₦airaland Forum

Small girl, big God Toke Makinwa is out here living her best life! To celebrate her 34th birthday, the media personality shared hot new bikini photos, flaunting her toned body.

”The book of TM… Chapter 34- 03/11. A new dawn. Woman thou shall not settle for less. It’s my birthday.” She captioned the photos.

See more photos below:

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/toke-makinwa-flaunts-her-curves-in.html

President Muhammadu Buhari’s grades in his West African Examination Council (WAEC) has emerged.

The special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Femi Adesina said the Council presented an attestation certificate and confirmation of school certificate result to his principal.

Adesina tweeted: “WAEC presents attestation certificate and confirmation of school cert result to President Buhari. What will the naysayers say next?” Adesina tweeted without the photos of the certificate.

However, moments after Adesina’s tweet, Bashir Ahmad, the Personal Assistant to the President on New Media, took to Twitter to display the photos of the President’s certificate.

Ahmad tweeted: The WAEC presents attestation certificate and confirmation of school certificate result to President @MBuhari”.

WAEC Registrar, Iyi Uwadiae, presented the document to the President on Friday at the State House in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

However, a fact check by Concise News shows that one of the core subjects, Mathematics was missing in the attestation certificate presented to the President by WAEC Registrar.

The certificate shows that the President performed extremely well in History as he bagged “A1” while English Literature was his poorest subject with “P7”.

Below are the grades…

English Language – C6

English Literature – P7

History – A1

Geography – C6

Hausa – C6

Health Science – C6.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/see-what-buhari-scored-in-his-school.html

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has directed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Bello Muhammad, to summon meeting of the territory’s security council to address Shi’ite uprisings in the territory.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made this known when he fielded questions from State House correspondents at the end of the Council’s meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.

The meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

The minister said: “This matter came up for discussion and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has been asked to take the matter up with his own security committee.’’

Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), popularly referred to as Shi’ite, had engaged the security agencies in violent clashes within and around the FCT since Saturday.

About 26 people were reportedly killed and many others injured during clashes between soldiers and Shiite group in Zuba, Mararaba/Nyanya and Abuja in the last three days.

On Tuesday, the FCT Police Command announced the arrest of some IMN members with 31 bottles of petrol bomb and other dangerous weapons being ferried into Abuja.

The command said the members’ plot was to attack innocent citizens, including law enforcement agents deployed to protect lives and property.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/fg-announces-line-of-action-over.html

Mr. Anthony Nwafor, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Nkanu East/West constituency candidate for House of Representatives, says President Muhammadu Buhari has done so much to ensure the security of lives and property in the country.

Nwafor, who made this known when he reacted to pockets of protests by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, said in a statement on Wednesday that Buhari should be encouraged to maintain the good works of maintaining peace in the country.

According to him, the only way Nigerian will encourage Mr President is by being law abiding.

He said that religious leaders in the country owe the society the duty to mentor their followers on the need to obey constituted authorities no matter the level of provocation.

“This is the only way the values they teach them can be said to reflect in their daily lives.

“Getting too obsessed with religious loyalty breeds extremism which is what the world is gripped with today,” Nwafor said.

He advised the Federal Government to review the continued detention of the leader of the group, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, after several court orders.

He also urged the members of the group not to take laws into their hands because their leader was in detention.

Nwafor further urged the sect to stop confronting the Nigerian Army under any guise so that more lives would not be lost.

“The number of lives lost on daily basis to the confrontation between the group and the Nigeria Army is not necessary as the development can be avoided.

“Women, children and youths are made to march on the streets of Abuja to protest, thereby exposing them to the dangers associated with this confrontation with the military.

“Every life is important. Nigerians should learn to present their grievances without creating further problems.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/buhari-has-done-much-to-secure-nigerian.html

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum has agreed to pay the sum of N22,500 as new minimum wage for workers, as against the N30,000 demanded by labour unions.

The governors said this after an emergency meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum in Abuja late on Tuesday.

The Federal Government had earlier offered to pay N24, 000 as minimum wage.

Labour had declared that it would order workers to go on strike from November 6, 2018, if government refused to take a decisive action on its demand.

Tuesday’s meeting of the NGF was attended by the Ministers of Labour and Productivity and that of National Planning, Senator Chris Ngige, and Senator Udoma Udoma, respectively.

Chairman of the NGF, who is also the Governor of Zamfara State, Mr Abdulaziz Yari, who briefed journalists after the meeting, said the welfare of all Nigerians was uppermost in the minds of the governors.

Earlier, the NLC and the TUC took to major streets in some cities across Nigeria to sensitise the public to its planned nationwide strike scheduled to commence on November 6.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/nigerian-governors-agree-to-pay-n22500.html

By Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja

The federal government has dismissed as unfounded the allegations that troops fighting against insurgency in the North-east were underpaid and subjected to hunger.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Tuesday said the claims were found to be untrue, following the conclusion of investigation ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari to establish the veracity of claims that troops were fighting Boko Haram in deplorable conditions.

He also said that Boko Haram, which started like local issue had taken international dimension, stating however that the terrorist group had been ‘’decapitated.’’

‘’Today, Boko Haram is being funded by ISIS and other terrorist groups. But the federal government has decapitated Boko Haram. There was a time when Abuja was not safe. But it is no longer the same.

‘’There was a time many local governments were under the control of Boko Haram. That has changed; we are sure we have curtained the deadly activities of Boko Haram.

‘’There was a time banks, schools, telecommunications were closed — in 2015. But it is no longer the same’’, the minister added.

On the welfare of the troops, the federal government’s spokesman said it was laughable to say that the troops were being paid N500 a day, as reported by an online newspaper.

Mohammed said in view of the grave security implication of the allegations contained in the publication, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered an investigation to determine its veracity.

“Gentlemen, the investigation has since been concluded and, in line with the transparent stance of this Administration, I have invited you here today to share with you the outcome. The summary of the findings is that there is no case of hunger, starvation or begging among the troops fighting in the North-East, and in particular in the Armed Forces Special Forces Battalion that was referenced in the publication.

”There is also no irregular/short payment of allowances, while claims of poor equipment, inadequate kitting and accommodation are found to be ill conceived and unfounded,” he said.

Mohammed said contrary to the publication, the troops in question, deployed at Brig.-Gen. Maimalari Secondary School along Gubio Road, were being fed centrally three times a day, and were kitted immediately after their training before they were deployed in the theatre.

According to him, “How then can soldiers who are fed centrally be starving or begging for food? Concerning the payment of allowances, the monthly allowances of troops of the AFSF Battalion are being paid directly into their various accounts from the Defence Headquarters, hence they cannot be shortchanged.”

On the allegation of poor equipment and inadequate kitting, the minister said it was found that the inflow of logistics into the theatre in the past six months showed an enormous quantity of materiel was distributed to troops in the theatre.

The minister further explained, “If anything, the publication in question exhibited poor understanding of what obtains in the theatre of military operations.

‘’By their training, soldiers in theatres of war are usually in trenches, tents or other makeshift structures. Fighting insurgency is not a walk in the park and the gallant men and women in uniform who are engaged in counter-insurgency operation in the North East are not on a luxurious expedition. The battlefront is no playground,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed warned that engaging in fake publication about the troops was not only a great disservice to the nation, but a terrible downplay of the kind of sacrifices being made by the gallant troops in fighting insurgency.

