“We took action on relevant accounts and activity on Twitter,” a Twitter spokesman said in an email. The removals took place in late September and early October.

Twitter removed more than 10,000 accounts, according to three sources familiar with the Democrats’ effort. The number is modest, considering that Twitter has previously deleted millions of accounts it determined were responsible for spreading misinformation in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Yet the removals represent an early win for a fledgling effort by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, or DCCC, a party group that supports Democrats running for the U.S. House of Representatives.

The DCCC launched the effort this year in response to the party’s inability to respond to millions of accounts on Twitter and other social media platforms that spread negative and false information about Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and other party candidates in 2016, three people familiar with the operation told Reuters.

While the prevalence of misinformation campaigns have so far been modest in the run-up to the Congressional elections on Nov. 6, Democrats are hoping the flagging operation will help them react quickly if there is a flurry of such messages in the coming days.

The Tweets included ones that discouraged Democratic men from voting, saying that would drown out the voice of women, according to two of the sources familiar with the flagging operation.

The DCCC developed its own system for identifying and reporting malicious automated accounts on social media, according to the three party sources.

The system was built in part from publicly available tools known as “Hoaxley” and “Botometer” developed by University of Indiana computer researchers. They allow a user to identify automated accounts, also known as bots, and analyze how they spread information on specific topics.

“We made Hoaxley and Botometer free for anyone to use because people deserve to know what’s a bot and what’s not,” said Filippo Menczer, professor of informatics and computer science at the University of Indiana.

The Democratic National Committee works with a group of contractors and partners to rapidly identify misinformation campaigns.

They include RoBhat Labs, a firm whose website says it has developed technology capable of detecting bots and identifying political-bias in messages.

The collaboration with RoBhat has already led to the discovery of malicious accounts and posts, which were referred to social media companies and other campaign officials, DNC Chief Technology Officer Raffi Krikorian said in email. NAN

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/twitter-deletes-10000-accounts.html