₦airaland Forum

Barcelona will be without more than half a dozen first-team players for Wednesday’s Champions League game against PSV Eindhoven after Luis Suarez and Arthur were added to their injury list.

Suarez will be out for two weeks after aggravating a knee problem and is also set to miss the games against Villarreal, Cultural Leonesa and Espanyol.

However, the former Liverpool forward should be back for Tottenham’s Champions League visit to the Camp Nou on Dec. 12.

Midfielder Arthur will sit out the PSV game with an abdominal injury, but Barca hope he will be fit to face Villarreal on Sunday.

Suarez and Arthur join Rafinha and Sergi Roberto on the sidelines. Rafinha is likely to miss the rest of the season with a ligament problem, while Roberto is sidelined for around a month with a hamstring strain.

Jasper Cillessen, Sergi Samper and Thomas Vermaelen are also unavailable, but Philippe Coutinho and Ivan Rakitic have recovered from recent knocks and will make the trip to Eindhoven.

Coach Ernesto Valverde has had to call up a number of youngsters to fill in for the injured players. Goalkeepers Inaki Pena and Jokin Ezkieta will travel, along with Carles Alena, Riqui Puig, Juan Miranda and Chumi.

Barca have sealed their place in the Champions League round of 16 with two games to spare, and victory in Eindhoven would see them win their group.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/11/27/suarez-out-as-barca-injury-troubles-deepen/

Ahead of the upcoming National Sports Festival, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello has reaffirmed his total commitment towards the hosting of the games in the nation’s capital.

The 19th edition of the national sports festival tagged: “ABUJA 2018: “World Series Edition” is expected to see 37 sporting events which will commence from December 6th to 16th at the Abuja National Stadium.

The Minister made the pledge at the first joint meeting of the Main Organizing Committee, MOC and the Local Organizing Committee,LOC held at the Federal Capital Territory Administration office, Abuja .

Mallam Bello who was represented by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr Christian Ohaa who doubles as the LOC Chairman and MOC, Vice Chairman, re-assured the two organizing committees of the FCT’s commitment to the hosting of the festival.

“The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello has asked me to convey the assurances of the ministry’s 100% commitment to the hosting of the 19th National Sports Festival coming up here in Abuja. We are working out all the logistics and we should be looking forward to a very successful festival in less than two weeks.

“Hosts of Sports Festivals are usually selected through competitive bidding but due to paucity of funds, so many states are reluctant to bid but I am optimistic that Abuja will put up a good show and host the 19th National Sports Festival which has suffered series of postponements”.

Meanwhile, a total of 8,259 delegates from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT will be accommodated at the 5 designated games villages.

The delegates made up of athletes, coaches, team officials and state delegates will be hosted at the University of Abuja, NYSC Orientation Camp in Kubwa, Regina Pacis College , Garki, Government Science Secondary School, Maitama and Government Girls Secondary School, Dutse as the Games Villages will come alive on December 4, 2018.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/11/26/fct-minister-reaffirms-commitment-to-hosting-nsf-2018/

Arsenal coach, Unai Emery has explained why he substituted midfielder, Lucas Torreira in his side’s 2-1 victory over Bournemouth in Sunday’s Premier League fixture.

A second half goal from striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ensured victory for Emery’s side at the Vitality Stadium.

Emery said he substituted Torreira because the midfielder needed to rest after playing two games for his country during the last international break.

The Spaniard, however, praised the Uruguay international for giving the Gunners balance against the hosts.

Speaking on why he substituted Torreira, Emery was quoted by Metro UK as saying: “He was giving us good balance, but also we need to be clever with the player because he played with his national team two matches.”

Emery added: “We thought about how we can be better in the match today, with a very demanding match physically with their intensity against us and we came to that decision.

“But every player is important. Also today we tried with three centre-backs. It’s another opportunity to improve and find our best performance.

“The result is very important. We spoke in the dressing room at half-time, the process is our mentality The result is very important.”

Emery’s men will tackle Tottenham Hotspur next Sunday in the Premier League fixture.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/11/25/epl-emery-explains-why-torreira-was-substituted-in-arsenals-win-over-bournemouth/

Minister of Communications, Dr. Adebayo Shittu has claimed that Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector has attracted increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from $32 billion in 2015 to $40 billion in 2018.

He made this known during the official session of the 6th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Communication Technology (NCCT) taking place at June 12, Cultural Centre in Abeokuta with a theme “Leveraging ICT as the Veritable Vehicle for Economic Recovery and Growth.”

The Minister said that the performance of the Telecommunications industry has also improved noting that there was a positive increase in the number of active telecoms subscribers with an increase from 148,70 million in august 2015 to 162.05 million as at September 2018, which is an increase of seven per cent.

According to him “Teledensity rose from 107.67 per cent in August 2015 to 115.76 per cent in September 2018, thus recording an increase of 2.47 per cent. Similarly, Broadband penetration has reached 20.95 per cent, while the percentage of internet penetration has reached a milestone 48.44 per cent, making Nigeria, second only to South Africa in the whole of the African Continent”. Shittu stated

He added that Nigerian ICT sector today is one of the fastest growing despite the economic recession and contributed 9.8 per cent in gross domestic product (GDP) in 2014. The challenge is how to leverage the opportunities thrown up by the new economy powered by ICT to address the issues of revenue, investments, cost savings, employment generation, and national productivity among others.

Shittu pointed out that this year’s meeting is unique as it focuses on how the highly acknowledged potentials of the ICT Sector can be used to achieve the main policy objectives of Economic Recovery and Growth in view of the dwindling fortunes from oil and Gas.

He said:“ In pursuit of the national agenda, we have continued to reposition the ICT sector in the areas of infrastructure and industry development, local content optimization, enabling policy, legal and regulatory framework; deepening of ICT in Government and mainstreaming of ICT into all spheres of national life among others”.

In his goodwill message, managing director, Fintrak Software, Mr. Bimbo Abioye on behalf of the Institute of Software Practitioner of Nigeria (ISPON) urged government to provide enabling environment for software industry and habit of importation of foreign goods has to change in order to create employment in the country.

Also, president of Certified Computer Manufacturers of Nigeria (CCMON) Engr. (Mrs) Adenike Abudu urged people and the government to patronize local manufacturers in order to create more jobs in ICT sector adding that through collective promotion of Nigeria we move the country to the next level.

