Nigeria and Botswana have signed agreements on cultural cooperation and diplomatic relations. This was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs , Geoffrey Onyeama after the 4th session of Nigeria-Botswana Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation (BNJPCC). The minister explained that “The signing of the agreements on the JPCC signals our collective desire to promote our political, economic, cultural, social, educational and scientific relations among others .” According to him, “It also marks the beginning of a strategic cooperation and partnership to boost economic growth and create employment opportunities thus, making enormous contribution as it concerns poverty alleviation and underdevelopment in our countries.” Onyeama stated that Nigeria attaches great importance to relations with the Republic of Botswana, hence, the outcome of the meeting further confirms the tie between them. He said that as important partners the two countries will work together to realise the fullest potentials of their bilateral relations.

Onyeama stressed the need for both countries to direct their cooperation towards the achievement of sustainable inclusive economic growth. “As members of both commonwealth and African Union, we should consult on regular basis with a view to strategically cooperate to achieve our set objectives,” he stated. He said that the meeting has further widened the scope of collaboration between Nigeria and Botswana. He expressed the optimism that it will pave the way for regular political exchange at a higher level. Botswana Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Unity Dow, expressed satisfaction with the existing relations between Nigeria and his country and reiterated the need to reinforce the relationship for mutual benefits. The minister requested that the existing ties between both countries be broadened from economic and technical cooperation to social cultural, human resources and manpower development, legal as well as defence cooperation.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/nigeria-botswana-deepen-cultural.html

The October 6th and 7th, 2018, Presidential primaries of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), will remain a reference material for the definition and explanation of the importance of internal democracy in any democratic society. For democracy to thrive and be sustained, political parties must internalise internal democracy. The PDP 2018 presidential primaries demonstrated the principle of internal democracy. All rational minds, Nigerians and non-Nigerians commended the peaceful and transparent conduct of the presidential primaries.

The choice of Atiku Abubakar by the delegates explains the political consciousness of Nigerians. Nigerians are politically informed and they have always demonstrated their knowledge and tendencies for participant political culture whenever the electoral system is responsible and transparent. In addition, the election of Atiku as the presidential candidate of the PDP is a reward for his continuous struggle for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria and his consistent stand on internal democracy.

The leadership of PDP deserves commendation and the conduct of the delegates deserves special appreciation for making Nigerians proud. Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and the electoral committee have again proved to the world that Nigerians are capable of conducting free and fair election. The delegates in their conduct and choice have equally assisted in the affirmation of the ability of Nigerians to make a peaceful choice in any electoral contest. The PDP 2018 Presidential Primaries is a lesson for the Independent Electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC) and an encouragement for the Nigerian electorates.

While the choice of Atiku Abubakar is a reward for his contributions to the internalisation of internal democracy in political parties and the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria, it is equally a challenge to him and a high expectation that his election would guarantee internal democracy and sustainable democracy in Nigeria.

Human nature and societies are usually confronted with different problems. Nigeria expectedly has its numerous socio-economic and political problems, but the basic problems of Nigeria can be solved, all that is required as a foundation to tackle the numerous problems of Nigeria is good leadership. The choice of Atiku as the PDP presidential candidate is the recognition of the requirement of good leadership as a foundation to address the numerous socio-economic and political problems of Nigeria.

Atiku Abubakar has credentials that objectively classify him as a social democrat. His strong political association and loyalty to the political philosophy of late Shehu Yar’Adua testifies to his sincerity with re-structuring and devolution of political powers. Shehu Yar’Adua’s 1976 Local Government Reforms remain a fundamental recognition of the importance of re-structuring and devolution of powers.

The leadership qualities and the political philosophy of Atiku will predictably reward the PDP internal democracy that led to his choice of PDP presidential candidate. The internal democracy of PDP and any other political party will be sustained by the focus of Atiku to consolidate democracy in Nigeria. Atiku’s re-structuring is a guarantee and it will be anchored on true democratisation of Nigeria.

Atiku’s leadership and true democracy in Nigeria is the foundational requirement to address and solve the basic and numerous socio-economic and political problems of Nigeria. Democracy is a resilient guide for sustainable development and its consequence is the Rule of Law. The Rule of Law has inherent capacity to prevent, minimise and fight corruption.

The PDP presidential primary has demonstrated internal democracy because a nation cannot be said to be democratic without the internalisation of internal democracy by political parties. It is impossible and it should not be expected that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would promote democracy in Nigeria. A political party that cannot conduct free and fair party congresses and primaries has no capacity or willingness to promote democracy in the country.

PDP’s choice of Atiku is a choice of internal democracy and the choice of democracy in Nigeria. It demonstrates the eagerness of Nigerians to choose democracy in 2019 presidential and other elections. I believe Atiku will pursue the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria and this will be a solid path to sustainable development and the rule of law. All modern nations situate their policies to solve problems and pursue development on democracy and the rule of law. This is what the choice of Atiku by the PDP represents.

Conclusively, I believe INEC and the security agencies in Nigeria have many lessons to learn from the 2018 PDP presidential primaries. I also believe INEC can conduct free and fair elections if devoid of partisanship. The leadership should show to Nigerians that they are as competent (if not more competent) as the governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa-led electoral team. Also, the security agencies must demonstrate professionalism and provide security for Nigerians to peacefully elect the president of their choice come 2019.

Osifo writes from Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Igbinedion University, Okada.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/pdp-presidential-primaries-and-choice.html

YBNL (Yahoo Boy No Laptop) Boss, Olamide’s success story is not in doubt. The rapper, who grew up from the slums of Bariga area of Lagos, shot into prominence less than 10 years ago, six years precisely after honing his craft in the modest studios of his former boss, ID Cabasa (Coded Tunes).

The one, who most people didn’t give a chance to break through since the late D’agrin, gave us a new brand of rap music.

Fast forward to 2018, the Badoo master, award winning, hit making Olamide Adedeji, has built a record label to be proud of and housed the likes of Lil Kesh, Chinko Ekun, Adekunle Gold, Temmie Otwasa, DJ Enimoney and still counting.

The Shakiti Bobo crooner just signed a new street rapper called Picazo to the label. Claiming bragging rights, Olamide threw shades at other record label owners who seemed to have made their companies a slavery label for upcoming artistes.

The street rapper had a right to claim bragging rights for he has made it a policy that each artiste under his label signs a contract of two years alone after which they go and build their own label or thing. Olamide must have learned from experience and in a podcast interview years ago, he made it known that his record label was a movement and trains his artistes how to endure and thrive in the jungle of the Nigerian music space. No artistes have complained about Olamide’s high handedness or not keeping to the terms of contract, rather, they heap praises on him on account of his empowerment drive.

Other labels like Chocolate City Records, Don Jazzy’s Marvin Record, defunct EME, Capital Hill Records, Baseline Records, Kennis Record label and others operate on different models and have invested in many talent but only a few recouped their investment.

The lesson here is to work with what one has and have the interest of the artistes at heart. But most upcoming artistes in this clime hardly honour contracts – 70-30 per cent normally and rarely 60-40 per cent of the funds the artiste on contract makes for the label.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/record-labels-olamide-and-bragging.html

Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari has challenged women to take part in farming, so as to support the government’s efforts towards economic development, insisting that through agriculture their voices would be heard.