He said such fake reports amount to collaborating with fifth columnists and enemies of the nation to weaken the fighting spirit of our forces, and represent a clear and present danger to the nation’s security.

While restating the administration’s belief in the freedom of the press, the minister appealed to the media to always commit to the highest standards of journalism by double checking with the government before publishing any information from the theatre of operation in the North East.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/fg-troops-fighting-boko-haram-are.html

Senator Shehu Sani has defended his colleague and former fellow party member Senator Bukkar Abba Ibrahim (APC Yobe Central) on comment that President Muhammadu Buhari will be voted against in the North East come 2019.

Ibrahim, who is one of the frontline politicians and chieftains of the APC from the zone, was quoted in Abuja at the weekend, as saying that even massive rigging may not save Buhari from the imminent defeat.

The former Yobe State Governor was said to have made the comment during the world-wide Internet Launch of his book ‘Poorlitics’ and 70th Birthday celebration.

Ibrahim has since denied the newspapers reports. He claimed to have been quoted out of contest.

But reacting, Sani who recently dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC, said Nigerians should “stop heckling or throwing stones on Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim.”

According to Sani, “He [Ibrahim] is just a meteorologist.

“All you need to do is to mind the weather and appreciate his forecast.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-shehu-sani-reacts-to-senator-abba.html

The Presidency has described as absolute disgrace and diversionary, attempts by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to challenge the authenticity of President Muhammadu Buhari’s West African School Certificate (WASC) in the court.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity stated this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

According to him, PDP’s action is a complete waste of time because record has shown that the president has higher qualifications obtained through hard work.

The statement read: “We have read that the failed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) s going to court to challenge the President’s West African School Certificate (WASC).

“This is a waste of time because we have the record of this and of higher qualifications obtained by hard work and truly merited by Mr President.

“This certificate story is an old one. As Femi Adesina stated clearly, it is a settled issue in the courts.

“To approach the court to pursue a matter long settled by the temple of justice is an abuse of the judicial system. It is shameful, disgusting and disgraceful.

“It is clear to all at this time that the PDP, facing an imminent humiliating defeat wants to sow division and chaos by seeking the destruction of the institutional structures that support our young democracy.

“They are attacking the courts and the police, they are molesting INEC commissioners. They are theatrical in spreading falsehoods against persons including the President.’’

The presidential aide said the PDP embarked on spreading falsehoods to take away attention from the discussions on issues gaining momentum in the country.

He said such matters included the issue of internal security which he said had been jeopardized by years of near-zero investment under 16 years of the PDP.

Others, he said, were the provision of long-delayed infrastructure which the President is pioneering; corruption to which the PDP is incurably tied and the sustenance of the prevailing good days in the economy.

According to him, the president is equally busy providing a business-friendly government working day and night, creating more jobs and affordable life for the poor.

Shehu, therefore, maintained that the forthcoming presidential election was not about the settled issue of certification.

“This election isn’t about the settled issues of certification.

“No matter how honeyed their sweet words, don’t believe them.

“Their evil record can never be washed away. The PDP set a record of murdering opponents of government and corruption on a scale never seen anywhere before.

“They put the national security at stake by diverting huge budgetary allocations to service their greed. Don’t believe their honeyed promises,’’ he added.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/certificate-your-acts-absolutely.html

Trending as former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, on Monday advised the Anglican Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Rt. Rev. Christopher Omotunde to remove the cassock and mount the soap box so that the whole world would know that he has joined politics.

Fayose, who stated this through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, was reacting to a statement by the Anglican Bishop describing Fayose’s tenure as a waste and non-beneficial to Ekiti people.

Adelusi said only a cleric trying to justify the blatant rigging of the last Ekiti governorship election by the All Progressives Congress (APC) would describe the physical transformation of Ekiti State by the Fayose administration as a waste.

His statement reads, “Even the blind feels the good works of Fayose and perhaps Bishop Omotunde and the likes need to change their eye glasses to see well.

“Our fathers have a saying that it is disheartening when one hears a statement of gullibility from a place where one expects to hear the words of wisdom.

“The records of the Fayose administration are there for all to see. It organised an Education Summit that led to great improvement in education in the state.

“Ekiti came first back-to-back in NECO exams and we also did well in WAEC. These are public institutions and the records are there for Omotunde to peruse.

“The Fayose administration built the first flyover in the state and it passes besides Omotunde’s church. One wonders if the bishop closes his eyes whenever he drives or passes through that place. If he does not, we pray that God opens his spiritual eyes.

“The Fayose government built a new high court complex, a new Governor’s Office, a new Oja’ba Market; dualised roads in Ise, Emure, Ikole, Omuo, Ijero, Efon, among others.

“It also dualized the Ado-Ikere road, built many roads in Ado itself such as Petim- Afao Road and Dehead- Police Headquarters Road. May be the bishop does not pass through these roads!

“Accreditation for various courses in EKSU, School of Nursing, and College of Health Technology was pursued and achieved by the administration. We can go on and list many other achievements in agriculture, health, social welfare and other sectors.

“Yearly, the Fayose administrstion recognised hard-working teachers and civil servants with car prizes and other gifts. Within four years, it was promotion galore for civil servants. Civil servants and teachers will not agree with the untenable and jaundiced position of Omotunde.

“The Ekiti people who Fayose served for almost eight years know that his time was a great blessing to them, which is why they call him the architect of modern Ekiti.

“Bishop Omotunde should remove his priest’s garment and mount the soap box if he is minded to be this politically partisan.”

“He said Fayose’s opposition to Buhari administration did not allow Ekiti to benefit anything from the centre.

“Assuming that was the case, it only confirmed President Muhammadu Buhari as an autocrat who must not be criticised, and not a democrat who should take criticisms in his stride.

“We make bold to say that Ekiti under Fayose and PDP has witnessed more economic and physical development in the last four years when compared to neighbouring APC-controlled states which have openly venerated President Buhari as their god-father.

“What has Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ogun benefitted from the Federal Government? What has even Lagos, where the APC national leader comes from, benefitted?

“In terms of peace and security, Ekiti under Fayose was peaceful; it was secured from herdsmen attacks, assassinations, and armed robbery opreations. These and politically-motivated killings have returned in full swing under Fayemi/APC.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/fayose-blasts-ekiti-bishop.html

The spokesperson of Buhari Campaign Organisation, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has explained why he said the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDD, Atiku Abubakar was corrupt.

The senior lawyer gave the explanation to the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financing Institutions during his screening as a nominee into the board of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim (PDP Kwara South), had reminded Keyamo of his recent comment that Atiku Abubakar is corrupt.

But the committee chairman was called to order by Senators on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, who threatened to vote against him.

This brought a sharp disagreement between lawmaker of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and APC.

Senator Ibrahim while trying to drill Keyamo on the comment had said ”I want to refer to your words when you said the presidential candidate of the PDP is corrupt. I think you may have to wait until you’re done with the job before you can sit on the board. This is something that I saw myself. You just have to educate us properly on how you can balance the two.”

However, APC members of the committee like Danjuma Goje ( Gombe Central), Umar Kurfi ( Katsina Central), Fatimah Raji Rasaki ( Ekiti Central) etc, disagreed with Senator Ibrahim by warning him not to mix politics with the screening exercise.

