The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has advised Nigerians to avoid risky behaviours that might contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country during the Yuletide.

Dr Sani Aliyu, the Director-General of NACA, who gave the advice in Abuja yesterday, said that they should celebrate “cautiously within the context of caring deeply for their loved ones”.

Aliyu said: “As you celebrate, we want to encourage everyone to avoid risky behaviours that may contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country.

“Since Yuletide season is a time for people to express love to one another, we should express such love cautiously within the context of caring deeply for our loved ones.

“At this period, we demonstrate love by spending quality time together with loved ones and exchanging variety of gift items among ourselves.
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“However, due to uninformed decision making, people engage in indiscriminate sexual and other negatives activities during festive period.

“We must set limits and monitor abuses that may result to any form of negative activity that may expose us to HIV infection.

“As we celebrate, let us be role models that will spread information on HIV and resolve to show love to persons infected and affected by HIV.

“NACA is appealing to the general public that in sharing gifts among our loved ones, we should not share HIV through risky sexual behaviors,” the NACA boss said.

Aliyu also encouraged Nigerians to go for free HIV test during this Christmas and New Year holidays in any of the government hospitals within their locality.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/26/hiv-avoid-risky-behaviour-yuletide-naca-warns-nigerians/

Former Tottenham Hotspur star, Jamie Redknapp has said that Liverpool centre-back, Virgil van Dijk possesses the qualities of Chelsea legend, John Terry, Manchester United legends, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

Redknapp believes that Van Dijk is a player that every team would love to have in their side, adding that the Dutch star is Terry, Ferdinand and Vidic put together.

“We are only halfway through the season but already nobody comes close to Virgil van Dijk in the race for Player of the Year. He is the one player every team would love to have in their side,” Redknapp told the Daily Mail.

“Think of the best defenders in Premier League history — John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. Van Dijk is all three players rolled into one.

“He reads the game like Terry and is a lovely passer, getting the ball out of his feet and spraying 30-yard balls. Van Dijk is blessed with the pace of Rio, too. Rarely do you see him caught out in a one-v-one situation.”

Van Dijk will hope to lead Liverpool to victory when they tackle Newcastle United in the Premier League fixture on Wednesday.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/25/epl-redknapp-names-best-defender-premier-league-terry-ferdinand-vidics-qualities/

The new governor of the Mexican state of Puebla, Martha Erika Alonso and her husband, Rafael Moreno, were killed Monday in a helicopter crash in central Mexico.

President Andrés Obrador confirmed the deaths on Twitter Monday evening.

He offered his condolences to the families of Martha Erika Alonso and husband Rafael Moreno and vowed a transparent investigation into the cause of the Christmas eve crash.

He added that his government’s investigation of the crash will “tell the truth about what happened and act accordingly.”

Also, Marko Cortes who is chairman of the late governor’s party, the National Action Party, said via Twitter that he was deeply saddened to hear about the accident in which Alonso, Moreno and others were killed.

“We are in mourning,” he wrote.

Alonso assumed the governorship of the east-central Mexican state on December 14 after narrowly defeating her opponent.

A day before her death, the Governor tweeted: “My best wishes at this holiday to all the Pueblana families. I know that in 2019, we expect great challenges but together we can make it a year of prosperity and peace for the state. Congratulations.”

She was the state’s first female governor.

Moreno, her husband, was a senator and governor of the same state from 2011 to 2017.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/25/governor-dies-helicopter-crash/

The death toll from a volcano-triggered tsunami in Indonesia has risen to more than 220, with over 800 people injured, officials said on Sunday.

“222 people are dead, 843 people are injured and 28 people are missing,” Indonesia’s national disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.

“This number is predicted to increase because not all victims have been successfully evacuated, not all health centres have reported victims and not all locations have got complete data,” he added.

The tsunami hit both sides of Indonesia’s Sunda Strait on Saturday, sending a wall of water crashing about 20 metres inland and sweeping away hundreds of homes and hotels, officials and witnesses have said.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/24/indonesia-tsunami-kills-220-injures-hundreds/

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government has fulfilled all the promises made to Nigerians.

The minister made this claim while answering questions from journalists in the State House on Saturday.

He added that the President Muhammadu Buhari government has met all its obligations to Nigerians, promising that the government is determined to do more in the New Year.

“I wish everybody Merry Christmas and as a government, we are happy that we have been able to meet all our promises, all our obligations to Nigerians since we came into power.

“And as the year rolls out, we are more determined to even deliver more to Nigerians.

“I wish to use this opportunity to wish everybody merry Christmas and a happy new year,” he said.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/23/apc-govt-fulfilled-promises-nigerians-lai-mohammed/

A Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) security personnel, Mr Usman Mohammed, on Friday slumped and died while on duty at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

Mr. Olayinka Abioye, immediate past General Secretary, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.

Abioye said: ‘The deceased was a former executive member of NUATE, FAAN branch.

“We learnt he was on duty yesterday when he suddenly collapsed and died before receiving medical attention.”

He said the deceased, who is survived by a wife and five children, had been buried according to Islamic rites.

Abioye described Mohammed’s demise as unfortunate, stressing that the FAAN management must give priority and urgent attention to the well being of workers.

According to him, some aviation security staff were being made to work more than the required eight hours per day without rest periods or compensation.

“It is said that some of them work for 12 hours at a stretch without break simply because the Directorate of Aviation Security is suffering from dearth of adequate manpower,” he alleged.

Abioye said although FAAN had been carrying out recruitments from time to time, such exercises were not on need basis as expected but on political expediency.

He said aviation security, which operates under Section 17 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) convention, was critical to airport operations and must be adequately staffed.

Abioye, therefore, urged FAAN management to deploy more personnel to the directorate and also provide adequate medical facilities at the airport to prevent recurrence of such incident.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/22/faan-aviation-security-personnel-slumps-dies-lagos-airport/

The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun has made it clear that he does not fear the National leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

The governor said he only fears God and President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that he was ready for Oshiomhole.

Amosun stated this when he received a letter from the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, endorsing Buhari of the APC as its presidential candidate for the February 2019 presidential polls.

Amosun took delivery of the endorsement letter from the governorship candidate of APM, Hon. Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade, at the APC Secretariat on Abiola Way, Abeokuta, the state capital.

The Governor is expected to transfer the letter to President Buhari.

He also declared that the elected executive of the APC led by Chief Derin Adebiyi would serve its four-year term fully.

The National Working Committee, NWC, had during the week dissolved the APC executives in Ogun and Imo states.

Oshiomhole had also appointed a three-man caretaker committee for the party in Ogun State.