In his address, the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Senator, Ibikunle Amosun said, “we have also continued to ensure that economic and commercial opportunities in our dear State are further boosted through G2C (Government to Citizens) Solutions.

http://www.mcebiscoo.com/2018/11/nigerias-ict-sector-attracted-40bn-fdi.html

The Organised Labour on Wednesday said it would demand for two years arrears payment of the proposed new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers from the federal and state governments.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, President Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said this when Mrs Rosa Pavanelli, General Secretary, Public Service International (PSI), visited him in his office in Abuja.

Wabba said that the delay by President Muhammadu Buhari in transmitting the executive bill to the National Assembly was worrisome.

“Workers in the country have made tremendous sacrifice and I think going forward, we are going to demand for arrears of those two years we have lost.

“Because I think with all fairness and justice, as they are going out to campaign we will also go out to campaign for our minimum wage.

“I also want to inform you that we have passed the first hurdle and it took us almost a year to be at the tripartite negotiation table for a figure, and we have agreed on a figure of N30, 000.

“That figure has been transmitted to the Mr President who set up the committee and we have also told them to forward an executive bill immediately to the National Assembly.

“We are not unaware of the new tactics by the state governors to try to arm-twist what has already been done,’’ he said.

Wabba explained that six state governors were part of the negotiation process, with each representing their geopolitical zones.

He told Pavanelli how public hearings were held in the zones, where the state governors were invited to make their inputs.

“So, mutually on the negotiation table, we have looked at all other factors, especially factors that were provided in convention 131 and 95 of the International Labour Organisation on the minimum wage in which five factors were considered.

“The issue of the purchasing power parity, inflation, ability to pay, all those factors were considered and that is how our demand of N66, 500 was then agreed mutually on N30, 000.

“So, workers have made enough sacrifices as we have lost already two years,’’ he said.

Speaking earlier, the PSI General Secretary which covers over 170 countries said she was in Nigeria to show support for trade union movement in Nigeria.

She said workers in the public service were faced with a lot of challenges especially in Nigeria.

“Working for months, providing services to people without being paid is something that is unacceptable and this unfortunately what is happening here.

“In a country which is rich of resources that can have wealth distribute but it is oppressed by the greater international capital that wants to grab the resources and forget the people who create wealth for the country.

“This is very wrong and unacceptable, we must ensure good governance, social justice for the Nigerian workers, we will support you anytime you call on us,’’ she said.

She also noted that PSI was in Nigeria to fashion out ways of assisting the Internally Displace Persons (IDPs).

http://www.mcebiscoo.com/2018/11/minimum-wage-organised-labour-to-demand.html

Troops involved in ongoing military operations in the northwest, Nigeria code name “Sharan Daji’ have killed 20 bandits while 21 suspects were arrested.

This was disclosed on Wednesday by the acting Director, Defence Information, Brigadier General John Agim at a press conference on the activities of Operation SHARAN DAJI being conducted by the combined forces of the military and other security agencies.

General Agim said, during the period in focus, troops also recovered 1,444 cows, 478 sheep, 11 camels, 14 donkeys, 56 rams and 293 goats.

He said the newly reinvigorated OPSD now covered entire Zamfara State and some LGAs of the contiguous States of Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto.

“Substantial numbers of suspected bandits were neutralized and some have been apprehended and they are undergoing interrogation and will soon be prosecuted. These efforts have created enabling environment for the return of IDPs back to their ancestral homes.

“Currently the spate of attacks on innocent citizens, kidnappings, animal rustling, armed robbery, imposition of levies and criminalities in some parts of OPSD AOR have been drastically reduced.

“The OPSD has been reinvigorated through the support from the Defence Headquarters to perform maximally. Raid operations, robust patrols, ambushes and surveillance in the past days have been intensified.

“The Air Task Force (ATF) in support of this operation has also continued to strike at the bandits as well as destroying their enclaves in the forests.

“The air bombardment on bandits’ camps and hideout has kept them constantly on the run, disorganized and incapable of launching coordinated attacks on communities like before, and this will continue to be sustained.

“Joint patrols were exploited to Sahiel forest and GidanJiya in Niger Republic where bandits who escaped military onslaught from our troops in Zamfara State hibernate to re-arm or plan their nefarious activities.

“These patrols have so far yielded significant successes as a lot of criminals have been intercepted and illicit arms recovered.

“These included 24 AK47 Riffles,2 pump action guns, 1 double barrel gun, 40magazines with quantity 1,798 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 1 locally made pistol, 8 locally made guns and 2 cartridges.

“Others were 7Dane guns, 1FN Bayonet, 7 axes, 2 bows and arrows, 1 handcuff, 30 machetes and 6 short knives.” He said.

General Agim also said during those encounters, one soldier paid the supreme price while 6 others wounded.

http://www.mcebiscoo.com/2018/11/operation-sharan-daji-troops-kill-20.html

Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) says the South West has more to gain by re-electing President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election.

Fashola, who was in Lagos on Tuesday for the inauguration of 5000 foot soldiers for the campaign of Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said that the South West already had high stakes/appointments in the current administration.

He said that the promise of the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF) slot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not enough for the South West to lose the positions it is currently occupying
“I support the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket Westerner, because my people stand to gain more from it,” Fashola said.

He said that the re-election of Buhari would guarantee that power would come to the South West in 2023.
“The South West is presently occupying the position of the vice president. We have three sitting ministers and many different federal appointments from the present administration which we cannot afford to lose.,” he said.

The Minister explained that although the APC promised change In 2014, the party did not promise to do it in four years.
“The APC has done more in three years than 16 years of PDP administration, yet they say president Buhari is too slow.
“President Buhari is taking Nigeria to the next level. We are going to the Next Level.

“The 2019 presidential election is a choice between going back and moving forward to the next level and also a choice of whom Nigerians can trust with their money,” he said.
He noted that the APC-Buhari led administration has done more in three years with less money than the PDP with all the monies that accrued to the nation in 16 years.

“Buhari has inaugurated a structural infrastructure fund for road construction. N15 billion has been released for the continued construction of Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

“There is need for the progress to continue. Dubai was built with oil-money, Nigeria can be built with it too. The past administration squandered oil revenue.

“Federal Government is constructing at least one road in every state in Nigeria. We are also constructing houses in 34 States in Nigeria.
“We have collected 690 containers for the construction of 90 transmission stations and through our policy of mini grids, our markets now have uninterrupted power supply.