Mrs Buhari who made this known on Thursday in Abuja while launching the National Gender Action Plan for Agriculture in Nigeria (NGAP) to corroborate the International Day of the Girl Child marked on October 18, every year, said the programme will go a long way in supporting women to succeed from subsistent farming to modern agriculture business.

Mrs Buhari who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Dr. Hajo Sani, however condemned the killings of aid workers and also encourage the girl child to aspire higher in life.

She said: “As we continue to clamour for greater participation in the political sphere, I am not unaware of the marginalization in the just concluded primaries at the political parties in Nigeria. I am pained because most of them spent their hard earned money to be part of the process.

On his part, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, explained that three pillars of NGAP, which are food security; value chain upgrade and sector governance will be implemented to the fullest.

The minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mu’azu Abulkadir, promised women of sufficient farming tools.

His words: “It is to build the capacity of women farmers to transmit from subsistent to medium and large scale farming.

“It is common knowledge that women are good managers and their commitment to the upgrade of the family is noticed.

“Women contribute 65% of what we eat. We will ensure that they have access to land, improved seeds, fertilizers and loans,” he said.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/aisha-buhari-urges-women-to-embrace.html

It was jubilation galore for residents of Ovia Federal constituency as Barrister Omosede Igbinedion the member representing Ovia constituency in the Federal house of representatives commisioned projects in Okada East ward
Omosede was warmly received by her constituents amidst joy ,jubilation and fanfare.
The lawmaker inspected the construction of a 2km farm road initiated by her foundation to enable farmers easily access their farmlands in the agrarian community,This farm road is one of her numerous projects initiated and completed all around Ovia federal constituency.
Not done Hon Omosede Igbinedion visited schools where she gave out books,footwear and other academic materials,advising the kids to shun cultism and other social vices.

Hon Omosede Igbinedion also commissioned a solar panel water project in the community ,
From the looks and smiles on the faces of the constituents it was evident that Omosede has touched the lives of the people .
Responding the constitutes where happy and said they would ensure they return this laudable initiave by voting her to represent them again .
She proceeded to Ovia south west were she installed Solar streets lights under her rural electrification project.
At Igoubazuwa Omosede commissioned a solar water system and over head tanks in the community
She also empowered women and widows from the community.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/assurance2019-ovia-agog-as-pdp-rep.html

The Federal High Court, Katsina, has granted bail to the former governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema, who is standing trial on alleged N5.7 billion money laundering charge.

26 count charge bordering on money laundering amounting to N5.7 billion during his tenure.

The EFCC and the Katsina State government arraigned Shema on a 26 counts bordering on alleged money laundering of N5.7 billion SURE-P state funds.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the trial had to start afresh following the transfer of the trial judge, Justice Babagana Ashigar, who was replaced with Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari.

The charges contravene section 15 (2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same act.

When the charges were read to him again, Shema pleaded not guilty to all the 26 counts leveled against him.

The defense counsel, Mr A.T Kehinde, (SAN), moved application for his client to continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted to him.

The prosecution counsel, Mr Jibrin Okutepa, (SAN), did not object to the bail application of the defendant.

He informed the court that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act provided that an accused already granted bail could continue to enjoy the terms of the previous bail conditions.

NAN recalled that as part of the previous bail conditions, the court directed the defendant to deposit his international passport in the court registry.

Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari, therefore, granted the former governor bail on the conditions previously provided by the court and adjourned the case to Nov. 13, for trial.

NAN reports that Shema is also standing trial before Katsina State High Court for alleged diversion of about N11 billion state funds during his tenure.

The EFCC had tendered in evidence, some documents against Shema, and three others which the defense counsel objected to.

The other people involved in the trial are the former commissioner for local government affairs, Sani Makana, the former permanent secretary in the ministry, Lawal Rufai and the ex-ALGON Chairman, Lawal Dankaba.

The court fixed Nov. 12, for ruling on the admissibility or otherwise of the documents. (NAN)

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/alleged-n57bn-fraud-court-grants-ex-gov.html

A 180-member caucus of former National Assembly lawmakers from the South East region has insisted that the former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, was the best choice as the running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

A former member of the House of Representatives and spokesman of the caucus State, Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, made the ex-lawmakers’ position known when he briefed newsmen in Abuja, on Tuesday.

He also lauded the former Vice President’s foresight in choosing Obi as his running mate.

The 180-member caucus noted with dismay the “needless and unhealthy controversies so far generated by Obi’s nomination,” which “must be nipped in the bud to stop further embarrassment.”

It, however, added that the greatest challenge facing Nigeria remains “the removal of the current retrogressive All Progressives Congress (APC) led government and the enthronement of an inclusive government committed to good governance, federal character and restructuring, which Atiku/Obi ticket represents.”

“We commend the vision and foresight of Atiku Abubakar in choosing former Anambra Governor, Peter Obi as his running mate in the 2019 presidential election.

“Our son, Peter Obi, is a befitting and worthy partner of the ticket because of his track record of performance, financial discipline and prudent management of resources.

“The entire Igbo nation at home and in the Diaspora are excited and have resolved to support and vote for Atiku/Obi massively in the 2019 polls.

“We call on Nigerians and the international community to give their support to Atiku/Obi ticket for the great prospect for Nigeria, Africa and the world.

“We therefore, plead with our brothers and sisters who may have reacted negatively to the choice of Obi to sheathe their swords and throw their weights behind the ticket in the herculean task of removing this clueless APC led government,” the caucus noted

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/atiku-180-former-lawmakers-take.html

A U.S. judge on Monday dismissed adult film actress Stormy Daniels’s defamation lawsuit against President Donald Trump.

She was also ordered to pay his attorney’s fees, saying a tweet the president had written referring to her was protected by free-speech laws.

U.S. District Judge S. James Otero issued the order Monday in Los Angeles,Mailonline reports.

Daniels alleges she had an affair with Trump in 2006 and sued him in April.

The lawsuit came after Trump tweeted about a composite sketch of a man Daniels says threatened her in 2011 to keep quiet about an alleged affair.

He called it a ‘total con job.’

In dismissing the suit, the judge said Trump’s tweet was a ‘hyperbolic statement’ against a political adversary.

Daniels, who has also sued over a $130,000 hush money agreement over the alleged encounter, sued over the tweet, claiming it made her appear to be a liar.

Attorneys for Trump have sought to dismiss both lawsuits.

‘The Court agrees with Mr. Trump’s argument because the tweet in question constitutes “rhetorical hyperbole” normally associated with politics and public discourse in the United States,’ Otero wrote.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/trump-wins-as-stormy-daniels-defamation.html

The presidential candidate of the Mass Action Joint Alliance party, MAJA, Prof. Mercy Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, has told the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to step down for her.

According to her, since MAJA party and the PDP were members of the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, it was needful for the emergence of a candidate for the coalition.

Adesanya-Davies said this when she received some Nigerian students who paid her a courtesy call on the sidelines of World Student’s Day.

The MAJA presidential candidate said the former Vice President Atiku should step down for her on account of Atiku’s age and also because she is a woman.

She added that the odd favoured young candidates for the 2019 general elections.