The committee members are: Yemi Sanusi (Chairman), Ayo Olubori (Secretary) and Tunde Oladunjoye (Publicity Secretary).

Governor Amosun said, “You know me by now. For me, I fear God and I respect people. So, it won’t be because we are afraid or we don’t want to talk.

“Where we are now, what we should concentrate in doing is to let them know that here in Ogun State, this is the home of President Buhari and we must vote massively for him.

“This is the home of APC. We must let them know that come February 16, 2019, by the benevolence of the Almighty Lord…

“We are human. We are no God, and that is why we are telling them that in this coming election, in this Ogun State, it is whoever all of you (people) decide to back that will win the election.

“So, the best way to answer them is through our action. And what is the action? We will use our votes to let them know who owns this Ogun State.

“So, if they are looking for states to destroy them, they should not think of Ogun State. We are ready for them.

“We don’t fear them. All of them put together, we don’t fear anybody. We fear God and we fear President Muhammadu Buhari.

“We have decided to let them be for the sake of President Buhari. If not for the President, we know what to do.

“Just ignore them. Don’t engage them for anything. Let us be focused and redouble our efforts so that in the coming election, we are going to answer them with our votes.

“I want to assure you that this executive that God has used you to put together, the executive will be there for the next four years. They will serve their term.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/22/apc-crisis-gov-amosun-names-2-persons-fears-knocks-oshiomhole/

Two of the biggest female African music stars Yemi Alade and Tiwa Salvage, have started a fight on social media over the size of their buttocks.

Yemi Alade started the fight when she took to her Twitter handle to throw shots at an unnamed person who according to her has been photoshopping her bum to deceive her fans on social media.

She warned the person to stop deceing people and accept the fact that she has nothing behind.

She wrote, “Stop increasing your ynash (buttocks) in your pictures. You know you are straight like ‘I’. Embrace your real self! Ahh ahh. Deceiving fans up and dan(down).”

However, Tiwa thought the message was directed at her and wasted no time to react.

The Mavin First Lady first took to her Instagram Stories to write, “Don’t start a war you cannot finish.

“Trust me I’m not the one. I’m quiet but don’t f**k with me.”


http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/21/tiwa-savage-yemi-alade-fight-dirty-buttocks-sizes/

Popular Nigerian singers, Olamide and Lil Kesh on Friday addressed report that their new song was promoting ritual killings and ‘Yahoo’.

DAILY POST had reported that the musicians had come under attack because their new song titled ‘Logo Benz’ had lyrics like “If money no enter I go do blood money” and Nigerians aren’t finding it funny at all.

The song which since its release on Thursday stirred divergent reactions from Nigerians, especially on social media.

Some Nigerians condemned the singers for such lyrics said to be encouraging youths to engage in ritual killings and fraudulent acts for money.

But reacting, Olamide on his Twitter account denied promoting ‘blood money and yahoo.

The singer said the song was meant to create awareness about the current state of youths in our society.

He tweeted, ”Logo Benz is for the 3rd party to have a glimpse into the current state of youths in our society. (Runs girls x runs boys)

“I’m not sure if there’s anything like 2 much awareness, but pardon me if there is. It’s all over the news, it’s always been in movies, don’t box musicians.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/21/olamide-reacts-nigerians-attack-promoting-blood-moneyyahoo/

The presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has assured Nigerians that the increasing rate of unemployment in the country would stop if she emerged as the President.

In a press statement issued on Thursday in reaction to the recent data released by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), she warned Nigerians against voting for “candidates that have no idea of how to solve the challenges facing the country.”

The ACPN presidential candidate reiterated that no fewer than 80 million Nigerians would be lifted out of poverty by her administration.

She said that her administration would implement a productivity and competitiveness initiative that would create new opportunities and jobs in some key sectors.

Among the sectors she listed are: agriculture, fisheries, livestock and agribusiness where more than one-third of Nigeria’s active labour population are found.

“There will be jobs from light manufacturing industries, construction, housing and public works, renewable solutions, services including trade, telecoms and technology, domestic tourism, and creative industries.

“These industries not only hold the key to putting more Nigerians to work but provides a much-needed boost to the nation’s productivity.

“Promoting and supporting these industries will occur through a mix of sound policies on trade, tax, infrastructure, skills, training, and research
and development,” Ezekwesili added.

She also said priority would be placed on building a rapidly expanding economy, which would be powered by the private sector based on an economic structural change agenda.

She said, “A majority of those operating in the economy are in the informal, low productivity sectors. While previous governments have
focused largely on the formal sector in their poverty reduction and ease of doing business schemes, the informal sector, according to the
International Monetary Fund (IMF), is over 60 per cent of the Nigerian economy ($240bn).

“Unable to tackle the factors which lead to informality, such as low level of education, previous governments have chosen either to ignore the problem or militate against it. The informal sector also suffers low productivity due to high business costs which outstrip earnings.

“These barriers on them mean that those that work the hardest in our economies fail to earn a decent living. Investments in the formal sector
over the last couple of years, while significant, have not yielded the kind of growth rates achieved by the informal sector, which grew at an annual average rate of about 8.5 per cent between 2015 and 2017, in comparison with the formal economy which grew by 0.8 per cent in 2017.

“However, increased informality, if unchecked, could lead to higher rates of poverty and inequality.”

She also said, “We will move to embed the productivity and competitiveness agenda within initiatives that give incentive for the nation’s informal businesses and workers to, on their own, enter the regulatory framework which enables adequate access to government support, accounting, tax reform necessitated by a larger number of registered workers, and the capitalisation of investments in domestic
industries.

“In order to revitalise key aspects of the economy and implement dramatic reform, the government will pay significant attention to the informal sector, as the principal creator of employment and as a catalyst for growth and development.”

According to Ezekwesili, Nigeria’s growth and productivity can only happen when the people have lots of jobs and when they earn incomes that pull them out of poverty.

“Right now, people simply do not have jobs. Under President Muhammadu Buhari, according to the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), over 20 million Nigerians are unemployed. Again, think about that for a second. Those are not just numbers – they are humans; one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight million humans. They have families. They have people who depend on them.

“We all know someone who has lost a job in this economy. You may even be one of them. We all have families and friends who call us on the phone, pleading for any change we could spare at all to help them survive one more day. How long can we continue like this? The right candidate is Ezekwesili,” the statement added.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/20/ezekwesili-reacts-nbs-confirmation-21-million-nigerians-unemployed/

Amidst the pandemonium that greeted the just concluded 2019 budget presentation at the National Assembly, Senator Godswill Akpabio (APC, Akwa Ibom) has called on the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and House of Reps. Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, to resign.