Senator Goje in his reaction said, ”I want to observe and caution the chairman that in as much as we belong to different political parties, we shouldn’t bring too much politics on this matter. In fact, we have more APC members here, so if we want to vote, we can vote against you. Our government is doing a lot and we’re doing everything possible to see that things are done well.”

Also reacting, Senator Raji Rasaki said, “I thing what we’re doing should have nothing to do with politics. I believe Mr Keyamo if cleared will be a very good assets for the NDIC while Kurfi submitted that Keyamo is an asset that must be allowed to serve on the NDIC board.”

Explaining why he called Atiku corrupt, Keyamo said, “When the Senate of the United States came out to say that somebody brought slush fund into the US and as such the person is corrupt, we can call the person corrupt. That’s what we relied on. But we can’t call such person a convict”.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-presidency-why-i-call-atiku.html

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commissuon, INEC, Mahmood Yakubu has met President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff (COS) Abba Kyari.

This is coming amid the President’s WAEC issues.

The meeting was held at the COS office, and lasted for about thirty minutes.

Yakubu did not speak to State House correspondents when the closed-door meeting ended.

The presidency is yet to issue a statement on the meeting as of the time of filing this report.

President Buhari, who is the standard bearer of the ruling party, failed to submit his WAEC result to INEC yesterday.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-buharis-chief-of-staff-abba-kyari.html

Nigerian journalist, Ahmad Salkida, known to have built close links with the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram and ISWAP on information generation has said that, the controversy created by the technical defeat of Boko Haram was created by the Buhari-led administration to achieve political gain rather than address the conflict sincerely in the lake chad region.

Salkida in a tweet yesterday, wrote that the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau has not recovered from the fallout of his extreme and tight-fisted rule, which led to a split in 2016.

He said, “Many may argue that the splinter group (ISWAP), is now as extreme as Shekau, but insiders disagree, that there is freedom of expression in ISWAP.

“To many insiders, the execution of an overrated Mamman Nur and two aid workers would have been carried out by Shekau if he was faced with similar situations. It is also on record that Shekau has executed dozens of his associates and has been the largest beneficiary of ransom.

“While SWAP is now bearing the brunt of recent, unequivocal detestation for ransom payments within and outside Nigeria, the govt could not find the much-needed expertise with access to the insurgents that can explore alternatives to ransom payments.

“On the aid workers, the thinking within ISWAP is, the aid workers were abducted inside a military facility during a raid, not in an IDP Camp, where they may have no problems overrunning? In the case of Leah, she is not merely seen as Christian, but daughter to a police officer.

“But what really went wrong that led to the public execution of two aid workers and another recent killing of local aid workers that was under reported? Are these executions limited to failure of negotiations or is it something much deeper? These are questions begging for answers.”

He said the failure of negotiations that led to the barbaric killings and the slavery status of Leah and Alice is confined to the contention that the government no longer wants to pay ransom.

“But there is evidence that the deadlock was mainly a credibility gap.

“There is a bubble that has been created that precludes the powers that be to understand that the strategy that worked yesterday, may not necessarily work today. It is much easier to succeed in a ransom deal, than when given the task of a robust process, limited to prisoner swap.

“In the past BH got deals that was more favourable to them, which clearly undermined military targets and objectives. They expected no less this time, but the state was adamant, but because of the limited options available to govt, the executions could not be deferred or averted.

“There have been ‘accomplishments’ that was akin to a Trojan horse, which also has created a false hope, that was far from reality. That may as well explain why many did not understand the gravity of the last paragraph in my report here –

“As appalling as this may sound, once a slave girl missed her menstrual circle, there may not be any negotiations for her release, and when the slave gives birth, she cannot be separated with her under 7 year-old-child, the alternatives are narrowed to only a military rescue operation.

“The fate of Leah and Alice is similar to those of the few surviving Chibokgirls in captivity today. Though the Chibok girls are not considered as slaves, but wives, however, BH ability to keep their most prized captives out of the radar confirms they have territorial control.

“Territorial holds do not mean BH lives in all the communities and rule over them, some of these territories are left with no semblance of governance, only occasional visits by the insurgents and when the military appears in these areas, the villagers are ‘rescued.’

“There is also an obvious knowledge gap about the conflict dynamics in the LakeChad and the govt and experts heavily rely on confessions of detainees instead of interactions with assets on the ground, this is how timely information is garnered and channeled into saving lives.

“As Shekau is believed to be boxed to the fringes of Gwoza, the military has halted its final push and inadvertently created a buffer between ISWAP & BH for them to eliminate one another. Will Shekau work out a rebound or will the military make the final push that may see his end?

ISWAP on the other hand, is buoyant, have dozens of local & Intl entry and exit routes in the region and have used this raining season to build up an armoury never seen before, yet they are struggling very hard to contain internal dissents from growing into major schisms.

“The growing voices of dissent within #ISWAP is more about a new generation of young jihadis trying to “take over from less adventurous old guards,” rather than a war between moderates and hardliners, as we are made to believe. The younger ones are eager to be on the global map.” Salkida said.

He added that, “the breakdown of law and order in Nigeria will not go away if we do not eliminate bad governance at all levels. Redefine the functions of institutions and never knock over the rules for any person or interest. Insist on ACCOUNTABILITY and this crisis will be contained.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/boko-haram-ahmed-salkida-speaks-on-only.html

Recently, the Senate passed a resolution calling on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card maintenance charges being deducted from customers. This resolution came as part of a motion on perceived illicit and excessive bank charges on customers’ accounts, sponsored by Senator Olugbenga Ashafa (Lagos East, APC).

The Senate also called on commercial banks operating in the country to configure their machines to dispense up to N40, 000 per withdrawal pending the outcome of the investigation by the Senate committees on excessive and illicit bank charges.

Speaking on the motion, the president of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki said the Senate will always support any motion that affects the lives of Nigerians. The Senate President stated that the Senate must work to ensure that the resolution on the excessive bank charges goes beyond the debate stage, so that whatever action the Upper Legislative Chamber takes would come into effect.

The Senate further directed its Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions to conduct an investigation into the propriety of ATM card maintenance charges in comparison with international best practices and report back to the Senate. In addition, it directed the committees to invite the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, to explain why official charges approved by the apex bank were always skewed in favour of the banking institutions and against customers and called on the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) to look into the various complaints of excessive and unnecessary charges by Nigerian banks.

The pervasive feeling of many bank customers in Nigeria is that banks have been declaring fat profits year in year out, yet the quality of their services as far as the banking public is concerned leaves much to be desired. From accusations made, the banks are not up and doing with regard to the need for them to deliberately embark on patriotic developmental roles. Banks are particularly accused of growing their loan book not caring about rendering quality service to their customers.

Bank customers have consistently complained about what they describe as excessive and arbitrary charges from the banks.

We applaud the Senate’s decision on ATM card charges as a step in the right direction. The banks send customers alerts for transactions in batches, with debits and commission broken into two. Yet, at the end of the day, the same customers are billed for these transactions. And what exactly are the banks maintaining in the ATM when customers pay for stolen or expired cards? Also, the banks send customers birthday and festive wishes, then later bill them for what is supposed to be a goodwill gesture from their banks.