“In the last 3 years we have constructed 40 kilometres of roads per year. In 2015, the total number of roads completed nationwide was 80 kilometres. In 2016 after we took over, we completed , 274 kilometres of road, 478 kilometres in 2017 and 474 kilometers in 2018.
“Electric generation has moved from 4000 Megawatts that we met to 7000MW. That’s an increase of 3000MW, an average of 1000MW a year. We have started an IPP in 9 universities in Nigeria. We have accelerated the distribution of meters by outsourcing it to distributors,” he added.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/apc-vs-pdp-why-southwest-will-massively.html

The Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly has declared the seats of five lawmakers vacant.

The seats of the lawmakers representing Itu, Etim Ekpo/Ika, Ikono, Mkpat Enin, and Essien Udim were on Monday declared vacant during plenary in line with section 109(1g) of the 1999 constitution as amended.

The House also passed a motion urging Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, to name either the Akwa Ibom state University or the Ibom International Airport after former governor Victor Attah in commemoration of his 80th birthday.

Recall that the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo had last week ruled in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ordering the assembly to declare Idongesit Ituen’s seat vacant.

The court held that Ituen had no reason to have defected from his former party as there was no division in his former party.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/akwa-ibom-assembly-declares-seats-of.html

The Nigerian Army says troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have killed Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) media chief, Sale Ahmad Sale, also known as Baban Hassan.

The Nigerian Army, on its official Facebook page said Sale, who is the leader of Al-Barnawi media group, a faction of boko haram, was killed during an operation jointly conducted by the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force.

The statement noted that the killing of the media leader is a demonstration of Nigerian Army’s efforts to eliminate key members of the sect.

‘‘The death of the group’s media leader shows that the leadership is being targeted successfully and soon, other key members would be apprehended or neutralised, thus decimating the group and its activities.”

The statement further noted that the sect is directly affiliated to the Islamic State and has been carrying out deadly attacks on innocent civilians and Nigerian troops.

“It is worthy to note that the sect is directly affiliated to the Islamic State and has carried out several attacks against our troops and innocent civilians in the past.’’

The statement further averred that the new leader of Jama’atu Nus’ratul-Islami Wal-Muslimina, Abul- Fadl Iyad Gali has also been identified. It explained that the group is a new terrorist group which Ansaru is affiliated to.

It added that the identification of the leader of Jama’atu Nus’ratul-Islami Wal-Muslimina group would enable the Army target the group effectively, using advanced technologies in its arsenal.

“This is as the existence of the group portends grave danger to Nigeria’s national security,” it said.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/army-kills-terrorists-spokesman.html

Zamfara State Government has advised the Senator representing Zamfara Central, Sen. Kabiru Marafa, to stay away from efforts of the state and the federal governments in addressing security challenges in the state.

The government gave the advice in a statement by the Special Adviser to Governor Yari on Media, Ibrahim Dosara, in Gusau on Friday.

Marafa, who recently asked the All Progressives Congress (APC) to expel Yari, had condemned the decision of the state government to engage 8,500 youths as members of civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) on security.

The lawmaker was quoted as saying that the recruitment was part of plan by the state government to use the youths against any opponent in the 2019 general elections in the state.

But the government accused Marafa of “publicly denouncing’’ its widely-accepted new strategy, being applied for the lasting solution for peace in the predominantly rural areas mostly hit by activities of bandits in the state.

“In the first instance, Sen. Marafa closed his eyes to all the efforts by Gov. Yari, President Muhammadu Buhari and all security agencies have been making to curb security challenges facing the state.

“The Senator was vocally out in any fora he was opportuned to speak, to condemn both Yari and Buhari in this regard,” the statement added.

It maintained that “the decision to recruit the 8,500 civilian JTF was taken based on the advice of the Presidency and some governors who had similar bitter experience, but succeeded in similar strategy of employing the JTF’’.

It disclosed that the state Council of Chiefs, Council of Ulamas and the State Security Council approved the recruitment.

“Therefore, the action is within the ambit of the law, and intended to bring to an end, the enormous security challenges in the state.

“Moreover, the civilian JTF are to work with the security agencies fighting the 10 years old menace, providing intelligence, assisting in locating the bandits’ camps, etc.

“The senator is hereby enjoined to face his remaining political calculations in Nigerian politics and allow the government, traditional institutions, security agencies and the public to continue working hard for a peaceful Zamfara state,” it said.

The state government had a fortnight ago resolved to engage 500 youths from each of the 17 emirate councils in the state, who would receive training on intelligence-gathering and dissemination.

They will also arrest suspected bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers and other criminals so as to rid the state of criminal activities.

Already, the recruitment exercise has commenced and the state government has promised to give the youths a monthly stipend of N15, 000 each.

http://www.ebiscoo.com/57/yari-vs-marafa-zamfara-govt-warns-senator#123

The Organised Labour has warned the President Muhammadu Buhari government against any attempt to delay or truncate the newly-agreed N30,000 national minimum wage.

It said such move would have a devastating effect on the country.

It also cried out over the issue of corruption, saying it remained one of the major challenges facing the nation.

President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, Bobboi Kaigama said this while addressing the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the association, in Abuja.

Kaigama, who also serves as the President of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, stressed on the need for the government to fast-track implementation of the newly agreed national minimum wage.

He said, “It is apt to state that against all odds, the Tripartite Committee that negotiated the new Minimum Wage was able to scale all hurdles and agreed on N30,000 as the new minimum wage for the country.

“It is on this premise that I strongly want to appeal to the Federal Government to fast track the process of enacting the new National Minimum Wage into law.

“Our expectation is that the government should be able to complete the entire process before the end of this year so that workers who have waited for so long can begin to enjoy a new lease of life provided by the new minimum wage.

“The Federal Government is advised to avoid any action that can delay or truncate the process of enacting the new Minimum Wage as the consequences of allowing that to happen can be very devastating.”

He continued, “This situation has been made worse by the fact that since 2010 when salary review was carried out in the core civil service, no salary increment has been granted to civil servants except for the N900 monthly that was added to the emoluments of senior officers across board after N18,000 was approved as the National Minimum Wage in 2011.

“I must now dwell on the vexed issue of illegal recruitment and appointment of officers including Permanent Secretaries into the Civil Service which we have been battling over the years.

“The vexed issue of corruption still remains one of the major challenges facing us as a nation. This hydra-headed monster continues to loom large in our country in spite of the initial steps taken to address the menace by the present administration.