“Since men have failed Nigeria, they should give women a chance to emerge as the nation’s next president and return the country back to the path of progress,” she said.

“The main topic of their discussion was on the prospect of her emergence on the CUPP platform, as she hopes to be the next president of Nigeria in 2019, having received the National Association of Nigerian Students’ NANS Outstanding Leadership in 2018 as well as the students’ endorsement.

“I will, in fact, seize this opportunity to appeal to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to kindly step down for me at the CUPP as President Buhari of APC steps aside, because this time indeed is a-woman-youth-academician ticket and a tip to the Middle-belt Christian Nigeria currently bearing all the brunt of killings in the North.

“And that is where I come in,” she said.

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

Former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, on Sunday said he cannot be on the travel ban list because he has been discharged and acquitted by a Sokoto State High Court on the case in which he was involved.

“In respect of the case listed against me in the Executive Order 6, I have been discharged and acquitted since July 31st 2018 by a court.

“I stood trial for almost 10 years. I was not found wanting by the court.

“I also need to put on record that my accounts have not been frozen by any of the anti-graft agencies.

“None of my properties has been confiscated till date. I have tried to live above board in public service and in my private life,” he told The Nation.

Thirteen former governors and seven ex-ministers have been barred from travelling out of the country, under Executive Order 6 (EO6) issued by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The restriction followed the judicial affirmation of the constitutionality and legality of the Executive Order 6 (EO6).

The watchlist and restriction were put in place pending the conclusion of corruption cases against those affected.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/travel-ban-bafarawa-reveals-why-he.html

South-East Governors on Saturday expressed shock over Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s choice of Peter Obi as his running mate for the 2019 presidential election.

DAILY POST reports that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the zone took same stand.

Their position was made known by the Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum and governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi.

He, however, said that the Presidential candidate of the Party, Atiku will meet with South East leaders over the choice of his running mate.

He announced this in Enugu while addressing journalists after emergency meeting of the PDP stakeholders in the South East.

According to him, the meeting was to brainstorm on the various news making the rounds in the social media concerning purported choice of the former governor of Anambra state as Atiku’s running mate.

He said both PDP governors in the zone and indeed other stakeholders were shocked over the news of a vice presidential slot given to Ndigbo whereas no former notice to that effect was given.

Umahi revealed that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar sent in message during their meeting informing them that he was out of the country on a short period and pleaded with them to remain calm that he will be coming down to the zone to dialogue with leaders.

“We saw news flying up and down saying that our presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has picked a running mate from the zone.

“We were shocked because we were not consulted. While we were meeting, Atiku sent message that he travelled out of the country for a short period. He promised to come down and meet with South East leaders,” he said.

Similarly, the vice chairman of the PDP, in the South East zone, Augustine Umahi, echoed what the Ebonyi governor said, stressing that leaders of the party in the zone saw the news of Obi’s nomination as running mate in the social media.

“Our leaders are saying that we are not yet aware that such a thing (Obi’s appointment) happened.

“We have gotten in touch him (Atiku), he is traveling tonight and he promised that when comes back we shall meet in that.

“Peter Obi is our son, and from South East, we are not rejecting or accepting him but we are saying is that we are not aware, you cannot shave a man in his absence,” he said.

The meeting was attended by Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Okezie Ikpeazu and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, others were members of the National Assembly from the zone and other major stakeholders.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-we-were-shocked-on-atikus-choice.html

Atiku’s wife speaks on general 2019 elections (WATCH VIDEO) https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/atikus-wife-speaks-on-general-2019.html

Titi Abubakar, wife of Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday urged women to vote for credible leaders in the 2019 general elections.

Abubakar said this while speaking at the 2018 Diocesan Women Conference of the Church of Nigeria ( Anglican Communion) in Abuja.

She advised them to participate actively in the forthcoming elections and also contest for leadership positions.

Titi said, “Through this, we shall raise a generation of conscientious leaders who will have the fear of God in them to do all the needful to develop our dear nation.

“We as women must rise up to the task of reshaping our country by providing our intuitive ideas to support the developmental ideals of Nigeria.”

She further challenged them to endeavour to raise good children, capable of taking leadership positions in the future.

“We must endeavour to raise good children and of course inspire them to do the same to their children.

“Through this, we shall raise a generation of conscientious leaders who will have the fear of God in them to do all the needful to develop our dear Nation. Trust me my dear women, there is hope!”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/atikus-wife-speaks-on-general-2019.html

Titi Abubakar, wife of Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday urged women to vote for credible leaders in the 2019 general elections.

Abubakar said this while speaking at the 2018 Diocesan Women Conference of the Church of Nigeria ( Anglican Communion) in Abuja.

She advised them to participate actively in the forthcoming elections and also contest for leadership positions.

Titi said, “Through this, we shall raise a generation of conscientious leaders who will have the fear of God in them to do all the needful to develop our dear nation.

“We as women must rise up to the task of reshaping our country by providing our intuitive ideas to support the developmental ideals of Nigeria.”

She further challenged them to endeavour to raise good children, capable of taking leadership positions in the future.

“We must endeavour to raise good children and of course inspire them to do the same to their children.

“Through this, we shall raise a generation of conscientious leaders who will have the fear of God in them to do all the needful to develop our dear Nation. Trust me my dear women, there is hope!”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/atikus-wife-speaks-on-general-2019.html

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Anambra State chapter, has described the choice of ex-Governor Peter Obi as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, as a great honour to one of its founding fathers, late Dr. Alex Ekwueme.

Chairman of PDP in Anambra State, Ndubuisi Nwobu, said this while reacting to the announcement of Obi as Atiku’s running mate, in an interview with the NAN in Awka on Friday.

Nwobu hailed the nomination as a “round peg in a round hole”.

“It is a welcome development, the choice of Obi is that of a round peg in a round hole, a governor he set Anambra on a pedestal for economic growth and left huge dune of money for future generation.

“During the campaigns, we told the aspirants that they should consider Anambra strongly for the slot of Vice President as a sign of appreciation to Late Dr Ekwueme who for his great work as a founding father of PDP.

“For the chapter here in Anambra, we are happy that Obi was picked and we are fully of confidence that the Atiku/Obi ticket is the magic wand Nigeria needs in all sectors especially economy,” he said.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-pdp-reacts-to-atiku-choosing-peter.html

No fewer than 30 presidential candidates for the 2019 general election have emerged.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already scheduled the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, 16th February.

The Governorship and State Assembly/Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council elections have been scheduled for Saturday, 2nd March 2019.

Below is a list of candidates that will run for the office of the president.