It is imperative that bank customers get good value for their money and thereby be attracted to the banking sector so as to deepen the financial sector through enhanced financial inclusion which undergird the effectiveness of CBN policies. This explains why the CBN has a robust department whose main responsibility is consumer protection. Through that process many aggrieved customers have obtained satisfaction resulting often in refunds by banks where it was established that customers had been shortchanged. Therefore the CBN sees it as part of the requirement for a robust financial system when the satisfaction of customers as they relate with the banks is guaranteed. In our opinion, the CBN cannot be seen to deliberately want to shortchange the customer in favour of the banks as no interest will be served by so doing.

From this standpoint and without prejudice to the fact that it has apparently acquitted itself more creditably than some other regulators in the country, we call on the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) to treat the Senate directive that it should look into the various complaints of excessive and unnecessary charges by Nigerian banks with all the seriousness that it deserves.

We recognise the fact that banks are in business to create wealth for all the stakeholders of which the customers are key. We also want the banks to accept that without their customers, the motive for their being in business will be defeated. To that extent, therefore, the aphorism that the customer is king must be given relevance beyond mere words.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/banks-and-atm-card-maintenance.html

The Peoples Democratic Party has said the combination of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, former Governor Peter Obi, has been well-received by Nigerians across board contrary to what it described as spurious publications being sponsored by the All Progressives Congress.

The party said the APC and the Buhari Presidency, having failed to stop the emergence of Abubakar as presidential candidate and attempts to smear him with unfounded allegations, have now resorted to attacking “our vice presidential candidate and trying to create the impression that he is not well received in some parts of the country”.

In a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said: “The PDP is already aware of how the APC has paid millions of naira to hack writers to spin negative narratives with a view to create an impression of disagreement and bad blood among our leaders and members across the northern and southern divides, who have since aligned with the Atiku/Obi ticket.

“The PDP and majority of Nigerians are aware that the APC and the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency have been jittery since the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as our Presidential candidate, a disposition that heightened with the choice of Peter Obi as his running mate, hence their frenzy to cause confusion within our fold.

“The PDP restates that the combination of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, with their internationally acclaimed forthrightness, hard work, ingenuity and managerial competencies, guarantee a prudent and result-oriented administration that will liberate our nation from the economic shackles which the wasteful, incompetent, and deceptive APC administration has plunged our nation into.

“Furthermore, the Buhari Presidency and APC’s unrelenting resort to fabrications and personal attacks against our candidates instead of presenting their claimed achievements and programmes to Nigerians, confirms that they have nothing to offer as they have been trending on false performance claims and propaganda.

“On our own part, the PDP, as a Pan Nigerian and performance-oriented political party, will never descend to the shallows with the fading APC and the Buhari Presidency, but focus on how to salvage our nation from the economic hardship, acute hunger and starvation as well as the daily bloodletting that have become the order of the day under the President Buhari administration.

“Nigerians have gone through enough pain and anguish under President Buhari and no amount of smear campaign and personal attack on our candidates will ever whittle their resolve to vote in Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi with their proven political will and commitment to the welfare of Nigerians.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-pdp-berates-apc-over-fabrications.html

The allegation, on Tuesday, by the Northern Youths Leaders Forum (NYLF) that the Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, is anti-North and a major of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is part of a plot to sabotage the 2019 Igbo Vice Presidency project, Obi’s Special Adviser, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, has said.

He described the allegation as diversionary and “an attempt to give the dog a bad name in other to hang it.”

Dismissing the allegation in a statement issued on Wednesday, Obi’s Special Adviser, Obienyem, described it as “baseless and unfounded”. “The alleged ‘crimes’ exist only in the imagination of those making the ridiculous allegation. Mr. Peter Obi is a liberal and patriotic Nigerian who has never at any time conducted himself in a manner to suggest that he is either anti any ethnic group or a sponsor of any secessionist group,” Obienyem said.

He noted: “Immediately the Presidential flagbearer of the PDP, His Excellency, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, announced the choice of Mr. Peter Obi as his running mate, joy was universal, hailing his preference as one of the best news coming out from our father land. All those that knew Obi very well for what he did in the past, both in his private business and governance of Anambra State and thereafter, wrote eulogies of him. Researchers went to work. After careful and painstaking analyses of his past, they submitted that he is humble, hardworking, knowledgeable about the economy, aware of the myriad of problems of the country, detribalised and possessed of centripetal notion about the unity of the country. Any person truthful to himself would agree that never in the history of Nigeria did naming of running mates elicited comparable reactions.”

Obienyem pointed out that “since leaving office, Obi has been busy visiting schools all over the country, from Cross River to Sokoto. Obi has been busy diagnosing the problems of the country and offering solutions. Obi has been busy preaching the unity of the country and how good governance will solve the problems in Nigeria, caused by cumulative years of leadership failure that make the protest under review suspicious and, in fact, an attempt to give the dog a bad name in other to hang it.”

Obienyem described the unfounded allegation as diversionary, saying: “We do not need such a distraction now. What we need is joining of hands together as we collectively seek solutions to our problems.”

He noted that by advising Atiku to drop Obi and pick a running mate from the South-South, “the NYLF betrayed its real agenda, which is to deny Ndigbo the opportunity to produce Nigeria’s Vice President in 2019.” Obienyem said that the sinister agenda has already failed and urged Nigerians “to continue to give their full support to the Atiku Abubakar/Peter Obi ticket, the only real hope available to Nigerians in the 2019 presidential elections.”

He assured Obi’s fans and supporters that the former Anambra State Governor would continue to live an exemplary life and would never engage in any conduct capable of bringing shame to himself or all those who believe in him and hold him in high esteem.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-plot-to-sabotage-igbo-vice.html

Popular Nollywood actress, Toyin Abraham, has denied reports of her engagement to a colleague in the industry.

The actress, while making a clarification in her Instagram page, described the reports as fallacious and should be disregarded.

Toyin wrote: “It has come to my attention reports from some quarters saying that I am about to get married to a fellow actor.

“This assertion, insinuation, and report are false and fallacious.

“I have respect for actors but I am not about to get married to anyone who is an actor.

“I have been busy with my work as an actor, working tirelessly on my TV, my lipstick launch and other businesses.

“The only relationship I have with any man in the industry is purely professional and it is high time we stop insinuating and spreading false rumors when we see two colleagues of opposite sex working together.

“That is what the job entails and I expect that people should be smarter than this,” she said.

Abraham, who is reportedly engaged to an unknown lawyer, added that she would inform her fans whenever she is ready to get married.

“If and when I am ready to walk down the aisle, you will not be hearing it from the rumor mongers, gossip magazine that is no longer in the city and people hell-bent on cooking up imaginative stories about me. You will be hearing it from me directly.

“I reiterate that I am not about to get married to ANY fellow actor,” she added

Recall that Toyin had in 2015 divorced her estranged husband; actor and director, Adeniyi Johnson.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/toyin-abraham-speaks-on-her-engagement.html

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday assured that its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, will revamp the nation’s economy through the creation of qualitative employment for the youths.

The party also said Atiku will implement the political and economic restructuring of the nation in a manner that will engender unity, inclusiveness in governance and uplift in the general standard of living for all the people.

PDP, in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, maintained that on election into office, its presidential candidate will immediately commence the marketing of Nigeria to the international business community, as well as providing a clement environment for businesses to thrive in the nation.

“Atiku will open a system-wide fight against corruption as soon as he is elected into office by strengthening the institutions empowered by our laws to do their jobs, while he concentrates on the onerous duty of governance and rescuing our people from hunger, starvation, bloodlettings and wanton killings.