Briefing newsmen at the National Assembly complex shortly after the rowdy budget presentation, Akpabio described the presiding officers as minority leaders who should do the needful and resign.

“Yes, they couldn’t talk because they are minority leaders. They are not even supposed to talk in the first place. They should therefore do the needful and resign honourably or face being booted out of office,” Akpabio told journalists.

Akpabio, a former Senate Minority Leader, who some months back defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the presiding officers are undeserving of their positions.

Recall that Buhari a while ago presented the N8.8 trillion 2019 budget proposal before a joint session of the National Assembly amidst tensions.

The rowdy session saw APC and PDP lawmakers locked in shouting match at the House of Representatives venue of the presentation.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/20/youre-minority-resign-now-akpabio-tells-saraki-dogara/

Jose Mourinho submitted an eyewatering £95million bid for Kalidou Koulibaly, before he was sacked by Manchester United, Napoli’s president has claimed.

The Portuguese was axed at Old Trafford on Tuesday, after a poor start to the season left the club 19 points behind Premier League table toppers Liverpool.

Mourinho had complained at the Manchester United board’s failure to sign a new centre-back in the summer and he was determined to sign Koulibaly.

And Napoli president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, confirmed the club had tabled a huge offer for the 27-year-old Senegal international, which was rejected by his club.

“Mourinho wanted him, we rejected £95 million.

“But now it’s impossibile that he leaves Napoli,” De Laurentiis said according to the UK Metro.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/19/napoli-confirm-mourinho-made-95m-bid-koulibaly-sacked-man-utd/

“They are fighting back. But the average Nigerian is not going to align with those forces. No, we cannot return to Egypt.”

Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has said that the ruling party has no reason to entertain fears over the 2019 general elections.

He specifically spoke on the candidacy of the PDP standard bearer, Atiku Abubakar and the state of the ruling party in Imo and Ogun States, arguing that the APC is stronger in those states now than before.
2019: My youths minister’ll be less than 30 years – Atiku
What will the APC tells Nigerians to convince them to vote for your party again?

Nigerians cannot forget that the PDP promised to provide stable electricity but failed in the 16 years they stayed in power. They will not forget that PDP spent $16 billion for power but the more money they spent, the more darkness. They will not forget that PDP claimed to have spent more money on rails but not one track did we see. Workers will not forget that all the industries were liquidated under the PDP. The textile industry employed more than a million people but 95 percent are out of job. Nigeria was exporting tyres to neighbouring countries but today, Michelin, Dunlop closed door under the PDP.

We should look at what the exchange rate was in1999 by the time they took over which was at the peak of Nigeria prosperity when oil went up to $140pb. Side by side with that is the country’s finance, you find out that Nigeria was into borrowing and deficit financing even at the time of surplus budgeting. These are the things we will put on the table and the good thing is that the PDP candidate was the vice president and people knew the role he played. According to somebody, he was one of the most powerful vice president Nigeria had. As a central player, he cannot say he did not know what went on in government. All the issues of huge corruptions like how his boss funded every National Assembly member with N50 million to House of Representatives members and N100 million for Senators, coming from within the system happened under them. Nigerians are aware of all those fraudulent activities under them.

We cannot return to those era of locust that Nigerians are very conversant with. Not only will women campaign, I strongly believe that the youths will campaign too. We cannot return to the situation where Nigeria became the highest per capital owner of private jets, yet the owners of the jets have no business addresses. The only thing is that they have connections at the NNPC, PPRC among others. We are aware that there are people across the divide that are fighting back and as the vice president said; we can see the gang up from people who are used to sucking the system without adding any value. Those ones are being cut off and obviously they are fighting back. But the average Nigerian is not going to align with those forces. No, we cannot return to Egypt.
What is your assessment of the peace committee?

I believe it is working very well and the governors have been very helpful in going from state to state talking to the people. Those that have negotiable grievances are being sorted out but if there are individuals who simply insist that it is either what they want or they will port, there is nothing we can do about that.

Nigeria has to go to a level that it is only rules that matters not person. Whether big or small person, the rules are not supposed to discriminate and those are the things we are trying to do.
Did the defection of Amosun and Okorocha’ men surprise you?

Our popularity in Imo and Ogun States are much higher. What you don’t know is that Nigerians always made me surprise by thinking that once you are a governor, you have electoral value. Yes, we have overwhelming majority of the APC governors with electoral value but we also have others without electoral values. I can concretely tell you today that in Imo State, APC will win more votes. As I said, it is about numbers and my focus is about the ordinary Imo electorate because the governor, his Commissioner for Happiness and the son in-law have only one vote on that day.

But those mechanics, market women, school teachers and workers whose salaries are unpaid for years that have the same weight of votes. They are excited about the new possibilities of a new government coming with new idea free from all the encumbrances of the present system. I am very confident in Imo.

Also, in Ogun State, don’t forget that the vice president is from there. We cannot focus on one person and not on the other. Ogun is one of the most enlightened states in the country and that is where Chief Awolowo came from. They have a huge history in a political kingdom headed by one person. I believe that if they are looking for reconciliation or truth, they would not have done what they did. They already have the mindset that once they don’t get their governor in, nothing is right; it is not how democracy works.

In America, a president can endorse someone yet the person loses. Don’t forget that Obama endorsed Clinton but Americans voted for Trump. Nigeria democracy must grow beyond this big man syndrome of ‘I am the governor and I will decide,’ yet you have only one vote and with all due respect, I was a governor but I know that I have only one vote on the day of election and in only one polling booth.

Overall, APC is a much stronger party now but we should not focus only on APC alone. Talking of Ogun State, the PDP has two governorship candidates and two deputy governors running, yet as we speak, the APC has only one in the person of Dapo Abiodun. When a child ran out of his father’s house to bear a new name according to history and the Bible, he returned when the weather thoroughly beats him as a prodigal son. That is why APC has prodigal sons. Those who think that their political future is tied to one person are poor students of history. They forget that some of these people thinking that they are invisible have run election before and lost deposit until they abandoned their parties and joined us.

If they return, history will repeat itself. We are not thinking of sanctioning them because the real sanction will come from the electorate but as for if any rules of the party has been breached, are the things we will have to look at. It is not my function. What should be the real headline is that we will deliver Dapo Abiodun in Ogun State and Hope Uzodinma in Imo State.
What are your fears for the 2019 elections?

I will rather tell you my hopes and that is that Buhari will win by getting more votes than he garnered before. Some of those people who misuse religion, which was one of the most potent weapons used very recklessly by people that have no issues in 2015, this time around they would have to speak to issue because the two main candidates are Muslims.