President Muhammadu Buhari – All Progressives Congress, APC

Atiku Abubakar – Peoples Democratic Party, PDP

Donald Duke – Social Democratic Party, SDP

Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim – Alliance for New Nigeria, ANN

Omoyele Sowore – African Action Congress, AAC

Oby Ezekwesili – Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN

Obadiah Mailafia – African Democratic Congress, ADC

Kingsley Moghalu – Young Progressive Party, YPP

Chris Okotie – Fresh Democratic Party, FDP

Hamza Al-Mustapha – Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN

Habib Mohammed Gajo – Young Democratic Party, YDP

Olusegun Mimiko – Zenith Labour Party, ZLP

John Gbor – All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA

Davidson Isibor Akhimien – Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria, GDPN

Ali Soyode – Yes Electorate Solidarity, YES Party

Ike Keke – New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP

Sunday Chukwu-Eguzolugo – Justice Must Prevail Party, JMPP

Eunice Atuejide – National Interest Party, NIP

Hamisu Santuraki – Mega Party of Nigeria, MPN

Edozie Madu – Independent Democrat Party, IDP

Peter Nwangwu – We the People of Nigeria Party, WPNP

Ahmed Bee Buhari – Sustainable National Party, SNP

Tope Fasua – Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party, ANRP

Ade Fagbenro Bryon – Kowa Party

Moses Shipi – All Blending Party, ABP

Yahaya Ndu – African Renaissance Party, ARP

Chuks Nwachukwu – All Grassroots Alliance. AGA

Habu Aminchi – Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM

Yabagi Yusuf Sani – Action Democratic Party, ADP

Babatunde Ademola – Nigeria Community Movement Party, NCMP

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-election-full-list-of-presidential.html

A former Deputy Governor of Plateau State and Senatorial aspirant for Plateau South in the recently concluded primaries of the All Progressives Congress, Dame Pauline Tallen, has once again called on the National Secretariat of the party to cancel the senatorial primary in the zone, describing the exercise as “charade.”

It would be recalled that the immediate past Deputy Governor of the State, Ignatius Longjan won the primary election.

DAILY POST reports that the senatorial primaries of the APC in Plateau South senatorial district turned violent last Thursday as Mrs. Tallen was whisked away by her security details.

Tallen, who spoke through her Media Aide, Shabul Mazadu, in Jos, the Plateau State capital, said the process was marred by irregularities and thus would not accept the outcome.

She said, “In consonance with the laid down guidelines as spelt by the party, primaries for the senatorial ticket was expected to hold on 2nd October, 2018.

“As a loyal Party member and having consulted widely, I picked the form to contest for the APC Plateau South Senatorial District ticket.

“It is saddening, however, that contrary to the procedure spelt out by the National Secretariat, the case of Plateau South was a far cry from the expected as the primaries purported to have been held was masterminded by violent intimidation of delegates and selective participation”, she decried.

“In total contrast to our party mantra of peaceful conduct, equitable participation and uniting members, the following antidemocratic events which played out cut a negative impression of the APC in Plateau State.

“The committee members instead of commencing elections after much delay went to consult with the Governor for over three hours just to perfect the rigging plans.

“Accreditation of voters was carried out in an improper manner as the delegates list was doctored discriminatory skewed to favour a particular candidate. The process was not in any way transparent”, she lamented.

The former Deputy Governor further explained that, “Delegates were openly threatened to be killed if they do not vote for the candidate of the Governor’s choice. Those that kicked against it were beaten and subsequently hospitalised due to severe injuries.

According to her, “Elections were delayed for two days just to frustrate other candidates while arm-twisting of other opponents persisted.”

She also decried the level of monetary inducement exhibited during the aforementioned exercise.

“Inducement with cash by Government officials, who were seen openly distributing huge amounts of money to delegates. Delegates that refused to be coerced were beaten and tear-gassed.

“On the whole, the entire process was fraught with violence, intimidation, police brutality mixes with thuggery and above all delegates loyal to other candidates were barred from the venue. Thus the process was neither free and fair nor was it credible.”

Tallen, however, added that, “In the light of the incontrovertible fact that the election was a charade and does not reflect what the APC stands for, to the extent of the incongruence of the process with our party constitution and laid down rules.

“The said primaries should be cancelled and the result declared null and void while the National Secretariat emplace remedial measures to ensure we produce a candidate following the appropriate due process.

The former Deputy Governor urged all her supporters to remain law-abiding and not to take laws into their hands.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/plateau-south-pauline-tallen-cries-out.html

The General Overseer of the Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, has arrived the residence of former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.

Oyedepo’s visit comes while Obasanjo is in a meeting with his former Vice, Atiku Abubakar.

But it is not certain if both visits are connected.

DAILY POST reports that the meeting is being held at the residence of the ex-president within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta.

Atiku arrived his former boss’ premises at about 1:05pm.

The former VP was accompanied by his campaign Director-General and former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, and Senator Murray Ben-Bruce, among others.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/breaking-bishop-oyedepo-arrives.html

Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu yesterday joined other well-meaning Nigerians to mourn the sudden passing away of erstwhile Nigerian Ambassador to Greece and Australia, Prof. Oludare Agbi.

Agbi who died at a private hospital after he slumped at his home had lost the battle to a “kidney problem” and was 73 years old.

A family source told LEADERSHIP that the Asiwaju of Akure Kingdom had been on routine medical check up due to his deteriorating health before his sudden death.

“Baba gave up the ghost at the family private hospital where he was rushed to for treatment”, one of the family sources said.

Prof. Agbi was the chairman of the Elders Council of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State until death.

It was gathered that the late PDP chieftain was one of the delegates that attended the party’s National Convention held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State last Saturday.

Agbi who became the Asiwaju of Akure Kingdom in 2016 was the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) under the former Governor Bamidele Olumilua administration.

He was born on May 2, 1945, to the family of Joseph and Elizabeth Agbi in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Akeredolu described late Agbi, a Professor of Diplomatic History “as a disciplined and intelligent scholar who rose to the pinnacle of his academic career at a young age”.

“As a university teacher, the late Olu Agbi nurtured, trained and positively impacted the lives of many people who have become great leaders in their respective careers.

“As a diplomat and politician, the late Agbi’s arguments contributed robustly to discussions and issues that projected and promoted Nigeria’s image in international community”.

The governor in a statement issued by his chief press secretary, Segun Ajiboye, said that the death of the late Asiwaju of Akure was shocking to people of Ondo State and entire country.

He sympathised with the immediate family and friends of the deceased adding that the deceased would be missed by many people.

Also the former governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has paid a condolence visit to the family of the deceased.

Dr. Mimiko who was, in company of his wife, Olukemi, at the Alagbaka residence of the elder statesman described his death as “shocking”.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/akeredolu-mimiko-pdp-mourn-ex-nigerian.html

Delegations of National Association of Nigerian Traders in Ghana (NANTS) and Nigerian Union of Traders Association, Ghana (NUTAG) on Tuesday stormed Abuja, the nation’s capital to protest against continuous locking of over 400 Nigerian shops in Ghana by the Ghanaian authority.

A protest petition which was addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari was received by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora in Abuja.

Presenting the petition, Barrister Ken Ukaoha, NANTS President-General, lamented that the discrimination against Nigerian traders in Ghana dated back to 2007 when they were subjected to paying exorbitant taxes geared towards ruining their businesses.

According to him, the Ghanaian authorities passed a law which compels all foreigners to have a minimum of $300,000 USD in 2007 and later increased it to $1 million USD in 2018 as minimum capital to start a business in Ghana.

He opined that Nigerian traders were specifically targeted as over 400 shops belonging to Nigerians were locked up since July 27, 2018 till date despite their various appeals to the appropriate authorities.

Ukaoha said under ECOWAS protocol which Ghana was a signatory, Nigerians should not be branded as foreigners but a community citizen as long as they are carrying ECOWAS passport.