“The rebranded PDP assures that all those looting the national treasury, including those now enjoying President Buhari’s official cover, will definitely face the wrath of the law and go to jail, because the Atiku Abubakar administration will not only fight poverty but will also uncompromisingly fight corruption.

“The party noted that a combination of Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Peter Obi, known internationally for their forthrightness, hardwork, ingenuity and managerial competencies, guarantees a prudent and result-oriented administration that will liberate our nation from the economic shackles that President Buhari’s wasteful, notoriously incompetent, and deceptive administration has plunged us into.

“Atiku Abubakar comes with the Nigerian resilient entrepreneurial spirit to once again open up our economy, attract investments, create jobs and unite our citizenry for a more productive nation.

“Already, our candidate, as a successful entrepreneur, has perfected an economic template that will reduce the cost of governance, plug wastages, tackle corruption, free our national resources currently being squandered by the Buhari administration and channel them for the welfare of the people.

“What Nigerians earnestly desire now is a resourceful President, not an incompetent leader who lacks the capacity to run a complex economy; who stays aloof and completely insensitive to the plights of citizens, while providing official cover for his officials to fritter away trillions of naira from our beleaguered national treasury.

“Our youths are earnestly seeking for an in-charge President, not one who rules by proxy. They look forward to a President who will give hope in the face of a consuming despair and one, whose words resonate with their aspirations in life.

“Nigerians seek a President who will not watch helplessly while marauders and insurgents kill our brothers and sisters in their numbers; whose only achievement is plunging our nation into economic recession, collecting foreign loans and accumulating debts with nothing to show.

“PDP holds that President Buhari has failed on all fronts. He has failed on the economy, on security and on the fight against corruption.

“This 2019 election is therefore, a direct referendum on these failures and the determination of Nigerians to choose a new leader who will rescue our nation from the throes of hunger and starvation.

“The 2019 election will never be about character assassination or mouthing some worn-out sloganeerings about corruption but will be about a demonstrable capacity to deliver on the mandate.”

PDP added that the Presidency by now knows that Nigerians are not buying their smear campaign against Atiku Abubakar as Nigerians have seen that all the Buhari Presidency had done in its almost four year term is paying lip service to fighting corruption while its members swim in an ocean of corruption.

“Instead of this unnecessary fixation on our candidate, the PDP challenges President Buhari to step out and give account of his failed stewardship; how he ran down a once robust economy in a space of three years; why he is running a corrupt administration; why his administration failed to protect our slain compatriots and how trillions of naira are stolen under the cover of his Presidency.

“Finally, the PDP forewarns all looters in the Buhari Presidency, including those involved in the alleged stealing of over N14 trillion from several sleazy oil deals; the alleged undisclosed oil revenue leading to the deadlock at the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC); alleged stealing of funds meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) among other sleazes covered by the Buhari Presidency, to get ready to vomit their loots and face the law in no distant time.”

End

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/atiku-will-revamp-economy-jail-looters.html

Tina Turner has opened up about her son’s suicide earlier this year. Craig Turner was 59 when he was found dead in July at his Los Angeles home from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Speaking to BBC News, Tina Turner said he had seemed fulfilled in both his professional and personal life after finding a new girlfriend. “I still don’t know what took him to the edge,” Turner said, “because at that stage he had said to me that he had never met a woman that he felt that way about.” “He was bringing her to meet me [for] his birthday in August. He had decorated his apartment, that I bought him years ago. He had gotten a new job with a prominent real estate company in California, [which] he was very happy with. “I have no idea what pulled him down, except something that followed him with loneliness. I think it was something with being alone. “But when I think that, why didn’t he call the new girlfriend that gave him the lift? She added: “He was an introverted person, he was very shy, so I didn’t know either, except now when I listen back to our last conversations, I notice a change. “The last few times we talked, the conversations were different, and I didn’t know that until after the suicide.”

How does Tina Turner rate her own musical? Why Tina Turner came out of retirement Turner also discussed how her life had changed since her marriage to her long-term partner Erwin Bach in 2013.
She has written about her life in her new autobiography entitled My Love Story. Not long after her honeymoon she suffered a mild stroke, she then had cancer, and kidney failure and doctors told her she would die if she didn’t take treatment for her kidney. “So I said well, if it’s time…. I felt like I’m in my late 70s, my mother died at 84, my sister died at 74 and I thought maybe this was my time. “In Buddhism you accept the life and the death. I was ready, I just thought it was my time.” Since moving to Switzerland she found out about the Exit way of assisted suicide and is signed up to it. “Death is not a problem for me, I really don’t mind leaving.” But last year Bach donated a kidney to her and she said she is now feeling better than ever. “I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life. I’m happier than I ever thought that life would become for me,” said Turner. “So that means that most of my hardships came while I was young and growing up. And in the last days when normally people suffer from old age and sickness my happiness came.
“I’m really thoroughly happy. “I did fall a couple of days ago and broke something so I was in a wheelchair and on crutches so maybe now I’m going through my sick period and I think that will take me through to my 90s. “I’ll be around for a while.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/tina-turner-opens-up-about-sons-suicide.html

The NFL has refused to comment on reports that Barbadian singer Rihanna declined an invitation to headline the Super Bowl half-time show in support of Colin Kaepernick.

Quarterback Kaepernick, 30, was the first player to kneel during the US national anthem.

Other players followed suit, leading to criticism from President Donald Trump.

A source close to the singer reportedly told US Weekly magazine that Rihanna “does not agree with the NFL’s stance”.

Maroon 5 will now headline the show, which will take place on 3 February in Atlanta, Georgia.

Players who refused to stand during The Star-Spangled Banner have said the protests were a reaction to police brutality against African Americans and racial inequality.

Kaepernick has been without a team since he opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in March 2017.

He has filed a grievance against NFL team owners he claims conspired not to hire him because of his protests and has become the face of a new Nike advertising campaign.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/rihanna-stood-with-kaepernick-by.html

In this report, SUNDAY ISUWA writes on the choice of Hon Sunday Marshall Katung as the running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Kaduna State, Hon Isa Ashiru.

There was intense lobbying prior to the selection of the running mate to Hon Isa Ashiru, the candidate of the PDP in the 2019 gubernatorial election in Kaduna State.

The person that has picked finally, Hon Sunday Marshall Katung, never showed interest. He was actually lobbying for another person to get the office, having secured a return ticket of the PDP to contest for a House of Representatives seat.

There were different groups in search for a deputy gubernatorial candidate, each lobbying to ensure that their choices made the list of people.

Ashiru, it was gathered, before traveling abroad told the people of Southern Kaduna to bring a running mate for him. He hails from Zone 1 of the state otherwise knowns as Kaduna North senatorial district. He is a former local government chairman, former member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly and also a former member of the House of Representatives.

His emergence as the candidate of the PDP did not come to many as a surprise, having made attempts several times in the past but failed. Prior to the primary election, the PDP went into a serious search for a credible candidate. The criteria spelt out was that they needed a candidate with acceptability that can be marketed to every nook and cranny of the state. Almost all the aspirants that contested for the PDP gubernatorial ticket met the requirements but only one among them, Ashiru emerged.

Immediately after the primaries, the search for a running mate commenced. After all groups came up with their names, the member representing Zangon Kataf/Jaba federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Sunday Marshal Katung was picked.