Secondly, we also had the issue of north and south responsible for Buhari retaining the key support in the north while the south suspiciously voted based on son of the soil. This time, ethnicity will be a non-issue because they are from the same region. They are therefore going to look at character.

Nobody has said that Buhari is a thief, but who said that the other person is a thief was the person he worked with. If you are working with me and I said that you are thief, that God will punish me if I support you and when you are confused because your supply line has been chopped off and you enter a new deal, you now come back to say I now support you, that God you invoked with your name to punish you if you support that person is about to go to work and He will go to work in February next year. He will punish you thoroughly and punish the person he is supporting in favour of Nigeria.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/19/2019-voting-pdp-returning-egypt-oshiomhole/

Adekunle Temitope, popularly known as Small Doctor, is afraid of running into trouble again, especially during this festive period.

The singing dude, who was recently arrested for possession of firearms but escaped prosecution by the whiskers as a result of intervention by well meaning Nigerians, is praying against being involved in any form of criminal activity this period. Hear him: “Our creator will never let us be in jail during the festive period and beyond.”

Did I hear you say a loud Amen to that?

Our elders are right: An animal that has just escaped from a bush trap is scared of any bent stick it sees on the way.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/18/small-doctor-scared-thrown-jail-yuletide/

Hon. Adekunle Akinlade, the anointed governorship candidate of Gov. Ibikunle Amosun, on Monday said that the Allied People’s Movement (APM) will win the 2019 elections in Ogun.

Akinlade said this at a press conference at the party’s secretariat in Abeokuta.

He alleged that the imposition of candidates in APC as well as the open hostility to the duly elected party leadership in the state compelled him and others to look for an alternative platform in search of justice and internal democracy.

Akinlade, who recently defected from the APC, claimed some “ self-seeking elements’’ within the ruling party frustrated the mandate given to him and other genuine candidates in the state.

“All genuine efforts by various stakeholders across the nation to make them see reason and accept the people’s choice have fallen on deaf ears,’’ he said.

He described the APM as a people-oriented movement which would sustain the incumbent’s rebuilding mission.

According to the House of Representatives member, he remains the most qualified person to succeed Amosun having been a part of his administration which had transformed the state.

“I am proud to be the governorship candidate of APM. I want to tell you that both of my legs are in APM.

“APM has come to stay in Ogun State. We are going to build the party and make it a household name in the state,” he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Sarafa Isola, was unveiled as the Director-General of the APM Campaign Council in the state.

Isola had noted that the APM gubernatorial candidate was the answer to the yearnings of the people of Ogun West Senatorial District to produce a governor since the creation of the state.

“We see in him the qualities required towards sustainable development of our state,’’ he said.

Isola however, pointed out that the APM would support the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

He added that APM members would also work for the electoral victory of Amosun who is the APC senatorial candidate for Ogun Central.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/18/adekunle-akinlade-apm-will-win-ogun-guber/

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has promised that his presidency would bequeath a better future to Nigerian youths.

Atiku said that not less than 40 per cent of his cabinet would be made up of Nigerian youths and women if elected president in the 2019 general elections.

He said this while reeling out his agenda at a Youth Town Hall meeting on Monday in Lagos, which had the party’s chairman, Uche Secondus, Ayo Fayose amongst others in attendance.

“Our gathering here today is about the future of our youths. I am concerned about the plight of the Nigerian youths.

”They are the future and we need to bequeath a good and secured future to our younger generation.

”I will work more with the youth and even my Minister for youth will not be more than 30 years of age,

“Not less than 40 per cent of his cabinet would be made up of Nigerian youths and women if elected president in the 2019 general elections,” the former Vice President said.

Atiku also promised to enthrone technology in the nation’s education.

Also speaking, Uche Secondus, PDP National Chairman said that the youth would matter in Atiku’s presidency, NAN reports.

“We recognised that Nigerian youth are innovative, industrious and hardworking.

“As you vote in Atiku in 2019, you are voting for your liberation,” he said.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/17/2019-atiku-speaks-appointments/

Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday night left for Austria, to participate in the Africa-Europe High Level Forum with other African and European Heads of States and Government holding in Vienna, between Monday, December 17, and Tuesday, December 18.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-president on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande.

According to the statement, Osinbajo would be speaking on the theme: ‘Taking cooperation to the digital age’ at the High-Level Forum, hosted by the Austrian government on behalf of the European Union and the African Union.

“The High-Level Forum will promote innovation and digitalisation according to the organizers in the EU and AU, as important enablers of our future development, so that everyone can benefit from the ongoing digital transformation.

“The forum aims at assessing how current partnerships between Africa and Europe contribute to this goal, complementing the ongoing implementation of the joint declaration of the 2017 Abidjan Summit between the African Union and the European Union, which, among other things, highlighted the importance of unlocking the potential of the digital economy for Africa and Europe. It also aims at contributing to the Africa-Europe Alliance for Sustainable Investment and Jobs.

“During his trip to Vienna, Prof. Osinbajo would hold a town-hall meeting with the Nigerian community in Austria; and also attend several bilateral meetings with European government leaders, including the Prime Minister of Czech Republic, Andrej Babis; Prime Minister of Finland, H.E. Juha Petri Sipilä; the Federal Chancellor of Austria, His Excellency, Sebastian Kurz; and the UK Minister for Africa, Harriet Baldwin”, the statement said.

It added that Osinbajo would also use the opportunity to meet with top officials of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation before returning to Nigeria on Tuesday.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/17/osinbajo-leaves-austria-speak-africa-europe-high-level-forum/

Barely 60 days to the 2019 general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday pointed out that President Muhammadu Buhari is not prepared for the election, but only interested in rigging.

The party said that the fact that President Buhari has failed to constitute his campaign council or developed a clear-cut campaign blueprint, 61 days to the February Presidential election, is an indication that he is not preparing to stand elections.

PDP alleged that Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) have failed to set up a campaign structure because they are banking on their plots with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to manipulate the electoral process and rig for them.

PDP, in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan said, “it is clear that President Buhari has been overwhelmed over his rejection by a vast majority of Nigerians, who are bearing the brunt of his incompetent and corrupt administration; that is why he cannot articulate any campaign message after the failed launch of his copied and widely spurned “Next Level” mantra.

“All over the world, patriotic and obligated leaders, who are seeking (re-) elections, go to the electorate to canvass for votes with their messages and solutions. But our President and the APC have been busy procuring phony endorsements, harassing and intimidating opposition leaders, compromising the electoral body to create illegal voting centers, delaying election budgets and holding the process to ransom by refusing to sign amendments to the Electoral Act that eliminate avenues for rigging.