Regrettably, he said a Nigerian, Mrs Stella Upaleke, had committed suicide, because of the huge bank debts the closure had caused her and still in the mortuary in Ghana.

He said despite the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari who took up the matter with his Ghanaian counterpart, President Nana Akufo-Addo on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York, with a promise that the shops will be re-opened, they have remained shut down.

“The diplomatic relations between the two countries is being threatened with this Ghana behaviour as they are playing politics with means of livelihood of Nigerians in Ghana.

“We have over two million Ghanaians in Nigeria and Nigeria has been treating them well. We had petitioned the National Assembly and ECOWAS on this matter as law abiding citizen who didn’t want to take laws into our hands’’, he said.

Corroborating, Chief Emeka Nnaji, President of NUTAG said that Nigerian goods worth billions of dollars are being locked up with sizeable number of it as perishable.

“We are living in palpable fear in Ghana as they are after our lives. We were beaten and tortured in Ashante region while incredible taxes are imposed on us in order to cripple our businesses’’, he lamented.

Dabiri-Erewa while responding on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari commended them for the mature way the matter was handled and assured them of delivering the petition to the President.

Dabiri-Erewa in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Wednesday by her Media Assistant, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, while responding, said she was worried that despite the assurance of President Nana Akufo Addo of Ghana to President Muhammadu Buhari that the shops will be re-opened, and despite an instruction to reopen the shops on Sept 27, the shops still remain closed.

She said, “Let me advise you to continue to be good ambassadors of Nigeria despite provocation. Don’t even think about retaliation as Ghanaians are our brothers”.

The Presidential aide, who commiserated with the family of the deceased Nigerian trader who committed suicide, led others to observe a minute of silence in honour of the deceased.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/nigerians-petition-buhari-over-locked.html

Gov. Ibikunle Amosun on Tuesday visited the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he met behind closed door with President Muhammadu Buhari for about two hours.

Amosun had on Thursday met separately with President Buhari and Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo over political happenings that trailed the conduct of the All Progressives Congress primaries in Ogun.

The APC National Working Committee panel sent to Ogun State for the conduct of the governorship primary had on Wednesday night declared Prince Dapo Abiodun as the party’s governorship candidate in the 2019 general elections.

The declaration came some hours after the state chapter of the APC declared Amosun’s preferred candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, as the governorship candidate of the party.

The governor had at the weekend accused some political interest group of ‘misinforming’ President Buhari about the political situation in Ogun.

Amosun, who made the accusation on a national television during the live coverage of the APC senatorial primary in the state, vowed that Akinlade, would emerge victorious at the end of the political dispute.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/buhari-amosun-in-another-closed-door_9.html

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to ever contemplate bending the rules to smuggle in candidates from the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The party said whereas legally, all congresses and related processes for election of candidates for various offices for the 2019 general elections ended yesterday (Sunday, October 7, 2018), the Zamfara state chapter of the APC has not conducted any congress, and by the provision of the law, it has no candidates in all the elections.

The PDP national spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the party is aware of a clandestine meeting “today between topmost officials of INEC and Zamfara state government, where INEC was instructed to manipulate the system and bend the rules to accommodate the APC.” The PDP cautioned the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, “over this attempt to manipulate the processes and use underhand measures to liberate the APC from the cul de sac it plunged itself into in Zamfara State.

“We insist that the laws guiding our elections must be upheld, as the PDP will never accept anything short of that. “Finally, the PDP wants the APC and INEC to know that our party is at alert regarding all electoral processes, in line with our avowed determination to dismantle APC’s rigging machinery in the 2019 general elections” , the party noted.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/pdp-cautions-inec-over-moves-to-bend.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has advised those who lost out in the primary elections to emulate Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode, who despite failing to secure a second term bid, did not abandon the party.

The President, however, congratulated those who emerged successful in the primaries across the country, urging losers to demonstrate sportsmanship by accepting the outcomes without bitterness or resentment.

“Nigerian politicians must learn from several aspirants like Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State “who despite his loss didn’t abandon APC for another party because he was angry over the outcome of the gubernatorial primaries,” he said in a statement made available by Garba Shehu, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity.

Commenting further, he said, “In every competition, someone has to win and someone has to lose, but those who lost should not abandon the party or lose their enthusiasm for the advancement of the party.

“The larger interest of our party is greater than our individual ambitions, and we should, therefore, work together for its success, despite our losses”.

According to President Buhari, “in politics, we shouldn’t lose hope permanently because tomorrow could present another opportunity for us to contest again and win.”

He advised the losers of the primaries “to always put the party first because we are in it together to serve the country, and I am always proud of our members who demonstrate sportsmanship and a good party spirit.”

Buhari also enjoined the winners “to show grace in victory instead of mocking the losers, as such action is capable of destroying party unity and cohesion. The tent is large enough for us.”

He added that “those elected should see their positions as a public trust instead of abusing their mandates to amass personal wealth at the expense of the ordinary voters who voted them into power.’’

Recall that the just concluded primaries of the party appeared to have further polarised the members, with å good number of them accusing the party’s leadership of wielding the big stick against some loyal members of the party.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/apc-primaries-emulate-ambode-buhari.html

GOMBE State captured national attention in 2015 when it defied the Buhari Tsunami to retain the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governor, Dr. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, for second term in office.

Few years into his second term, a lot of people, including politicians and friends of the state began to show interest in who succeeds Dr. Ibrahim Dankwambo. Last year, Governor Dankwambo told The Guardian that he had no preferred candidate for the position of governor, stressing that he was confident that Gombe people would choose a governor that would carry on with the multifaceted developmental challenges facing the state. It was perhaps based on those avowals that many Gombe people decided to join in the search for credible, competent and capable indigenes that could steer the ship of the state on the path of unity, social harmony and economic prosperity.

The challenge of finding a fitting successor to Dankwambo, it must note, was equally taken up by the two major political parties in the state, namely, the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC). However, the challenge seemed to be more acute for PDP, which is the party in power in the state.

Although some PDP stakeholders believed that the governor was sincere with the issue of his succession plan, others saw his decision not to interfere with the selection of the next governor as a calculated attempt to divert attention. Even within the APC, some stakeholders kept on pestering the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Danjuma Goje, with questions about who he has in mind to support for the governorship of the state. Like Dankwambo, Senator Goje declared that he had no preferred candidate, stressing that he would not only support whoever emerges the governorship candidate of APC, but also work together with the candidate to win the election and continue the development of Gombe State.

It should be noted that the APC gubernatorial candidate in the 2015 election for Gombe State, Alhaji Inuwa Yahya, would have won the election then if not for the internal crisis that hit the party immediately after the primaries as those who lost to Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya worked against him during the main election.

However, as the buildup to the 2019 general election continued, some well-meaning Gombe citizens from different walks of life, including academic, civil service, captains of industry, farmers, students and politicians discovered the visionary Managing Director of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna, as the fit and proper person to step into Dankwambo’s shoes as governor.

After much discussions and explanations, Dr. Jamil Gwamna succumbed to the pleas of Gombe people and accepted to run for governor. Like a harmattan haze, the name JIG caught up with the entire populace in Gombe State and it was taken for granted that PDP would retain the state through the next gubernatorial election. Hence, during the recent PDP governorship primary election, something happened. While the majority of PDP members were waiting to affirm their choice of Dr. Jamil Isyaku Gwamna, there was a twist in the political orientation of the party, which had endured in the past seven years.