It was gathered that Katung was busy strategising on how he will win his re-election bid in a PDP stronghold but the baton to run with Ashiru in the 2019 gubernatorial election in Kaduna State was given to him on a platter of gold.

Even when he was reluctant, LEADERSHIP Friday gathered that Katung eventually succumbed to pressure from well-meaning people who believe he is a capable politician that will protect the interest of all and provide the needed unity and development in the state if they win. His choice, according to some analysts, will boost the chances of the PDP.

The first deputy governor that was picked from Zangon Kataf local government was James Bawa Magaji in 1992. Magaji had contested the gubernatorial primaries of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) but lost to Dabo Lere, under whom he served as the deputy governor.

Magaji was a vibrant politician the NRC couldn’t do without and he was picked as the running mate to Lere and they won.

In 1999, Stephen Rijo Shekari won a senatorial ticket under the platform of the PDP. His influence in the politics of Southern Kaduna propelled the then candidate of the PDP, Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi to pick him as his running mate.

Meanwhile, speaking to LEADERSHIPFriday on the emergence of Katung as the running mate to Ashiru, a strong member of the PDP and an aide to a former governor of Kaduna State, Victor Mathew Bobai, said the selection of Katung has brightened the chances of the PDP in 2019 election.

Bobai, who said the youth will rally round the PDP flag-bearers because of the choice of Katung, added that people who had interest in the office should also be carried along in order to give them a sense of belonging.

“If the youths are carried along, we can bring our support and ensure that the party wins in 2019 because Katung is from Zangon Kataf, the largest local government with a lot of voters.

“The aspirants that contested for the governorship ticket should be carried along. The party should work together for victory and there should be a serious reconciliation with the few people that might be aggrieved,” Bobai added.

For his part, a member of the party, Comrade Danjuma Bello Sarki, said: “I can say categorically that the choice of Katung is the best thing that has happened to the PDP.”

“Katung has the competence and the experience. Katung has been partnering with Ashiru for a very long time and they have mutual respect for each other. Their partnership will bring development to Kaduna State.

“Katung is a lawyer and financial expert whose impact was felt when he was the Commissioner of Finance in Kaduna State. He will bring his wealth of experience to bear on job creation, internally generated revenue and there will be a good partnership with the private sector.

“The duo have human feelings and as such, they will be sensitive to the plight of the people. People who were unjustly dismissed from their working place, the disputed issues about the sacking of the traditional rulers and the issue of human rights violations will be addressed and succour will come to the people of Kaduna,” Sarki added.

Katung, a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, holds a post-graduate Diploma in Management; and Masters degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from the premier university of the north, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is currently undergoing his PhD programme in the same university.

He has served Kaduna State as both Commissioner for Finance and Water Resources and is currently a member of the House of Representatives. Katung, who is always poise to excel in every situation, despite the odds, is energetic, dynamic, proactive, action-minded and result-oriented individual with zest and zeal for working hard, both independently as well as in a team, especially in situations that demand strength of character.

He is also desirous of using knowledge, skill and experience to create value for the benefit of mankind. Born on April 1, 1961, Katung hails from Madakiya District in Zangon Kataf local government of Kaduna State.

Katung’s secondary education was at Kufena College, Wusasa Zaria from 1975 to 1980 before enrolling into the College of Arts & Science, Zaria from 1980-1982. He attended University of Lagos, Akoka from 1982-1986 and attended Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos from 1986-1987.

He obtained a Masters in International Law and Diplomacy in 2016, Masters in Business Administration (MBA), 2005, Post-Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) 2000 and is currently undergoing his PhD programme in ABU Zaria.

He obtained an Advanced Diploma certificate in Legal Drafting and Conveyancing at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Akoka, Lagos and attended several courses which includes: Course on Public Enterprise Restructuring at the International Law Institute, Washington DC, USA. Course on Post-privatisation – Managing the Challenge at the International Law Institute, Washington DC, USA. Company Secretaries and Corporate Legal Adviser’s Course at the Management School, London. National Seminar on Company Law and Practice and Corporate Administration by AMIT Consultancy services LTD. Course on Negotiation of International Contracts by POTOMAC WORKSHOPS. Course on Legal and Financial Aspects of Pension Scheme and Trust Management by Lord SALISBURY CHAMBERS AND LIBRARY.

As a serving member, House of Representatives, Representing Zongo Kataf/Jaba, Federal Constituency, Kaduna State, between May 31st to 11th September, 2013, Katung was Commissioner of Finance, Kaduna State. From July, 2011 to May 31, he was Commissioner of Water Resources, Kaduna State and from July 2010 to May 2011, he was Commissioner of Finance, Kaduna State.

He was Company Secretary/Legal Adviser of Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation where he reports to the Managing Director and the Chairman and Keeps the records and conducts the correspondence of the Company and performs such other duties as the Chairman or Managing Director does from time to time assign to his office which included Organising meetings of the Board and Board Committees; Preparing the agenda and the minutes of Board and Board Committee meetings; Prepares reports of various Committees of the Board for presentation at Board meetings; Conveys actionable decisions of the Board to members for implementation. Arranges for payment of fees, all allowances and other matters affecting members of the Board. Maintains custody of the Company’s legal documents, seals and others.

He oversees the drafting and vetting of agreements, oversees the processing of various staff loans, Liases with external Solicitors in matters of interest to the Corporation, Takes minutes at Board and Committee meetings of the Board and proffering general legal advice to the Corporation.

He also served in various Committees which includes: Strategic Management Conference Committee, consultations with staff Unions, Culture Committee and others.

Katung was also a board representative in the Corporation’s subsidiaries whose routine duties includes: Preparation of reports for the Managing Director’s attention. Liasing with the Bureau of Public Enterprise to facilitate the privatisation exercise of the corporation. Attending to mails of the Managing Director and drafting replies accordingly. Superintended overall administrative matters in the office of the Managing Director. Liase with Executive Directors on administrative matters. Co-ordinating overseas seminars, conferences and technical courses for the Managing Director. Co-ordinate correspondence and the Corporation’s relationship with international agencies viz West African Insurance Institute, African Insurance Organisation, Federation of Afro-Asian Insurers and Reinsurers and others.

Katung was also incharge of drafting the Managing Director’s speeches, memos as well as seminar and conference papers.

He review proposals at the instance of the Managing Director, Take up any other assignments as the Managing Director may delegate from time to time.

Katung also worked at the Directorate of Air Provost, Nigerian Airforce Headquarters, Lagos.

On his national assignments, Katung was a Member, PDP congress monitoring committee, Delta State, 2007. Member, PDP congress monitoring committee, Kogi state, 2008. Secretary PDP Congress Committee, Kaduna State.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/kaduna-guber-as-pdp-settles-for.html

The Police Service Commission has approved the promotion of three Assistant Inspectors General of Police, AIGs, to the next rank of Deputy Inspectors General, DIGs.
The Commission also approved the promotion of four Commissioners of Police, CPs to Assistant Inspectors General, AIGs of Police.

The promotions were one of the highlights of the first plenary meeting of the newly inaugurated Management of the Commission held in Abuja between October 9 and 11, 2018.
The new DIGs are Musa Katsina Muhammed, presently at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos; Mohammed Sani Usman, Commandant Police Academy, Wudil, Kano and Peace Ibekwe Abdallah, office of the National Security Adviser.