“President Buhari, who is already reputed to have wrecked our once robust economy, crippled our critical sectors, entrenched corruption at the high places, and whose administration has dangerously divided our nation with escalated violence and daily bloodletting, is seeking re-election with no solution to offer on any critical sector of our economy.

“Mr. President has nothing to offer on security; he has no message on education, agriculture, health, energy, power, employment, manufacturing and other key sectors, which he wrecked in the last three and half years.

“Instead of seeking ways to make amends, President Buhari, ostensibly out of frustration over his rejection and imminent electoral defeat in 2019, has arrogantly told Nigerians to be ready to face more suffering and hardship in the remaining part of his tenure.”

PDP explained that on its part, its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar is going round the country campaigning and telling the nation the solution to the mirage of problems created by this administration.

“On our own part, our party and Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, are working hard, campaigning across the country and offering solutions, for which we have continued to receive overwhelming support from majority of Nigerians, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

“It is instructive for President Buhari and APC to note that they cannot have their way, as Nigerians are determined in their resolve to resist any attempt by the APC to rig in this election,” the party said.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/17/buhari-not-preparing-election-interested-rigging-pdp/

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Enough is Enough (EiE), and BudgIT have sent a joint Freedom of Information request to Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, Chief of Army Staff of Nigeria, to urgently provide information on the 2015, 2016 and 2017 budget implementation reports of the Nigerian Army, including the amounts released (financial implications) and expended in fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017 for the various operations the Army carried out.

The groups also urged Mr. Buratai to furnish them with “the amounts released (financial implications) and expended in fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017 for: Operation Lafiya Dole, Operation Safe Haven, Operation Python Dance, Operation Ruwan Wuta, Operation Delta Safe, Operation Mesa, Operation Harbin Kunama, Operation Awatse, Operation Tsera Teku and Operation Crocodile Smile.”

In the FOI request signed by Bamisope Adeyanju of SERAP, Seun Akinyemi of EiE and Atiku Samuel of BudgIT, the groups said: “Transparency of the budget process and its implementation is an essential condition to achieve good governance. The reports, if provided and published, will shed light on military spending and put to rest once and for all the perceived lack of transparency and accountability in the spending of military budgets, which has been a subject of intense public debate and concern.”

The groups added that: “If the requested information is not provided within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter, our organizations shall take all appropriate legal action under the Freedom of Information Act to compel you to comply with our request.

“Several billions of naira allocated to the military to defend the country and protect its people have neither contributed to improving the ability of Nigerian soldiers to fight Boko Haram and other armed groups nor provided the much-needed security especially for Nigerians in the North-east of the country.”

The FOI request read in part: “The information being requested does not come within the purview of the types of information exempted from disclosure by the provisions of the FOI Act. The information requested for, apart from not being exempted from disclosure under the FOI Act, would serve the national interest, public welfare, public interest and peace, human rights, good governance, transparency and accountability.

“By virtue of Section 1(1) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, we are entitled as of right to request for or gain access to information, including information on 2015, 2016 and 2017 budget implementation reports of the Nigerian Army, and the amounts released (financial implications) and expended in fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017 for the various operations listed, which have yielded no tangible result.

“Also, by virtue of Section 4(a) of the FOI Act, when a person makes a request for information from a public official, institution or agency, the public official, institution or agency to whom the application is directed is under a binding legal obligation to provide the applicant with the information requested for, except as otherwise provided by the Act, within 7 days after the application is received.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/16/buratai-gets-ultimatum-account-spendings-army-operations/

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested six suspected cultists in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State.

The suspects, which include two females, were rounded up following a tip-off to the police at Paradise Hotel where they were reportedly brandishing dangerous weapons.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Haruna Mohammed, police detectives attached to Ogidi division had on getting the information rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area.

News Express gathered that the gang on sighting the police locked the entrance of the hotel and engaged the police in fierce gun duel which lasted for more than 30 minutes.

As a result of the gun duel, one of the suspects, Ugochukwu Okafor, sustained gunshot injuries on his buttocks while trying to disarm a police officer.

The statement reads in part: “On 14/12/2018 at about 4pm, there was intelligence report at Ogidi Division that some suspected armed robbers/cultists were cited at Paradise hotel Ogidi brandishing dangerous weapons.

“The suspects on seeing the police approach, locked the gates of the hotel and engaged police in a gun duel which lasted for more than thirty minutes.

“The Police responded but with high restraint in order to avert innocent civilian casualties.”

“Consequently, four male suspects including the injured one and two female suspects were arrested while others fled.”

Exhibits recovered from the suspects include one locally made pistol, three live cartridges. two empty shells, one axe, some quantities of dry leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp and tramadol drugs.

Mohammed added that the injured suspect was taken to the hospital for treatment and that the case is under investigation after which the suspects would be charged to court for prosecution.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/16/6-cultists-arrested-gun-duel-anambra-hotel/

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has revealed what the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari has done within the last four years to change the economic fortunes of the citizens.

According to him, the government has succeeded in blocking the leakages in the treasury, fought grand corruption in the handling of government affairs, and made a N500bn social investment in the welfare of poor people.

Osinbajo stated this yesterday while giving his closing remarks at the Vice-Presidential debate organised by the Nigerian Election Debate Group, NEDG, in Abuja.

He said: “Nigeria is where it is today because of 16 years of misrule. Poverty in 2004 was 80 million. As at 2014, it went to 112 million in Nigeria.

“What we set out to do from 2015 was to reduce the poverty and contain it. That’s why we set up a social investment programme of N500bn despite the fact we are earning 60 percent less.

“What we have tried to do in the past four years is to reduce the damage that has been done. First of all, we have prevented leakages, and fought the corruption that has brought us to where we are.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/15/vp-debate-done-free-nigerians-poverty-osinbajo/

Barcelona legend, Andres Iniesta, has named the best player in history of football.

Iniesta, who spent over a decade playing with Messi at Barcelona, said the Argentine is the best footballer in history.

Brazilian football legend, Pele, had last week slammed Messi, describing him as one-footed player who could not head the ball.

But and Iniesta were baffled by Pele’s comments.

“I do not want to answer what Pele said,” Iniesta, who is now playing for Vissel Kobe in Japan, told Mundo Deportivo.

“But he [Messi] is the best player in history.

“He’s got all the records – headers, skills, right-footed shots [and] left-footed shots.

“I have not seen anyone do what he does and every year he exceeds my expectations.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/14/world-best-player-iniesta-names-best-footballer-history/

Brazil’s epic “Car Wash” corruption investigation has extended to four of the world’s largest oil trading companies – Vitol SA, Trafigura, Glencore PLC and Mercuria Energy Group.