“Corruption in Nigeria has now assumed a very alarming proportion that can be described as horrendous. The Nigerian political class should know that there is no way this country can be inspired to greatness if this beast is not decapitated and rooted out of our system before it leads to catastrophic consequences.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/new-minimum-wage-organized-labour-blows.html

A Nigerian lady identified as Slim Beauty who hails from Ebonyi state has taken to social media to reprimand guys who doesn’t wash their girlfriend underwear.

According to the young lady, any man who fails to take up the responsibility of washing his girlfriend undies is a useless man.

She also added that her billionaire boyfriend always wash her undies.

See her post below;

Slim beauty! Any guy that cannot wash his girlfriend pant when she dey her period na useless man I will call that one If possible lick de period. Na so my billionaire boyfriend dey do me. His prick na ak49

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/any-guy-that-cannot-wash-his-girlfriend.html

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said his recent meeting with the Department of State Services, DSS, was a mere routine conversation that held in the interest of national security.

He made this claim on Sunday while appearing on Channels TV’s political programme, Sunday Politics, anchored by Seun Okinbaloye and monitored by DAILY POST in Abuja.

Several media outlets had reported that the APC national chairman was grilled by the DSS over alleged bribe-taking and gross misconduct during the ruling party’s recent primaries.

Dismissing the reports as false, Oshiomhole said: “I met with the DSS on Sunday at about 3pm and I drove there on my own.

“I have been having meeting with the DG of SSS, both the current one and the previous one. It is not unusual that they want to find out what is going on.

“We share with them what we know and, sometimes, they share with us what they hear. I believe it is in the interest of the national security.

“We (have) met a couple of times to discuss issues that have to do with the country and our party.”

On his reported coercion by the DSS for him to resign as the APC national chairman, Oshiomhole said: “I wasn’t hired by the DSS and I cannot be requested by the DSS to resign or to retain the job.

“APC is a structured. We have organs. I know the processes and procedures. I believe the DSS also understand their own role in the system.

“It is not up to them to the demand the resignation of a party chairman. But, I believe it is their right to have a conversation with anybody who in their opinion can assist them in discharging their mandate of ensuring that Nigeria is safe and secure, particularly as we move towards 2019.”

On his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari after his reported grilling by the DSS, he said: “The President is the President of Nigeria. He is elected on the platform of our party of which I am privileged currently to be the chairman.

“I visit the Villa two or three times a week. I have the duty to brief Mr. President on what we are doing in the party. We also have the privilege of learning from the President what the govt is doing as it relates to what the party expects of the government elected on our platform.

“So, meeting the president is not news at all. These are my privileges. I think it will continue to be so as long as the President is gracious enough to give me those privileges and also to hear my own suggestions on variety of issues as they relate to and affect governance, our party, and our country.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/oshiomhole-reveals-real-reason-he-met.html

The fact-finding committee set up by the Ekiti State government to look into the running of the State Broadcasting Service (BSES) has swung into action on how the corporation was ran under the last administration.

The panel summoned former Special Assistant to then governor Fayose on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, who also headed BSES between October 2014 and July 2018, to shed light on how the station was run in the period under review.

The corporation was shut by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over alleged serial breach of broadcasting code.

According to a letter signed by the Panel’s Secretary, Alhaji T.I. Ganiyu, Olayinka is expected to appear on Tuesday, 13th November at 11.00 am.

The letter reads: “As parts of the efforts of the state government to reposition the BSES, the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, inaugurated a Fact-finding Committee on Friday, 2nd November, 2018 to examine the adherence of the BSES to the enabling law and the NBC broadcasting code as well as other related issues.

” The Committee has since swung into action immediately after its inauguration. As the head of the broadcasting station in the previous administration, I have been directed to invite you for a briefing with the Committee on issues relating to the closure of the broadcasting station.

“Kindly note that your briefing will in no small measure assist the Committee in its fact-finding assignment for the improvement of the station.”

The venue of the sitting is the Conference Hall of the Bureau of Transformation, Service Delivery and Strategy, Ado Ekiti.

The corporation was earlier fined N500,000 for breach of broadcasting code which was not paid before it was finally closed down on July 14 over alleged declaration of the result of the governorship election by former Governor Ayo Fayose when collation was still ongoing.

The NBC had also written a letter to Olayinka demanding explanation on why he accepted to serve as the Director of Publicity of Kolapo Olusola Campaign Organisation (KOCO) when he was serving as Acting DG OF BSES.

KOCO was the campaign platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate at the election, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/panel-summons-fayoses-aide-lere.html

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has described Peter Obi, the running mate of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, as a tribal bigot.

El-Rufai recalled that Obi supported his (El-Rufai’s) arrest by the Department of State Services, DSS in 2014 on the ground that “El-Rufai has no business being in Anambra State as it is not Katsina State.”

The Governor stated that voting Atiku and Obi into power will bring about division in the country.

He tweeted, “Peter Obi is a tribal bigot. He was widely quoted on national television that the SSS was right to detain me for 48 hours in an hotel in 2014 on the grounds that ”El-Rufai has no business being in Anambra State as it is not Katsina State!”

“I sued the SSS and awarded N4m damages.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/2019-presidency-what-peter-obi-did-to.html

Arsenal midfielder, Alex Iwobi has wished his teammate, Danny Welbeck, a speedy recovery after the England striker broke his ankle during the Gunners’ 0-0 draw with Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League encounter played on Thursday night.

Welbeck landed awkwardly after leaping in the air to meet a cross just after the half hour mark against Sporting, and needed oxygen before being stretchered off the pitch.

Iwobi, however, expressed sadness over Welbeck’s injury and wished him swift recovery.

”It’s very challenging mentally, but sometimes it comes in the game and there’s been a lot of injuries, and unfortunately for Danny he’s had a few so we’re going to wish him the best,” Iwobi told Arsenal’s official website.

”Both sets of teams were mentally challenged and we were able to continue with the game, but like I said, we wish him all the best and we will keep on encouraging and motivating him to get back. ”

Arsenal will now tackle Wolves on Sunday in the Premier League fixture at Emirates.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/2019-apc-chieftain-says-buhari-may-lose.html

Controversial actress, Daniella Okeke is back on the internet to take her position as the mother of all slay queens on Instagram.

Daniella Okeke who is famed for her bulging behind rather than for her acting skills has returned with a big bang.

She has been posting professional sultry photos on Instagram of late to entertain her followers. The shapely actress struck a 'doggy pose' that has left some randy men wishing they could drag her out of the picture and have a taste of her.