The new AIGs are: Godwin Nwobodo currently, CP Courses at the Police Academy Wudil, Kano; Adeyemi Samuel Ogunjemilusi CP, Akwa Ibom State Command; Augustine Iornongu Iwar, CP, Bayelsa State Command and Adekunle Oladunjoye, CP Research and Planning, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

This was contained in a statement signed by PSC spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani. According to the statement the chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector- General of Police, who presided over the meeting, urged the newly promoted senior Police Officers to rededicate themselves to the service of their fatherland.

Alhaji Smith said their new ranks imposed on them more challenging responsibilities which call for more hard work.

He pledged the commitment of the Commission to ensure that promotions in the Nigeria Police Force will henceforth be based on seniority, merit and passing the relevant official courses.

The chairman charged the beneficiaries to reciprocate this gesture by making a success of their new offices.

The Commission’s approval has been conveyed to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris for implementation in a letter signed by the permanent secretary/secretary to the Commission, Mr. Musa Istifanus.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/promotions-police-get-3-digs-4-aigs.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has spoken with Mohammed Liman, father of Hauwa Liman, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) midwife who was slain by Boko Haram terrorists, LEADERSHIP reports.

In a telephone call, President Buhari in a statement by his media aide, Garba Shehu, commiserated with the family and assured Miss Liman’s father that the Nigerian government did everything possible to save his daughter’s life, expressing sadness that all the efforts turned out unsuccessful.

He regretted that her commitment to helping victims of the Boko Haram insurgency ended in such a brutal way.

President Buhari also spoke with Peter Maurer, the President of the ICRC, extending condolences on the loss of the midwife.

The President commended the ICRC for the great work they had been doing in Nigeria by providing healthcare services to victims of insurgency in some of the most affected areas.

President Buhari appealed to the ICRC to continue their services in Nigeria, and not give up, despite the unfortunate and painful loss of their staff.

According to the President, Nigeria needs the ICRC and the government will continue to do all it can to protect staff of the organisation and other aid workers that are providing much-needed humanitarian services in the North East region, which had been affected by almost a decade-long conflict.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/pmb-speaks-with-hauwa-limans-family.html

Diamond Bank Plc has launched Visa Signature Debit Card, which is designed specifically for affluent clients. The bank in a statement issued at the weekend, said the product is a unique naira debit card designed to provide customers exceptional spending power and exclusive privileges. According to Diamond Bank, the new debit card gives affluent customers the opportunity to have wider and richer experiences when they relax or travel, home and abroad. Head, Consumer Banking, Diamond Bank, Karimot Tukur, said “our customers told us that they want more travel benefits, greater peace of mind and something a lot more rewarding than they get from an everyday current account.” She said with the Diamond Visa Signature Debit card, together with Xclusive Plus, customers get access to over 800 airport lounges around the world, VIP treatment at top hotels and complimentary worldwide travel insurance for trips paid for on the card. Adding that the insurance is even valid for foreign visa applications, Tukur added “our customers also get great entertainment benefits closer to home, including complementary event tickets through the year and free cinema tickets.” Diamond Bank is one of the fastest growing retail banks. Through innovation and technology, Diamond Bank enhances customer experiences and drives financial inclusion in what is known as ‘Beyond Banking’.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/diamond-bank-launches-visa-signature.html

A former college football star who was recently dropped from the Atlanta Falcons has been arrested after he allegedly had sex with a 12-year-old girl.

Justin Crawford, 23, was charged with aggravated child molestation, sodomy, and enticing a child for indecent purposes.

Daily Mail reports that, Crawford’s wife Kenya, the mother of his two young sons, who caught him around 5am on Saturday morning.

Crawford, a former West Virginia University football star, admitted to police he had MouthAction and intercourse with the girl and claimed the sex was her idea.

Kenya told investigators that she woke up on Saturday morning and walked into the living room of the couple’s Georgia home when she saw Crawford standing over the girl with an erection.

When Kenya took the girl back to her mother, the pre-teen said she had been asleep in the living room when Crawford came in.

She said Crawford had her perform MouthAction on him before they had intercourse.

The 12-year-old was taken to the hospital, where doctors administered a rape kit to collect any DNA evidence.

Crawford was arrested and is currently being held without bond at Muscogee County Jail.

The former football star made a name for himself at Northwest Mississippi Community College, where he was named the 2015 national junior college player of the year.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/footballer-arrested-after-his-wife.html

Senate President Bukola Saraki has been appointed the Director General of Atiku Abubakar’s Presidential Campaign Council

Also Aminu Tambuwal has been appointed as the Zonal Coordinator for NorthWest.

This was disclosed in a statement by PDP spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan.

The statement read: “PDP names the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki as Director General Atiku Presidential Campaign Council.

“HE Tambuwal is Zonal Coordinator for NorthWest. Dankwambo is Zonal Coordinator for NorthEast.

“Ortom Samuel is the Zonal Coordinator for North Central.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/atiku-saraki-tambuwal-dankwambo-get-new.html

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma, has declared that Nigeria still has sufficient room to borrow more whenever the need arises.

He explained that the country was not running any debt risk, adding that it had one of the lowest debt levels among its African peers.

“Nigeria has a sustainable debt profile with ample room to borrow more whenever we may require doing so. Nigeria runs no debt risk and the Debt Management Office carries out an annual Debt Sustainability Analysis to ensure that we stay that way,” Udoma was quoted as saying in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Akpandem James.

Udoma stated this in Bali, Indonesia, at the just concluded annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, adding that the implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan 2017-2020 was moving Nigeria’s economy in a positive direction.

The minister recalled that following the collapse of crude oil prices in 2014, which culminated in the country’s economy sliding into recession in 2016, the government developed the ERGP in early 2017.

The minister said the positive trends recorded in the country’s economic indicators since the launch of the ERGP had shown that the plan was working.

He stated, “We have been able to bring down inflation from 18.7 per cent in January last year to 11.2 per cent by August this year. Our aim is to bring inflation down to a single digit by the end of the plan period in 2020.

“The exchange rate market has been stabilised through the introduction of the investors and importers’ foreign exchange window. We have also been able to build up our external reserves from $27bn in 2016 to $43.9bn by early this month.

“Our current account, as a ratio of Gross Domestic Product, has moved from a deficit of 3.2 per cent in 2015 to a surplus of 2.8 per cent by end of last year. And this is built on export growth, including significant growth in non-oil exports that has resulted in the country recording a consistently positive trade balance since the fourth quarter of 2016.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/nigeria-has-room-to-borrow-more-buharis.html

The Chairman, Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions in the Federal House of Representative, Mr. Linus Okorie, has warned Igbo leaders to desist from kicking against the nomination of Peter Obi as running mate to the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Okorie, who is representing Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency, made this known in a statement issued in Abakaliki on Saturday, stressed that Ndigbo must not Play into the hands of enemies ahead of the forthcoming 2019 general election.

The statement reads in part: “Ndigbo must create a balance between control and the more devastating perception of disunity. The impression already being created is that Ndigbo are unable to manage political successes and may not provide the pivotal bloc needed to drive the Atiku challenge for Presidency. While this may not be correct, it behooves on the leaders of Ndigbo to avoid sending out wrong signals at a time unity and brotherhood would be their greatest strength.