And one of the pending transactions to be affected is the sale by Brazil’s state-owned oil firm, Petrobas of its stake in some Nigerian oil fields.

Vitol is leading a consortium to buy the Petrobas interest for $1.5 billion.

Brazil’s Federal prosecutors allege the European multinationals and some smaller players collectively paid at least $31 million in bribes over a six-year period to employees at Petrobras to sell them oil at sweetheart prices.

They said the firms’ top brass had “total and unequivocal” knowledge that they were fleecing Petrobras and that the illicit activity may still be ongoing.

More than 600 pages of legal documents reviewed by Reuters portray what prosecutors describe as a bustling criminal enterprise fuelled by creativity, competition and greed.

Authorities say the trading companies often used freelance middlemen in an effort to cover their tracks, allowing these businessmen to negotiate deals and pay off Petrobras collaborators using bank accounts in several countries.

Emails obtained by investigators show intermediaries hustling to profit from their connections, authorities said. Some shared spreadsheets divvying up to the last cent their cut of the spoils from deals they allegedly sealed with crooked Petrobras employees.

Prosecutors said the messages also show that rings of middlemen knew about one another and battled fiercely for the favor of the big oil-trading firms. Some discussed their attempts to woo top executives with promises of delivering more shady trades and fatter profits than rivals.

One intermediary griped that Vitol was “not at all sentimental” and would choose whomever could secure them the biggest returns.

“Now you are the flavour of the month, next month there is a new flavour,” the middleman lamented in the email.

Brazilian authorities last week searched the Rio de Janeiro-area offices of Vitol, Trafigura and Glencore as well as other entities they allege participated in the scheme. Police said they could not locate a physical office in Brazil for Mercuria. No charges have been filed. (NAN)

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/14/bribery-deals-stall-sale-1-5b-nigerian-oil-fields/

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to give women a strong representation in his government, if elected in 2019.

Abubakar made the pledge during an interactive session with Nigerian Women on Wednesday in Abuja.

The former Vice President said that he decided to have his first interaction with women because the PDP had never refused to advance or protect the interest of women.

“This is the first interactive session we are having with any group and this is to underline the importance of women as far as our party is concerned.

“Since you are about 50 per cent of our population, our representatives at all levels must reflect this population.

“Some will argue that gender equality is a deal that cannot be achieved overnight, I disagree.

“We can achieve it. The PDP almost achieved it until the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) took over power.

“I stand before you here today and I want you to hold me accountable. I will commit to a strong representation of women in our PDP government and also recall that when I was the Vice President, I demonstrated this belief.

“I brought some of the brightest women into our government. Therefore, gender should not be a barrier.

“In terms of quantity and quality, women will play a lead role in our administration,” Abubakar said.

Abubakar, while answering questions, promised to put in place a financial programme targeted at empowering women to tackle poverty as well as establish a sustainable financial inclusion system that would address discrimination against women.

“For those of you who might have come from the same state with me, some years ago, I decided to set up a microfinance bank.

“I brought management experts from Bangladesh because Bangladesh is the best country in the management of micro finance.

“I gave them instructions to make sure that 80 per cent of the loans go to women and today that bank is one of the best micro finance banks in the country.

“We have moved out more than 45, 000 people out of poverty in my area. If you want to fight poverty, empower women.

“I am not talking politics, I am sentimentally and emotionally attached to womanhood,” he stated.

Abubakar also pledged to improve the country’s transportation system by improving the infrastructure including good roads, railway and airport to reduce accidents

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/13/2019-atiku-reveals-what-hell-do-if-elected/

Leaders of the South East based Coalition of Human Rights and Democracy Organizations (SBCHROs) have risen from a special meeting/session in Onitsha, Anambra State, with an alarm that the 2019 presidential election may be scientifically rigged.

The alarm was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a marathon tow-day meeting called on account of the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR), globally marked on December 10.

The meeting, which lasted throughout the evening into the late night of Saturday, and continued till Sunday afternoon, was attended by 20 SBCHROs coalition member-groups, in addition to specially invited persons drawn from academia, legal profession, media industry, religious organisations, Igbo Think-Tank, business community, computer engineering, military profession, human rights community; electoral advocacy, research and demography; and persons living with visual impairment, etc. Experts on anti-poll rigging using ICT as well as PVCs distribution and Card Reader management were equally in attendance.

The highlight of the special meeting was the presentation by the leadership of Int’l Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety) of an 80-page special report on “Nigerian Military Massacre Operations in Eastern Nigeria (August 2015-September 2017”; attached with “80-page pictorial album of victims of the massacre operations”. The Special Report also contains “Economic Losses of the Nigerian Military Massacre Operations in Southeast & Igbo Delta (August 2015-December 2018-40 months)”.

The special report, researched and authored by Emeka Umeagbalasi, a criminologist and graduate of security studies with expertise in peace studies and conflict resolution, has inputs from local and international academicians and legal luminaries; with the researcher/author aided by eight-member research assistants. The research work which comes on stream in coming days or weeks; was generally adopted by SBCHROs for local, national, regional and global campaigns and other strategic actions.

Below are excerpts of the communiqué:

“Deliberations & Resolutions: The coalition meticulously and forensically brainstormed on the above highlighted thorny issues and came up with various resolutions. One of the resolutions was the imperative need for the emancipation of the Igbo nation from the shackles of political oppression, exclusion, segregation and persecution in Nigeria or any part thereof. The coalition called for more and active participation and involvement of People of the Igbo Nation State in political or democratic process in Nigeria especially the 2019 general polls.

The coalition further observed with dismay the present militarisation of the political process and landscape in Nigeria particularly militarisation or military and police siege on old Eastern Nigeria or Southeast Region, Rivers and Delta states – two states with approximately 60% and 40% Igbo populations respectively. Such situation which has already compromised army neutrality in the democratic process; coupled with its brazen lopsided composition, has wrecked untold havoc on the people and their properties in the affected Region or areas as well as in the Nigeria’s electoral system.

“Igbo people in various parts of the country or outside Igbo land have also been found to be in serious dilemma over what becomes of their fate during the 2019 general elections amidst difficulties of voters’ cards transfer as well as intra or inter personal threats surrounding their forced or voluntary resolve to relocate to their home states during the exercise. The coalition took a careful appraisal of the dilemma especially as it concerns possible mass return of the Igbo people living in Northern Nigeria during the polls owing to fear of losing their lives and properties, especially judging from the sad experience of the 2011 post-election violence in the North.