Daniella Okeke has maintained a low-profile in recent times with almost zero work rate in the film industry.

She grabbed the headlines last year after being romantically linked with popular Christian cleric, Apostle Johnson Suleman.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/nollywood-actress-daniella-okeke-breaks.html

Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Prince Matthew Kolawole, has confirmed the kidnap of his brother, wife and two others on Kabba-Oshokoshoko road in the state.

Kolawole, who disclosed this during the house plenary sitting on Tuesday, said the yet-to-be-identified hoodlums appeared in Army and Police uniforms and later demanded ransom.

The speaker, while drawing the attention of the state government and security agencies to the rampant kidnapping which has resurfaced in the state noted that the incident happened on Monday.

Kolawole, who brought this to a fore in a motion of urgent public importance which was read by Barrister Oluwatoyin Lawal (PDP Yagba West), called on security agencies to quickly swing into action in rescuing the victims from their abductors.

He urged the state government to further equip the police and other security agencies with more high technology gadgets that will help towards stemming down crimes and criminalities in Kogi State.

Members in their contributions said the security agencies especially the police should up its game in ensuring the security of lives and properties in the state.

The house also urged the commissioner of police to deploy more policemen to flashpoints areas in the state.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/kogi-speakers-brother-3-others-kidnapped.html

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and former chairmanship aspirant, Ibrahim Emokpaire, has alleged that some leaders of the party who supported tenure elongation for the former National Chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun, were responsible for the current crisis rocking the party across the country.

Emokpaire said this in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja calling for support of the APC National Chairman, Comrade Oshiomhole, to ensure a landslide victory for the ruling party in 2019.

The Edo-state-born politician advised party members to shelve those being sponsored by the opposition party to whittle down the authority and strong leadership direction of the party chairman.

The statement read: “We can see the handwork of the agent of tenure elongation at play; the same advocates of tenure elongation are mostly behind the removal of the party National Chairman.

“The election primary crises were created by these same tenure elongation agents where election congresses were duplicated across the 36 states. These same advocates of tenure elongation have metamorphosed into election primary crisis in our great party today,” he said.

“People should not heap the blame on Oshiomhole, he has given APC a strong and unwavering leadership and upheld internal democracy since assumption on duty as the National Party Chairman.

“Our party, the APC has achieved enormous feats since we came into government. The President Muhammadu Buhari administration has demonstrated to Nigerians that good governance is possible.

“This can only be achieved through prudent management of all available resources as against the looting of our common patrimonies.”

DAILY POST recalls that the crisis in the ruling party deepened over call for Oshiomhole’s removal by Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun and Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/apc-crises-emokpaire-reveals-members.html

Real Kashmir FC Possible XI:

Churchill Brothers Possible XI:


GAME PREVIEW

After registering a win in their debut match in I-League against defending champions Minerva Punjab FC, Real Kashmir welcome Goa’s Churchill Brothers at home on Tuesday.

Gnohere Krizo’s 74th-minute strike helped Real Kashmir register their maiden win in the top tier of Indian football. The fairytale journey which started after clinching the Second division league in May continued at Panchkula. The Snow Leopards now make their home debut in I-League against the Goan giants.

Real Kashmir had an impressive debut in the I-League. Taking the field in a 3-5-2 formation, David Robertson’s men fought neck to neck against the reigning champions and eventually picked up full points. Had they been a little more prolific in front of the goal, they could have notched a couple more.

Now the newbies are up against Churchill Brothers who are yet to register a win in the I-League. After managing a 0-0 draw against Minerva, Churchill once again dropped points against Chennai City FC as they were held to 2-2 draw but the South Indian outfit.

After trailing by a goal to nil at halftime, the Goans came back strongly in the match and scored twice within the first 15 minutes of the match. An unfortunate own goal from Wayne Vaz denied Churchill from picking up full points in Coimbatore.

It will be a tough job for Petre Gigiu’s side as they have to play under adverse weather conditions in Srinagar. It is currently 2 degree Celsius at the northernmost state of India, poles apart from the hot and humid weather of Goa.

While Real Kashmir will eye yet another win at home, Churchill Brothers will hope to pick up a point from this tough away fixture.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/i-league-2018-19-real-kashmir-vs.html

The Network for Accountability and Transparency Crusade (NATC), has condemned in strong terms the insistence of trade unions under the umbrella of NLC, TUC, and ULC, to go ahead with their proposed strike despite court order.

It described it as suspicious.

The workforce had called on Nigerians to stock their homes with food, stressing that there was no going back on their planned nationwide strike over the issue of minimum wage.

Recall that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum on Oct. 30 announced that states would only pay N22,500 minimum wage.

The organised labour in reaction called for the implementation of the tripartite committee report concluded on Oct. 5 or it would go on a nationwide strike.

Reacting, however, NATC said the threat by the NLC, TUC and ULC to embark on the indefinite strike if their demands were not met was a clear sabotage and unethical.

Dr. Roland Giwa, National Coordinator of the organisation, said NATC frowns at such disposition given the fact that it is aware that the government through the relevant agencies had indeed put forward tangible reasons why the N30,000 (Thirty Thousand Naira) minimum wage demanded by the labour unions was not feasible due to the precarious state of the nation’s finances.

According to him, “NATC is also aware that the government proposed an increment from the existing N18,000 to N24,000 and the labour leaders rejected it for reasons best known to them.

“NATC as an organization that is dedicated to accountability and transparency herby advises our labour leaders to rise above their interest by rejecting whatever overtures that have been extended to them by unscrupulous politicians that have done worse and will do worse if elected into positions of authority in Nigeria.

“This is also mindful of the fact that the organized labour should be the last group ever to disobey a valid court order in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world. And as such, the intended plan to defy a valid court order should be jettisoned.

“The organized labour in Nigeria has been known to stand for truth. They have been known to protect the interest of workers in general and not a select few. At the risk of portraying the organized labour in Nigeria as a dictatorial organization, and one with contempt for the rule of law, the labour leaders at the negotiating table should not allow the smell of filthy enticement make them lose their sense of dignity and that of the millions of workers that they represent.

“The Nigerian workers have been subjected to untold hardship over the years, and to think that the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari has introduced measures towards alleviating their hardship should be commended and encouraged instead.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/minimum-wage-your-threat-to-embark-on.html

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Saturday restated that the Federal Government had achieved a lot in all sectors of human development and democratic process.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osinbajo spoke at the 2017/2018 Barewa Old Boys Association annual lecture in Sokoto.