Unknown to the PDP delegates, the Senator representing Gombe North, Bayero Nafada, had enlisted the services of political thugs to disrupt the peaceful and convivial atmosphere that pervaded the Government House venue of the primary. Surprisingly, the outgoing governor, who is also associated with campaigns to be president, was present at the show of shame. Yet, despite the disruption of the night before, PDP delegates and stakeholders reconvened the next day to take part in the primary although psychological trauma of the violence had frightened many of the delegates.

Unknown to the party faithful, the orchestrated violence was just a ploy to manipulate the primary and disenfranchise most authentic delegates. It was therefore not surprising that at the end of the charade, the organizers who were later discovered to be working in cahoots with Senator Nafada released a result tainted by fraud. While they allocated 1, 104 votes to Nafada, the enemies of democracy grudgingly ascribed 147 votes to Dr. Jamil Gwamna, to give the impression that a contest took place.

It was surprising that the complaints and entreaties of well-meaning party men and women to have the fraudulent exercise reviewed, those who had contracted with Nafada to deny the people the free choice of an acceptable governorship candidate stuck to their guns. IT is obvious that PDP has shot itself on the foot. It cannot make further progress in Gombe State. The popular candidate, Dr. Jamil Isyaku Gwamna has responded to the lack of fairness by moving to the APC alongside his legions of supporters. What this means is that the thin balance of power between PDP and APC has been skewed in favour of APC and that would without doubt culminate in the stunning defeat of PDP in next year’s governorship election.

Gombe State APC has become very indomitable, because the combination of Dr. Jamil Isyaku Gwamna(Sardaunan Gombe) and Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya is a winning formula that no force can match. Sardaunan Gombe has carried his charisma, popularity and vision to APC thereby leaving PDP as a shadow of the bourgeoning stature it displayed with Gwamna’s acceptance to run for governor.

Speaking while announcing his decision to quit PDP, JIG regretted that rather than deepen democracy and good governance, the PDP administration has squandered much public goodwill, and advanced the cause of corruption and abuse of public trust. He explained that he did not aspire to be governor of Gombe State for his personal interest, stressing, “I contested because you the people of Gombe state asked me to.

Our expectations cannot no longer be guarantee under PDP.” Now it is clear that Dr. Jamil Gwamna has gravitated towards a proper political circle, because of his integrity quotient and anti-corruption stance. There is every possibility that due to this fortuitous political circumstance in Gombe, the state would begin the reap benefit of purposeful leadership as Dr. Gwamna gets ready to offer invaluable suggestions and ideas to deliver on good governance. This is part of what PDP has lost in Gombe State. As Gwamna correctly pointed out, President Muhammadu Buhari has done well for this country and for the state to belong to the President’s party means that deployment of social amenities and projects would be easier.

With his crowd pulling abilities, Dr. Jamil Gwamna has defeated PDP and given victory to APC in Gombe State before even the elections are held.

–Auwal is a public analyst from Gombe

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/as-gwamna-tilts-gombe-towards-apc.html

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck near the northernmost tip of Haiti late on Saturday, injuring a number of people and causing some damage to buildings including an auditorium that collapsed, authorities and media reported.

The quake struck about 12.3 miles (20 kms), west-northwest of the port of Port-de-Paix, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said. Local media reported at least one death.

The quake was one of the strongest to hit Haiti since a 7.0 magnitude quake struck near the capital Port-au-Prince in 2010, killing thousands of people in the impoverished Caribbean country.

In a post on Twitter, Haiti’s President Jovenel Moise urged people to remain calm after the civil protection agency said the quake caused injuries and panic in northern towns.

Le Nouvelliste newspaper said one person died when an auditorium collapsed in the town of Gros Morne, and that detainees were released from a police holding cell that was damaged. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report.

The tremor damaged the facade of a church in the town of Plaisance and a house next door collapsed, Frantz Duval, a journalist with Le Nouvelliste, said on Twitter.

Initial reports on social media said Saturday’s quake was felt in Port-au-Prince but had not caused major damage there. (Washington Post)

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/earthquake-hits-haiti-causes-injuries.html

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum has advised delegate who will elect the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the party’s National Convention on who to vote for.

The leaders called on the delegates to choose a flagbearer who will embark on restructuring the country if elected as President.

The leaders and elders further urged the PDP delegates to vote for a candidate who has the interest of the country at heart.

This was contained in a statement by Chief E.K Clark (South-south), Chief Ayo Adebanjo (South West), Chief John Nwodo (South East) and Dr Bitrus Pogu (Middle Belt).

All is set in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital for Nigeria’s main opposition party to choose who will bear its flag and challenge President Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential election.

The leaders urged the delegates to put Nigeria first in their consideration.

The statement said, “As the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) delegates converge on PortHarcourt to pick their flag-bearer for the 2019 Presidential election, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders want them to know the onerous responsibility before them at this crucial stage in the history of our country.

“Nigeria today lies prostrate in the intensive care unit of afflicted countries as it careers dangerously to the edge of the precipice. Most indices of measuring growth and development are in the negative for us just as our polity remains divided more than at any other time in our history because of the activities of a dispersing leadership at a time we need a unifier.

“The problem of a leadership not suited for a plural society like Nigeria is further accentuated by the crises of the anti-progress and development unitary structure that has put the country at a precarious situation and turned us a worry to the world as we could see the global community running up and down over election in only Osun State recently.

“It is also quite dispiriting that there are so many theatres of conflict in our country today with their attendant needless loss of lives with no leader with the required will to use the law to protect citizens from the activities of those unleashing terror on fellow citizens.

“It is against this backdrop that we appeal to delegates to ensure that the candidate who will emerge from their convention is one that will fully understand what the job of a leader is when a country is in the type of crisis Nigeria is enmeshed in at the moment.

“Nigeria needs urgently a leader who knows that the first urgent business that confronts Nigeria from May next year is to restructure the country in order to return it to the practice of Federalism so every corner of Nigeria can become productive and the various nationalities can live in peace and harmony in a conducive atmosphere productivity will provide.

“We like the delegates to know that people from our constituencies will only vote for a candidate who genuinely believes in restructuring and not anyone just using it for political campaign. Our Forum interfaced with most of these aspirants over three weeks and identified those who fully understand what restructuring means and who are committed to it.

“We must also emphasize that we will support a Presidential candidate who will move away from the template of running our country for sectional gambit at the expense of others as inclusive governance must be the watchword of the next leader of our country “Such a visionary should kick-start the rebuilding of our fallen walls and bring healing to the land by summoning ALL to the table of brotherhood and give a sense of belonging to the constituent units of the country with devolution of powers to the constituent units a priority so all sections of Nigeria can develop at their pace with the strong pulling up the weak and not disabling everyone to be at the level of the weak.

“The delegates should put Nigeria first in their consideration and realize that restructuring will benefit every section of Nigeria as it will bring out the best from all corners.

“They should know that it is this commonality that has made us to forge a common front with the Northern Elders Forum under the aegis of Nigerian Leaders and Elders Forum and we are all on the same page on the need to restructure Nigeria.