“The coalition found the likelihood of non-repetition of such sad incident in Northern Region during the 2019 general polls; particularly owing to the fact that the 2019 Presidential Poll is largely “north versus north” affair. That notwithstanding, the coalition called for increased unbiased security presence, intelligence and patrol in all areas of Northern Nigeria particularly in areas dominated by citizens of Igbo and other non-Igbo origins. Igbo citizens living in Northern Nigeria as well as other eligible voting citizens of Nigeria must be protected and allowed to vote for candidates of their choice and conscience during the 2019 general polls.

“The coalition advised all Igbo citizens in Northern Nigeria who have registered or obtained their PVCs in their areas of residence to stay back and vote for candidates of their choice and conscience while those not yet registered or those who have successfully transferred their PVCs to Eastern Nigeria through “voter’s card transfer”; are free to return to their ancestral region or homes to vote or observe the polls.

“The coalition strongly identified and deliberated on palpable fears over the possible implementation or repetition of scientific election rigging during the 2019 elections especially in the Presidential Poll. Amidst widespread reports of tampering with card readers, collection of vital information from PVCs of eligible voters such as PVC pin or code numbers, alleged deletion from the National Register of Voters of location or venue, dates and time of voting and results, “front-loading” of bought or procured PVCs on election day as “valid cast votes”, alleged scanning and forwarding of many Southeast PVCs from INEC regional data to its central data with mischievous intents; the TraderMoni programme of the FG reportedly exchanged with collection of voters’ PVCs or their PVC code numbers, among other scientific rigging tricks deployed; these fears are real and constitute part of “vote buying” and “scientific rigging plans” appeared set in motion for rigging the 2019 general polls.

“This is more so when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has consistently maintained “North-South disparity” in its voters’ registration, PVCs issuance and distribution as well as use of Card Reader during polls. In the 2015 general polls, for instance, use of Card Reader was made strict in the South and relaxed in the North, to the extent that up to 13.5 million votes were strongly reported or generated outside the use of Card Reader; leading to “no single record of invalid vote” in most of the Northern Nigeria-a home to millions of persons living with visual and physical impairment and stark illiteracy.

During registration of voters including continuous voters registration, hundreds of thousands, if not millions of under-age children were registered as “voters” in Northern Nigeria and allowed to vote undetected in the 2015 general polls with all their votes counted and recorded as “valid votes”. The National Register of Voters still contains hundreds of thousands, if not millions of such names till date. This is coupled with INEC refusal to allow for electronic voting in Nigeria to exist side by side with manual voting.

“As clearly seen in recent Ekiti and Osun governorship polls, INEC has introduced another style of electronic rigging whereby in its desperate bid to return its favored party or candidates in election, poll results are ordered cancelled in its favored or disfavored party or its candidates’ strongholds noted with little or no hitches so as to manipulate its rerun by any means possible. This is usually the case when its disfavored party and its candidates are maintaining reasonable lead. The coalition called for concrete and urgent steps to be taken to systematically expose and destroy the highlighted despicable practices of INEC and other criminal political players. Any attempt to repeat the INEC sharp practices highlighted above can set the country on fire; capable of intractable ruination of the country.

“Voter apathy was identified by the coalition as one of the banes hindering Nigeria’s democratic growth and found to be chronic in Southeast Region, owing to long periods of failed promises and brazen truncation of the wishes of the electorates after elections in Nigeria including the Southeast Region, in addition to militarisation of poll process and election insecurity. Voter apathy among Nigerians particularly in the South East Region has increased with great speed. It is also found to have been compounded in recent times by the exponents of “poll boycott or poll shut down” or “Biafra referendum”.

“After exhaustive deliberation on the issue, the coalition came to the conclusion that exponents of “poll boycott” or “poll shutdown”; many, if not most of them non-bearers of PVCs, are free to preach their messages provided they are devoid of threats or violence; allowing PVC bearers to willingly exercise their civic rights of voting for candidates of their choice during the 2019 general polls particularly in the governorship and the presidential polls.

“As globally established, it is both criminal offence and breach of citizen’s fundamental human rights for any state actor (security agent or public office holder) or non-state actor (non-security operative or non-public office holder) to prevent, stampede, threaten, induce, attack or stop any registered voter or citizen from voting on election day. Right to vote is so sacred and inviolable that plebiscite or referendum is made an integral part of same.

“The coalition called on Nigerian security agencies to desist from cracking down on those campaigning for “poll boycott” or “poll shutdown”. Where they turn violent and target registered voters or members of the general public, the security agencies are strongly advised to use modern methods of crowd control to get them dispatched or restored normalcy. Security intelligence should be maximally deployed and used to track down any person or group of persons that engage in art of violent crimes during such street campaigns.

“The coalition strongly condemned the unspeakable partisanship and bias of Anti-graft agencies and their Chiefs who were reportedly caught or seen attending political rallies of Mr. President, wear epaulets/badges of Mr. President’s reelection materials or affiliated political party. These they reportedly do with reckless abandon; giving room to unspeakable hounding and harassment of perceived political opponents. The Presidency has also let loose on political opposition using EFCC, ICPC and covert and overt security agencies; hiding under the cover of “fighting corruption”.

“A clear case in point was ongoing barrage of attacks, harassments and fiscal violence the security and anti-graft agencies have let loose on vice presidential candidate of the main opposition party in the 2019 Presidential Polls, Mr. Peter Obi, and members of his family. These included recent report of freezing of his legitimate banks accounts. Since he left office as meritorious and achiever governor of Anambra State over four years ago (17th March 2014), there have been no credible records of Mr. Peter Obi being under EFCC or ICPC investigation. He is the only governor in the history of Nigeria to have left tens of billions of naira in cash in the state coffers without incurring debts or leaving debts that are greater than cash and investments left.

“It is totally correct to say that the Igbo political leaders/South East Governors have abandoned the People of their Region in pursuit of selfish political goals particularly quest to remain in office or facilitate their succession by cronies and puppets; all at the expense of collective security and wellbeing of the Igbo People and their Region. The silence and inaction of the Igbo political leaders/Southeast Governors in the midst of the above highlighted attacks and second colonisation is capable of unseating those of them contesting for second term in office. The human rights records of the present Governors of Anambra and Abia states are nothing to write about.

“The coalition condemned in strongest term the above highlighted misconducts of the Igbo political leaders/Southeast Governors who are now puppets of the Northern Oligarchy and have sold off the collective security of the Region. Also totally condemned by the coalition is their unholy alliance with President Buhari who they now work for or selfishly poised at returning for second tenure; at great expense of the general interests and wellbeing of the People of the Region including mortgaging the security of the Region in the hands of civilian, uniformed and militantly armed Fulani jihadists.