“There is a lot of impunity that have been defined to public office in Nigeria, especially grand corruption which had been sanctioned under the present administration.
“I said grand corruption because our society had a problem of extended corruption affecting all government institutions and today has never been the case.

“Nigeria had in the past faced so much challenges of corruption in public offices with a lot of government money being stolen by individuals which the present administration blocked such instances,” he said.
Osinbajo added that the present administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari had recorded tremendous success in the areas of security, agriculture, judiciary, legislature, among others.

“There is not a single state in Nigeria that is not undergoing a measure of FG project under the ministry of power, works and Housing.
“More so, clearly we have not done all we want to see, but if we are to ask our brothers and sisters from the North-East of what Boko-Haram seize 14 local government in their state, you will agree with me that they have seen some change.

“If we are to ask the farmers enjoying the credit and support by the FG programmes and getting a more suitable supply of fertilizer, perhaps they may say that they have seen some change.
“The over 500,000 graduates which have been employed under N-power programme, which is direct government employment, have been training in various fields to be useful for themselves.

“Also traders who are getting direct credit from the government to support their small scale businesses, they may say that we have seen some change,” he said.

The vice president further restated that the relationship between the executive and the National Assembly remained cordial, as the executive had never stepped into the affairs of legislative conduct.

“There had never been any attempt under the present administration to stamp the legislature as was experienced in the past administration.
“Moreover, Nigeria had five Senate Presidents between 1999 and 2007, which is very easy to forget. All of this and many more took place in very recent history.

“So, you will agree with me that a lot had changed at least with regard to political understanding,” Osinbajo added.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/previous-governments-were-corrupt.html

The presidential candidate of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has stated that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has exposed the ignorance of its flag bearer Atiku Abubakar, with its statement on price of fuel.

Ezekwesili said PDP’s claim that Atiku will reduce pump price of petrol to N90 only showed that the former Vice President was ignorant of the economy.

In a statement during the week, the PDP promised Nigerians that it will “crash fuel
pump price to N90,” if returned to power.

But in a statement made available to DAILY POST and signed by the National Chairman of ACPN, Gani Galadima, Ezekwesili said the main opposition party was only trying to deceive Nigerians.

The statement said, “Today, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, reminded us of why both they and the APC are one of the same, fielding a single candidate
called #BuTiku.

“This is 419, and it betrays the PDP candidate’s ignorance of how
Basic Economics and the solutions Nigeria truly needs.

“The country ended 2018 with 4trillion of Fiscal Deficit.

“Where will they find money to slash fuel price? Even if FG had such money, is it because they want another round of Subsidy-Slush Fund that they want to take the country deeper into the corrupted and market-distorting fuel price fixing method?

“The Obiageli Ezekwesili For President 2019 campaign is all for market-determined pricing which will end up more favourable to the poor who have been and continue bearing the effect of corrupted subsidy regimes more while the rich enjoy the benefits.

“This is a reminder to Nigerians that Abubakar Atiku’s so-called and questionable business acumen does not qualify him to run this economy. Obiageli Ezekwesili is the only candidate in the race who has built and rebuilt national economies in Nigeria and outside, with a track record to show for it.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/2019-presidency-how-pdp-exposed-atikus.html

Adams Oshiomhole, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman has expressed confidence that crisis in the party will be resolved.

He stated this on Friday in Abuja, while briefing newsmen on the state of affairs of the party in Rivers, Ogun and Imo states following issues arising from the party’s congresses and governorship primaries.

On Ogun, he said Gov. Ibikunke Amosun, through his “consensus arrangement”, announced those he wanted to be in elective positions in the state, including the Governorship, Senate, House of Representative and State House of Assembly.

This, Oshiomhole said, did not go down well with the people of the state whom he said instantly rejected the governor’s unilateral imposition of candidates on them.

He said that the party’s leadership consequently organised fresh primaries in total compliance with its regulations which produced Mr Dapo Abiodun as the party’s Ogun governorship candidate for 2019.

He also said that whatever court order the Ogun state governor was presently parading, would not change the situation as there was an existing superior court order on the matter.

“Gov. Amosun had been coming to Abuja to pressure me to reserve what has been properly done and to accept what is clearly unlawful and undemocratic,” he said.

He added that the governor’s action amounted to abuse of power, saying that the party’s Constitute does not recognise emperors.

“There are no emperors in APC; if anybody tries to make himself as one, it will be an exercise in futility,” he said.

On Imo, Oshiomhole maintained that Sen. Hope Uzodinma who emerged from the primaries conducted by the Gulak committee remains the 2019 APC governorship candidate for the state.

The APC national chairman, however, debunked insinuations by Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo that he disobeyed court order on the state primaries earlier conducted where his son in-law Uche Nwosu was said to have emerged as the party’s 2019 governorship candidate.

“What I have not been able to do for Gov. Okorocha is to assist him with the instrument of APC, even as that will border on abuse of power on my side.

“And I do not have such powers to help him to create Rochas Okorocha political dynasty in Imo state in which he will be the APC Senatorial candidate and his son in-law, Uche Nwosu, the governorship candidate.

“I am convinced that this is where many of my friend governors tend not to understand me.

“If there is conflict between the known interest of the great people of Imo who have reposed confidence in us by voting us to power as they did in 2015, I will resist.

“I will resist every unlawful pressure to undermine the wishes of the good people of Imo and at this stage, the wishes of APC members in Imo who do not want a political dynasty, by the way they have voted,” Oshiomhole stressed.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/oshiomhole-speaks-on-apc-crisis.html

President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation has reacted to a letter making the rounds by “Buhari Campaign Organisation”.

Campaign spokesman, Festus Keyamo, in a statement on Friday said the letter was addressed to the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing soliciting for jobs for certain named companies in order to “cushion the financial pressure on the Organisation.”

According to him, the letter does not have the authority or mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari to solicit or raise funds from public institutions, corporate bodies or individuals for any campaign activity whatsoever.

“This is also a notice to all such public institutions not to honour any such requests as the one from the amorphous “Buhari Campaign Organisation”, he said.

“As previously announced, the ONLY approved campaign organisation of the President is the President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation headed by His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as the Director-General. A Campaign Council would also be announced in due course.

“We also wish to re-iterate for the umpteenth time that President Muhammadu Buhari and his campaign organisation WILL NOT have recourse to the public coffers or public funds to run the campaign. We intend to make a complete departure from past practices of the main opposition where they looted the public treasury to run their campaigns.