“Nigeria urgently cries for a leader with capacity and who can function effectively both locally and internationally with a sound understanding of the world around us.

“This is the urgent task that confronts the delegates as we remind them not to see their task as just playing the conventional politics. “We have put this task on the table of the opposition because the government in power has over the last three years oscillated between dismissing the call for restructuring and the smokescreen of the El-Rufai panel on restructuring whose report is now in the archives where the President promised to dump the 2014 National Conference Report handed over to him.

To expect it to restructure Nigeria is akin to expect a marble statue to shed tears. “Our present is precarious and future so uncertain if we should continue on the ruinous path we are in now . This is the imperative of providing an alternative that can inspire the land and restore hope on the horizon. “We pray for God’s guidance at this critical juncture so our country can be saved and Nigeria can step forward to fulfil its manifest destiny in the comity of nations once again.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/pdp-convention-south-middle-belt.html

Frontline governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Akwa Ibom State, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, has denied media reports making the rounds that he has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Senator Akpanudoedehe also waved aside reports that he had accepted offers to work for the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel.

He said the rumours were malicious and aimed at discrediting his integrity as an ardent believer in President Muhammadu Buhari and as a founding member of the APC in Akwa Ibom State.

The Senator, in a terse statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ata Etuk, and made available to DAILY POST, said the campaign of calumny against him was being peddled to obscure the pertinence of his protest against the sham Governorship Primary in the State.

The statement reads, “There are rumors making the rounds to the effect that Distinguished Senator John James Akpanudoedehe has defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC); and/or has been offered a political appointment in another political Party.

“This notice is to dissuade the general public from believing this tissue of lies, or any other publications issued within the same context, with the intent to insult the sensibilities of the general public by deliberately misleading them.

“Senator Akpanudoedehe remains a loyal member of the APC; and Member of its Board of Trustees.

“Senator Akpanudoedehe has currently submitted the relevant petitions against the conduct of the Party Primaries, and is following every due process prescribed for the registration of discontent.

“It should be noted that the people behind the fabrications against Senator Akpanudoedehe are the same people who have always told lies, and spread falsehoods about him, with the motive of shredding his support base; and impugning his reputation and credibility.

“The representations of these dishonest and disreputable characters should therefore be dismissed without a second thought, as these people subsist on Lies, Blackmail, and Deceit, for a means of livelihood.

“Senator Akpanudoedehe remains firm and certain of Justice prevailing in the end, and urges all his loyal supporters to remain steadfast and trust in the God of Justice.

“By this, it becomes crystal-clear that those behind the false and malicious rumors are the same people who have always spun lies against Senator Akpanudoedehe to tarnish his reputation for cheap political gains.

“These same people, it should be noted, never supported President Buhari at any point in time before 2015, but yet benefitted immensely from his magnanimity.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-senator-akpanudoedehe-speaks-on.html

Last week Sunday, both APC and PDP in Niger State conducted their governorship primaries, which produced candidates for the 2019 election. ABU NMODU writes on the implications. Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello has again been endorsed by his party men and women as members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state last Sunday affirmed him as the candidate of the party for the next year’s governorship election. They all came out enmasse to affirm him as the party’s flag bearer for 2019 gubernatorial election in the state as he was the only aspirant of the party. 150,839 party faithful came out to affirm him as the candidate of the party . LEADERSHIP Friday observed that party members from the 274 wards of the state trooped out in large numbers as early as 8am in their ward’s designated centres to participate in the direct primary election adopted by the party in the state for the emergence of party’s candidates for all elective offices.



The governor was also at Mustapha Comprehensive School, a polling center at Kontagora central ward, Kontagora local government area of the state for the governorship primary to vote. At the end of the day, Governor Sani-Bello was officially announced by the chairman of the governorship primary in Niger state, Mr Lucky Imasuen, who is a former Deputy Governor of Edo state. He polled a total 150,839 votes to become the APC flag bearer for the 2019 election. The chairman of the committee noted that the governor was the sole aspirant of the party, a situation which made it easy for the party members to conduct themselves in orderly manner throughout the conduct of the primary election. He explained that materials were provided at each of the units as slated by the party in time and they did not encounter any challenge in the course of the process of the primary supervised by the nine –man committee.



Meanwhile on the same day, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the leading opposition party in the state, also conducted its primaries with Umar Nasko clinching the ticket of PDP with 1,972 votes out of a total 2, 809 delgates. Nasko was the flag bearer of PDP in 2015 election and with his emergence again as the flag bearer of PDP for 2019, it will be a re-match of the last governorship election in the state with all eyes on the two candidates. Nasko unlike Governor Bello emerged through indirect primary by defeating four other contestants including the former Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa who resigned and defected to PDP recently to contest the election, Hon Ahmed Musa Ibeto, who scored 516 votes; Hannafi Sudan got 157 votes, Aminu Baka got 110 votes and Umar Ahmad Dogon Koli received 24 votes with only 2 voided votes.



The implication is that the rematch of the 2015 is likely to play out with the governor being in power having more responsibilities to be judged by his stewardship unlike in 2015 that the Nasko’s PDP was the one at the receiving end based on their stewardship. But to the governor in a statement released after being confirmed as the flag bearer of his party t “It is very comforting when your people have confidence in you, when they support you, when they overwhelming endorse you. In politics this is what you need and I really appreciate the gesture. “Their action has further humbled me and I am propelled to do more in the years to come. By 2019 our administration will continue the good works we started” he exhumed confidence .



The governor then assured party faithfuls and people of the state of his resolve to be more committed to the actualization of the restoration agenda of his administration, which he said has been on course adding that a second term ticket would enable him to consolidate and take the state to greater heights. According to him “It has been tough in the years past but there are still a lot of work to be done. We may have not been able you cover all sectors, this time we are determined to cover more grounds and ensure full actualization of our set goals come 2019,” the governor assured the people of the state.



The Chairman of All Progressive Congress Niger state Eng Mohammed Jibrin Imam who lauded the effort of his party men in ensuring that the primaries were hitch free in the state so far said that with the development so far it means that the party is naturally ahead. According to him “ if the Governor scored over 150, 0000 what it means is that the Governor has an assured 150,000 votes even before the election and he is naturally ahead of his opponents with the numbers of votes”.



The party Chairman reiterated that the difference between the All Progressive congress in Niger state and other political parties is that the party structure did not stop at the ward levels but the party has structures down to the poling units. He explained that for every polling unit in Niger state the party has 10 official thereby making tit easier for the party to easily mobilize support at that level that is mostly needed . The PDP in the other hand has been unusually quiet since the outcome of the indirect primaries was announced most political observers in the state were thinking the outcome of the primaries would go the way of the former Deputy Governor and ambassador Hon Ahmed Ibeto.



The assumption is that he has a very huge political influence in the party despite the fact that he left in 2015 and came back in 2018 to contest for the tict of the party, he was said to have the support of the party’s executives in the state. Whether the support really mattered or not it obviously translated into 516 delegates vote making people wondering and took many of Ibeto’s supporters aback because most gave it to Ibeto to pick even as it was rumored that his former Boss Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu was not in his support. The translation of the outcome of the primary is that Nasko’s popularity in the party is significant even with the advantages he has with Dr Aliyu stand against Ibeto, and the jettisoning of his preferred aspirant before now, Aminu Baka because of the pressure on him to abide by the zoning arrangement in the state.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/niger-guber-primaries-and-matters.html

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has announced the Federal Government’s approval of a 90-day special window to register businesses at a reduced rate of N5,000 only.