“As they gather in Enugu today, therefore, Igbo leaders are expected to handle their housekeeping matters with maturity, lay blames if they must, without doing anything to challenge or upset the nomination of Peter Obi, which is already in the public domain and receiving wide acclaim. They must come out of that conclave with a stamp of approval and encouragement to other political parties, including the APC, that may need Igbo votes to act similarly by choosing their Vice Presidential candidates from amongst Igbo sons and daughters.

“They should indeed congratulate both their son who has been so honoured, the PDP and its Presidential Candidate, Alahaji Atiku Abubakar, for the recognition and act of solidarity. Beyond that, they can then pursue a program of strategic engagement to address any lacuna in the nomination process to further cement the confidence between and amongst all parties involved.

“To do otherwise would be class suicide and Ndigbo must not play into the hands of enemies at this critical time. Already, the Yorubas have indicated interest in the Atiku V.P slot if Ndigbo are unable to manage that political windfall.

“Let me conclude by appealing to the governors of the Southeast, Ohaneze leadership and indeed other elites to eschew divisive tendencies and rally round Peter Obi; projecting him properly as a worthy Igbo son who has the support and solidarity of his people;

while inviting the APC and other political parties to pick their Vice Presidential Candidates from the Southeast; as an assurance of their commitment to support the emergence of a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction in 2023.

“Ndigbo professionals, youths and women must rise up to ensure that their political leaders do not send them back into; political oblivion now that the light seems to be streaming through from the end of tunnel,” the lawmaker stated.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-reps-member-warns-ndigbo-against.html

Outspoken Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has spoken on his visit to the Abeokuta residence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Gumi was seen in a photo with Obasanjo, Bishop Mattew Kukah and former vice president and presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar.

Speaking at Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna on Friday, Gumi explained that the visit was in line with the teachings of Islam as he is following the tradition (Sunnah) of Prophet Mohammed.

“Prophet Muhammad once said he would gladly honour invitation to mediate even between non-Muslims”, the cleric said

“Every Muslim asked to intervene in peace accord between Muslim and Muslim or Christian and Muslim or Christian and Christian, he should go.

“Only pagans promote enmity. Once our leaders are in peace, hopefully the nation will be in peace.

“Former President Obasanjo sought to reconcile with his former deputy (Atiku Abubakar). You all know there is no love lost between them.

“One of the conditions laid for the reconciliation was that persons who are neutral should be appointed as mediators.

“Both of them agreed that I should be part of the reconciliation to ensure that the reconciliation is real. Thank God, they settled their differences. And its for real”.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/atiku-sheikh-gumi-speaks-on-presence.html

A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving in Bauchi, Joseph Adebayo has been reported dead.

According to NAN, the corps member drowned while on a picnic to celebrate the end of his service year on Thursday in Gubi River, in the outskirts of Bauchi metropolis.

Confirming the incident, Bauchi State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Kamal Datti, said the deceased, along with two of his colleagues, had boarded a faulty canoe, which capsized with them.

The spokesman said two of the corps members were rescued by villagers while Adebayo got drowned, adding that his floating corpse was recovered on Friday.

‎”On Thursday at about 8.30 pm the command received a report from one Mahadi Sada, a Zonal Inspector of NYSC, that on the same day at about 5pm, some corps members attached to Bauchi State Board of Internal Revenue went on picnic at Gubi dam to celebrate the end of their service year.
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“Three of the corps members boarded a canoe but unfortunately, the canoe was faulty, and so water drifted into it, resulting in the canoe capsizing.

“However, two of the corps members were rescued by villagers fishing in the Dam while one Joseph Adebayo, 26, who hails from Ogun state, got drowned and eventually died,” he said.

Datti added that the corpse of the deceased was recovered on Friday at about 8 a.m. and deposited at the mortuary of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, for medical examination.

He noted that investigation on the matter had commenced.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/nysc-how-corps-member-died-in-bauchi.html

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has claimed that it has credible reports that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has made moves to secure United States entry visa for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, whose candidacy he endorsed on Thursday.

APC spokesman, Yekini Nabena, said this in a statement sent to DAILY POST on Friday.

According to him: “It is learnt that that the former President who during and after leaving office insisted on Atiku’s unsuitability to govern Nigeria based on his knowledge of the latter’s extensive corrupt practices while he served as Vice President, is lobbying US authorities to withdraw the ban reportedly placed on Atiku from entering the United States following a 2005 $500,000 bribery scandal that involved Atiku, his fourth wife, Jennifer and former United States Congressman, William Jefferson.

“Recall that the former president while in office had deployed enormous resources of the country on a global dragnet coordinated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in getting Atiku prosecuted for corrupt enrichment and money laundering.

“A report by the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, chaired by Senator Carl Levin reported that Atiku used offshore companies to siphon millions of dollars to his fourth wife in the United States, Jennifer while still the vice president of Nigeria between 2000 and 2008.

“The report further stated that then President Bush had on the strength of his report, barred Atiku and other corrupt politically exposed persons from being issued visa to the United States, a reason for which he has been unable to travel to the United States till date.

“Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s intervention in Alh. Abubakar Atiku’s ban from the United States of America is evidence of Obasanjo’s legendary hypocrisy and self-serving interest in national affairs”.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/atiku-what-obasanjo-is-doing-about-ex.html

Thousands of Enugu State indigenes, who reside and registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kogi State, have transferred their voter’s cards to Enugu to enable them vote for Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in the forthcoming governorship election.

The elated indigenes of Enugu State, who paid a solidarity visit to Gov. Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu, disclosed that their decision was in recognition of the governor’s “exceptional performance in office” and the need to give him the opportunity to complete the good works he has started in the state.

They promised not only to return home during the forthcoming elections to vote massively for Gov. Ugwuanyi, but also to mobilize their relations and other dependants to equally vote for the governor, expressing delight that he has attracted development to their various communities.

Presenting their stance, the leader of the delegation and President of the Association of Enugu Sate Indigenes in Kogi State, Chief Joseph Anikwe, stated that members of the group were impressed with “the prevailing atmosphere of peace, tranquility and progress in our dear Enugu State”.

They added that they were also satisfied and proud that the governor serves God faithfully and cares for the people, especially the less privileged “through various people-oriented programmes and laudable development projects equitably spread across the wards, communities, local government areas and senatorial districts of the state”.

The Enugu indigenes equally commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for effective and efficient management of the state’s meager resources to undertake massive infrastructural development in every nook and cranny of the state.

They stressed that the governor has transformed the education sector; maintained peace and security; improved the civil servants’ welfare through regular payment of salaries and retirees’ pensions including the 13th month salary; provided good healthcare delivery, and maintained a very cordial relationship with various leaders in the state, through inclusive governance, among others.

While expressing their “firm support and unalloyed loyalty” to the governor’s “dynamic, purposeful and grassroots oriented administration”, the Enugu indigenes, unanimously endorsed him for a second term in office, saying that “this visit is to add our voice to the clamour for you to return for a second term”.

“Your Excellency, it is in view of all the above that we have paid this visit, not only to declare our full support for your second term in office, but also to carry the good message to our various domains to ensure that we cast our votes for you during the forthcoming elections, for the people to continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy under your good leadership”, they declared.

Gov. Ugwuanyi, who thanked the state’s indigenes for the solidarity visit and support, described them as worthy ambassadors of Enugu State and urged them to continue to pray for the success of the state and his administration.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/enugu-indigenes-in-kogi-transfer-voters.html