“We also wish to use this opportunity to inform all Buhari support groups to get in touch with the Campaign Headquarters of President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation at Plot 718 Herbert Macaulay Way, Central Business District, Abuja in order for their activities to be streamlined.

“We shall not tolerate any individual or groups, purporting to act on behalf of the President, going round Ministries, corporate bodies or individuals to raise funds for the campaign. Such individual or groups would be handed over to law-enforcement agencies.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/buhari-campaign-disowns-bco-for-seeking.html

The Federal Government has dragged the factional governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma to court.

The Federal Government also slammed criminal charges against Senator Stella Oduah from Anambra State.

This is following their alleged refusal to declare their respective assets.

The lawmakers are to appear before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to defend the charges filed against them by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, SPIP.

Oduah and Uzodinma who are serving members of the upper legislative chamber, will each answer to a two-count charge that was signed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.

The charge against Senator Oduah was assigned to Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, while Senator Uzodinma, will appear before trial Justice Babatunde Quadri.

The two-count charge against Uzodinma, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/107/2018, read in part, “That you, Senator Hope Uzodinma (M) on or about the 5th day of March 2018, being a public officer with the National Assembly Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed an offence to wit: refused to declare your assets without reasonable excuse and upon notice to declare your assets before the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Abuja, contrary to and punishable under S. 3 (3) (1) (a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) Act 2004.”

“That you Senator Hope Uzodmma (M) on or about 5th day of March 2018 being a public officer that the National Assembly Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed an offence to wit: neglected to declare your assets without reasonable excuse and upon notice to declare your assets before the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Abuja, contrary to and punishable under S. 3 (3) (1) (a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) Act 2004.”

For Senator Oduah, the two-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/110/2018, read, “That you, Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah (F) on or about 29th day of March, 2018 being a public officer with the National Assembly Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed an offence to wit: refused to declare your assets without reasonable excuse and upon notice to declare your assets before the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Abuja contrary to and punishable under S. 3 (3) (1) (a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) Act 2004.

“That you, Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah (F) on or about 29th day of March 2018 being a pubic officer with the National Assembly Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court committed an offence to wit: neglected to declare your assets without reasonable excuse and upon notice to declare your assets before the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Abuja contrary to and punishable under S. 3 (3) (1) (a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) Act 2004.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/fg-drags-imo-apc-guber-candidate.html

TEHRAN – Iran has strongly denounced the recent deadly incident in Nigeria in which several Shiite mourners were killed by security forces.

“We have received conflicting news about the incident, and we are closely monitoring relevant developments and news, waiting for the different dimensions of the incident to come to light,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Monday, according to the ministry’s website.

“Initial information about the incident shows clashes erupted between police forces and mourners which left a number of demonstrators dead and wounded. While condemning this killing, we sympathize with the families of those killed,” he added.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/iran-denounces-killing-of-shiite.html

Femi Fani-Kayode, the former Minister of Aviation has criticised former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio over his reason for dumping the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom had on Saturday said he defected to APC because he discovered that the former ruling party was about to sink.

But the former minister while reacting to the release of former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose from EFCC custody questioned the gender and character of Akpabio.

He queried him for joining ‘fold of the persecutors of his people.’

Fani-Kayode in a post on Twitter wrote: “I commend my brother, Gov. Fayose for his courage and boldness in the face of persecution by the agents of tyranny.

“Now that he is out of detention, can we ask what manner of man is Akpabio, who caved in, turned to a woman and joined the fold of the persecutors of his people?

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/how-akpabio-turned-to-woman-fani-kayode.html

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has revealed how he escaped during the military clamp down on the group.

In an interview with Israeli TV Channel 1, Kanu said he was “smuggled out” of the country with the help of relatives.

IPOB was the target of a Nigerian Army operation code-named Operation Python Dance, launched in the South East.

While the group was banned, Kanu went out of public glare until two weeks ago, when a video of him in Israel resurfaced on social media.

In the interview, Kanu alleged that 28 persons were killed during the army operation, which was largely felt around his father’s residence in Umuahia, Abia State.

He said: “When I came out (of prison), I continued to preach to my people and continued to practise my Jewish religion.

“And, one day, the Nigerian army came to my house to kill me. They killed 28 people in their attempt to kill me.

“My people evacuated me before they came to my bedroom. They took me away and smuggled me out of Nigeria.

“I needed some time to recover, which I did and, then, had to make my way to Israel.”

The IPOB leader added that he feels “relieved” that he “managed to make it” to Israel, “the only place I feel safe in the world.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/nnamdi-kanu-how-i-was-smuggled-out-of.html

A suspected billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, also known as Evans has narrated how men of the Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, and men of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Intelligence response team, allegedly killed 30 people while torturing him.

Evans made the revelation during his trial at the Ikeja High Court in Lagos where he is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping alongside six others, on Friday.

News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reported that before Evans’s testimony, a five-minute, 33-second video recording was played in the courtroom.

The video recording showed Idowu Haruna, a member of the Inspector General of Police IGP,’s intelligence response team, sitting beside Evans cautioning him and taking his statement.

However, Olanrewaju Ajanaku, Evans’s lawyer, queried the validity of the recording, saying the video was doctored.

While being led in evidence by Ajanaku, Evans described how he was tortured by police officers after his arrest.

He said, “Insp. Haruna (member of IG’s Intelligence Response Team) took me to Abuja and brought me back to Lagos, where I was at the I-G’s Guest House at Obalende, Lagos.

“Sunny, the 2 I/C (second in command) to Abba Kyari, Head of the IRT, Mr Christian Ugu, Mr Phillip and other police officers working with them were there.

“Haruna brought about 25 sheets of paper and asked me to sign; that day, my mind told me not to sign because it might be my death warrant. Phillip put his hand in his pocket and brought out a brown hospital card; showed it to me and told me to sign it, saying that ‘do you think that we are joking here?’ he said if anything happens to me here, this card covers everything.

“Phillip said the police will not be held responsible, and before I knew, Ugu slapped me and that was how they started beating me.”

The alleged kidnap kingpin gave more details to the court on how the police officers tortured him and made him witness executions in a bid to get him to admit to his crimes.

He said: “Mr Ugu was smoking, he quenched the cigarette on my hand. My lord, look at my head where they beat me; My Lord, look at my hand.