This was contained in a statement on Tuesday signed by Laolu Akande, his spokesman.

Osinbajo, who was quoted as making the announcement at the launch of the 19th edition of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clinics in Enugu, said the special window of 90 spanned from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31.

He said that the gesture was to further ease the process of registering MSMEs in the country.

“It was observed during some of the earlier editions of the MSMEs Clinics that a lot of MSMEs were finding it difficult to register their businesses as a result of cost.

“So, I am pleased to announce that the Federal Government, through the Corporate Affairs Commission, has approved a special window of 90 days from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 to register businesses at a considerably reduced rate of N5000 only, down from as much as N10,000 previously.

“This will afford more MSMEs an opportunity to formalise their businesses,” he said.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/fg-reduces-cost-of-business-registration.html

Malam Nuhu Ribadu has indicated interest in participating in the rescheduled Adamawa APC governorship primaries election, hours after he withdrew from the race.

Alhaji Salihu Bawuro, the Director-General, Ribadu campaign organisation, made the announcement at a news conference in Yola on Monday.

The state APC governorship primary is rescheduled for Thursday.

Ribadu withdrew from the primary election on Sunday evening as the exercise was about to start, but the exercise was cancelled and rescheduled.

Bawuro said the Ribadu campaign organisation was satisfied with the decision taken by the party’s national headquarters on the cancelation and rescheduling of the governorship primaries in the state.

“Now that the national headquarters had intervened to correct the abnormalities surrounding the Sunday’s unsuccessful primaries, Malam Nuhu Ribadu will be in full contest now that it is the direct primaries,’’ Bawuro said.

He added that the organisation was well prepared to participate in the election, adding that it would do everything possible to ensure that free and fair primaries held.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/ribadu-makes-u-turn-now-to-participate.html

Flood has claimed the life of one Chief Ojike Ajanwu, a father of nine children in Umuokpalaoma kindred, Obolo village, Ogwuaniocha in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.

According to the wife of the deceased, Mrs. Chinasa Ajanwu, who is nursing a one month old baby with eight other children, they received the news while taking refuge at an IDP Center in the Community’s Primary School.

She said her husband had drowned while attempting to evacuate his harvested cassava, which were staked close to his farm.

The deceased left behind a young wife, Chinasa who hails from Ossomala and nine children, the oldest of the children is 13 years old.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/09/flood-kills-father-of-nine-in-anambra.html

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, has hailed the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, for its decision to disqualify the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, from running in the Oyo State governorship election come 2019.

The APC yesterday stopped the ambition of Shittu to participate in the race over his failure to do the compulsory National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, programme after completing his university education.

This was contained in a statement forwarded to DAILY POST by the Media and Publications Officer of the Centre, Ikenna Aghagbobi on behalf of the Executive Chairman, Mr Debo Adeniran.

CACOL said, “Recalling the controversy surrounding the Osun State PDP gubernatorial candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, over certificate and examination scandals, I think it is another victory for the anti-corruption fight coming so closely after the Kemi Adeosun certificate forgery matter in which she was forced to resign as there was no hiding place for her anymore.

“This has given the rise to a conscious society with zero tolerance for public office holders and aspirants who lack requisite statutory qualifications to hold public office.

“What should not be encouraged, under any guise, is a reign of impunity as the country steers towards consolidation of its democratic culture. The nation is currently facing a lot of challenges which require the present administration’s undivided attention and cannot afford to be bogged down by any distraction or controversy arising from the impropriety of any public official or in this case any aspirant.

“Our current situation as a nation demands that public officers serving the current government should be seen to be above board in implementing the administration’s Change agenda. Public officers and aspirants are also compulsorily required to demonstrate transparency, responsibility and accountability in steering the ship of state.

“It is in this regard that we, therefore, call on President Buhari to immediately wade into this reoccurring act of impunity displayed by Public office holders and aspirants by ensuring that defaulters are duly prosecuted and punished to serve as a deterrent to others with similar intentions. This is necessary to reinforce public confidence and send a clear signal that no criminal conduct would be tolerated by this government.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/09/2019-cacol-speaks-on-apcs-decision-to.html

The Ekiti State secretariat, including the offices of the governor and his deputy on Thursday bore the toga of a graveyard scenery as state workers complied with the national strike declared by both the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC.

DAILY POST reports that virtually all public offices in Ekiti state, including local government secretariats remained under lock and key as the action by the organized labour took effect.

Though, commercial activities went undisturbed in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, in the early hours of the day, same was not with government offices at both Local Government, state and Federal agencies were deserted.

Some federal media agencies in the state also operated on skeletal services.

A drive round town gave an indication that only top management staff such ministries and agencies were sighted while no official in the junior and middle-level management reported for duty.

However, those in the private sector, including private schools, filling stations, markets and banks opened for business for the greater part of the day.

Some of the banks later shut their doors to customers at about 1:00pm after allegedly receiving threats from labour leaders who threatened to picket them.

DAILY POST reports that the leadership of the organized labour in Ekiti State had earlier directed all the workers in the State to join the nationwide strike.

This was echoed to the state workers in the early hours of the day by both the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) state chairman, Mr. Ade Adesanmi and his Trade Union Congress(TUC) counterpart, Odunayo Adesoye.

The strike was declared by the two bodies, which was deemed to have a binding force on all their affiliates to press the Federal and State Governments to accede to their requests for a new Minimum Wage for workers across the country.

The labour leaders told our reporter that the strike action was going to affect both the public and private sectors ultimately.

According to the leaders, the directive earlier given that workers , including commercial drivers, Okada operators, banks, market men and women should stay off businesses still subsists, saying with time, all category of workers would embrace the action

The TUC boss, who spoke on behalf of the labour leaders, expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance on the first day of the nationwide strike

He assured that the strike action would be total in Ekiti, saying the body had already entered into agreement with Civil Society Organisations to ensure its success.

He said the leadership of the labour centres in Ekiti had also agreed to coalesce and ensure the success of the nationwide strike without fail.

Justifying the strike action, Adesoye insisted that the present Minimum wage to workers had impoverished the workforce, adding that time had come for workers to begin to savour the fruits of their labour through a package that could truly take them hom

He, therefore, did not rule out possibility of the organized labour picketing those places where the strike appeared ineffective on its first day.

“We expect that the banks, commercial drivers, Okada operators and sole business owners will participate in this strike. We have reached out to the Civil Society Organisations to ensure will mobilize for the strike

“We are not going to shy away from picketing areas that fail to conform with our directive as given from Abuja

“This is a fight that has to do with our collective destiny. We must ensure that our commonwealth should be evenly distributed. It shouldn’t be concentrated in the hands of a few Nigerian leaders to begin to feed fat on the nation

“What they said they are giving us is a take home, but what we are getting cannot take us half home in the real sense of it, so we must demand for a fair share of our national treasure,” he said.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/09/new-minimum-wage-ekiti-workers-abandon.html