“They took me to the backyard of the I-G’s guest house; I sustained injuries on my head and body, and Phillip asked the policemen to walk on me and when I started bleeding, he said you think we are joking here.

“At the backyard, I saw some people that I was paraded with; they were wearing leg chains. Some of them had bullet wounds on their legs and Phillip ordered Haruna to bring a big brown cellotape, handkerchief and poly bags.

“Haruna forced a handkerchief into the mouth of one of them; he used the cellotape to tightly tape his mouth and face and put a poly bag over his head and cellotaped it, and used another poly bag and cellotaped it for the second time, and they left the man on the ground.

“The man on the ground was shaking; he pissed (urinated) on his body, he poo-pooed (defecated) on his body and, after a while, he went quiet. Haruna went to the man and stepped on his body and he was unresponsive and he told me can you see I have travelled him.”

Evans told the court that four more persons were executed in the same manner by the police officers in his presence.

“I was brought before them, and I started begging, asking them what do they want me to do, and they told me to cooperate with them, and I said okay that I will do anything they wanted me to do.

“Phillip asked them to take me to the house, and he asked if I knew the method of killing and I said no; they said that it is called ‘Saddam Hussein’.

“He said that there is no way an autopsy can predict the cause of death of the five people they had just killed, and that those people have travelled.”

Evans said after witnessing the execution, the 25 sheets of paper were brought for him to sign by the police.

He noted he was trembling with fear and Sunny, the second in command to Abba Kyari, head of the IGP IRT, asked Haruna to offer him a can of cold Fanta.

“When the Fanta was given to me, I drank it and after a few minutes, they brought the 25 sheets of paper for me and I signed them,” he said.

“Some things were written on some of the sheets of paper while some were blank; that was how I was forced to sign the confessional statements.”

On cross-examination by Titilayo Shitta-Bey, Lagos state director of public prosecution (DPP), Evans confirmed his name and the names of his parents, and denied knowing the officers before his arrest.

“I am 38-year-old, I was born on April 29, 1980; my mother’s name is Mrs Chinwe Onwuamadike and my father is Mr Stephen Onwuamadike,” he said.

“I did not know Insp. Haruna, Abba Kyari, before my arrest; I’m the one in the video, I was cautioned in the video, but after the cautionary words, I was forced to sign. The story I told the court was never an afterthought, SARS killed more than 30 people in my presence; the killings took place at the I-G’s guest house in Ikoyi.

“On the day I was arrested, I was arrested in my house and I was taken to Ikeja SARS Station; journalists were there; they had beaten the hell out of me in my house, I was interviewed by the journalists on Sunday, a day after I was arrested on Saturday.

“When I was taken to the station, there was a field; I was in a car while I was waiting for Abba Kyari to come. Kyari, when he came, told me to beg for forgiveness in my interview with journalists, and also to inform the world I had cancer which I don’t have. The police killed one Felix Chinemeri in my presence.”

After listening to the submission of Evans, the trial judge, Hakeem Oshodi adjourned the case until November 23 for continuation of defence in the trial-within-trial.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/billionaire-kidnapper-how-sars-igps-men.html

Dr Uche Ogah, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Abia State, has said that the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and the Social Democratic Party, SDP, were set to join forces with the APC to unseat the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP-led government in the state next year.

Ogah spoke with State House correspondents on Friday after he met behind closed-door with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He said that his chances in the governorship contest were very bright as he was the man to beat, adding that he was upbeat that President Muhammadu Buhari would also win the presidential election in 2019.
Ogah said that if elected, he would harness the untapped potentials of Abia for the good of the citizens.

According to him, he will improve security, facilitate industrialisation, ensure good welfare for the people and revolutionalise development in the state.
Ogah, who is the President of Maters Energy Group, said if elected, he would ensure that infrastructure in Abia State would be second to none ever since the inception of Abia State.

“If you get to Abia State, everywhere is Uche Ogah; he is the only answer for the people of Abia State; I am the only person who has the capacity to take Abia State to the next level.
“My message is that of hope; the future is brighter; there is hope for every Nigerian come 2019 and Buhari is voted into power the second time.
“If you are on ground, you will know that people went to APGA because I refused to go to another party.
“There was apathy of the people; but by next week the entire executive of APGA are submitting themselves to APC in Abia State.
“The entire executive of SDP are submitting themselves to APC; if you go to Abia, you ask questions; there is only one candidate to beat and that is Uche Ogah.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-apga-sdp-to-join-forces-with-apc.html

Stakeholders on security drawn from the federal and state agencies yesterday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State deliberated on the security challenges facing the country ahead of the 2019 general elections and stressed the need for a holistic action plan to address the problem.

Governor Udom Emmanuel, guest of honour on the occasion, said the way out of the security challenges facing the country could be stemmed when the federal and state governments committed enough resources into addressing issues that give rise to insecurity.

The governor, who was represented by the secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, said Akwa Ibom government has invested so much cash and energy into addressing the issues of unemployment and other social malaise that gave rise to insecurity.

According to Emmanuel, “Since its creation in 1987, Akwa Ibom has under successive administrations, made tremendous efforts to ensure that the residents as well as their property are safe and secure.”

Although he recalled that there was a turbulent era in the life of the state, he declared that under the current administration, much has been done to address the questions of unemployment and food scarcity, noting such interventions have combined “to take the idle youths off the streets”.

To fully entrench lasting peace and stability in the state, Governor Emmanuel disclosed that his administration had banned over 33 cult groups and implemented amnesty programme for over 420 repentant militants, who were impressed upon the government to voluntarily lay down their arms in return for rehabilitation and empowerment.

“The passion demonstrated by the present administration in stemming the upsurge in insecurity such as militancy, cultism, assassinations and other violent crimes in the state, is unparalleled,” he stressed.

In the same vein, the federal government representative and permanent secretary in charge of Special Duties in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Dr Amina Shamaki, identified Boko Haram, herdsmen\farmers’ crises and other flashpoints as some of the challenges staring the upcoming elections in the face.

She enjoined the people to be security conscious at all times, even as she prevailed on security stakeholders and governments at all levels to see security as the single most important question that must be addressed going into the polls next year.

She warned against votes buying and selling during the exercise, pointing out that the very poor would be prone to such malpractices given the fact of lack of resources and other economic factors that could assist them to resist such overtures.

Governments, she pointed out, should be able to address the socio economic challenges of unemployment and food crises that combined to render the very poor vulnerable to easy bribe to sell their votes.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/fg-aibom-govt-seek-more-investment-in.html