“The coalition also deliberated on refusal of Mr. President to assent to the amended Electoral Act and saw it as a pointer to the fact that the Presidency is likely up to some sinister plots to undermine and destabilise the 2019 elections. Knowing fully that the required 90 days for the National Assembly to veto the bill into law will not elapse before the general elections, the coalition called on Nigerians to rise up and demand that Mr. President do the right thing by assenting to that bill; failure of which the Administration should be voted out including being held responsible should anything untoward happens to the 2019 general polls.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/12/south-east-activists-hold-special-session-warn-against-scientific-rigging-of-2019-elections/

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has announced free transportation for indigenes of the state living in other parts of the country, who intend to return home to celebrate the festive season with their loved ones.

Announcing the welfare package, the Managing Director, Enugu State Transport Company (ENTRACO), Mr. Bob Itanyi, stated that the gesture was “in the spirit of Christmas” and “in keeping with the tradition of this administration to cater for the needs of the people and give them a sense of belonging as the true heroes of democracy”.

Mr. Itanyi added that the decision was also borne out of Gov. Ugwuany’s magnanimity and his passion for the wellbeing of the masses, especially the lowly and less privileged.

The Managing Director explained that the free transportation exercise will commence on December 20, and will be carried out in states of the federation that are far from the state, such as, Abuja, Lagos, Jos, Ibadan, Kaduna, Kano, Minna, Gombe, Ilorin, Sokoto, Jalingo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Port Harcourt, among others.

He stated that the beneficiaries must be those who are duly registered with the Enugu State Town Union in their respective states of residence, disclosing that the establishment is coordinating the exercise with the leadership of the unions in the affected states, for accountability and effective result.

Mr. Itanyi further disclosed that the returnees on arrival to the state will be formally received by state government delegation at the former main depot of ENTRACO, adjacent to the state headquarters of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Enugu.

He reiterated the resolve of the state government to ensure transparency, fairness and accountability in the exercise, pointing out that it will not be business as usual as “we are going to bring back Enugu State indigenes in body and not ghost indigenes”.

According to him, “nothing will be hidden during the exercise. The leaders of the Enugu State Town Union in the respective states have been mobilized to ensure that our people benefit from this outstanding welfare scheme, which the state government has extended to the people of the state.

“We, therefore, sincerely thank our humble and amiable governor for this gesture, which has once again demonstrated his love, care and passion for the wellbeing of the people of Enugu State”.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/10/christmas-enugu-indigenes-get-free-transport-from-gov-ugwuanyi/

A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, has responded to reports making the rounds that he had dumped the party.

Oyegun noted that though there were problems and challenges in the party, he cannot run away.

He said he will stay and give what he has to patch the cracks.

Reports emerged recently (not on DAILY POST) that the former Governor had left the ruling party.

But speaking with Sun, the elder statesman said that having been an originator to the party’s process, it was going to be extremely difficult to see himself in another political party.

Asked about the claim that he was no longer in APC, Oyegun said, “I had intended to totally ignore that flown kite. I have almost succeeded in doing that but this will be an opportunity to emphasise that in terms of the thinking, I was basically an originator because I knew that what we were doing while in opposition was wrong.

“We in opposition truly want to present our nation with democratic choice. We need to build a party that can be comparable in levels, strength and acceptability to the Nigerian public not for them to keep saying that they don’t like them yet they don’t have choice. Having been an originator to that process, it will be extremely difficult to see myself elsewhere.

“Yes, the party has issues and problems, but you don’t run away from the party because it is passing through a phase or difficulty. I cannot run away. I will rather give what I have to patch the cracks.

“We will maintain the direction and goals we have set for ourselves otherwise the fluidity of the movement does not make sense and does not show commitment.

“Yes, there are difficulties, but they are meant to be addressed, sorted out so that the party does not lose its soul and the message that brought it into being.

“Those are the critical issues. The real problem comes if a party stands in danger of losing its bearing in those respects. I am APC and I don’t see myself somewhere else. I cannot just quite envisage it.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/10/2019-election-oyegun-speaks-on-dumping-apc/

Barcelona captain, Lionel Messi on Saturday set a new record in his side’s 4-0 victory over Espanyol in the La Liga.

Goals from Lionel Messi (2), Ousmane Dembele (1) and Luiz Suarez ensured victory for Ernesto Valverde’s men.

According to OptaJose, Messi’s brace against Espanyol took him up to 10 for the season in the league, making him the first-ever player to enter double figures in 13 consecutive La Liga seasons.

The Argentine international is the only player in the history of the Spanish La Liga to have scored 10+ goals in 13 consecutive seasons.

Speaking after the match, Messi told Vamos: “I try to follow a routine a bit, trying to do it the same way so that it goes well again.

“Other times I have a lot of free-kicks and I do not put them in. I was lucky enough to get two in a row.”

Messi will now hope to lead Barca to victory when they tackle Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday night in the Champions League fixture at Camp Nou.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/09/laliga-messi-sets-new-record-in-barcelonas-4-0-win-over-espanyol/

One of the spokesmen of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation, Dr. Doyin Okupe has been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has for alleged hate speech and cyberstalking.

Okupe, who is a former Spokesman for ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, was summoned by officials of the Commission who paid a visit to his Ilupeju home in Lagos on Saturday.

Okupe noted that the EFCC who came without an arrest warrant tried to whisk him away to their office but he battled the attempt.

The former Presidential spokesman has been one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s sternest critics. Recall that on Friday, he has said in a tweet that Buhari has failed in the fight against insurgency as Commander-in-chief.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/08/hate-speech-efcc-invites-atikus-spokesperson/

Former Nigerian international Peter Rufai has insisted that the British-Nigerian boxer, Anthony Oluwafemi Joshua has all it takes to knock out both Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder when the time comes for them to square it out in the ring.

The bout between American WBO title holder, Deontay Wilder and British unbeaten former heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury which ended in a draw has reopened the discussion of who the better fighter is in the heavyweight division amongst the three fighters with Wilder and Fury claiming that Joshua who is the unified heavyweight champion is only the third best.

After watching the bout between Wilder and Fury the former Deportivo La Coruna safe hands believes both fighters are no match for Joshua who is still unbeaten in 21 professional bouts. “Those guys can’t match Anthony Joshua. He is too strong for them. They can say everything they want to say about him but you can’t take away what he has achieved.”

Fury returned to the heavyweight scene after over two years of absence which saw his belts taken away from him and a long time battle with mental health issues but has been able to bounce back to the ring in a fight many boxing pundits believe he won despite being knocked down twice by the American boxer.

Joshua had prioritised a unification scrap against Deontay Wilder, according to veteran boxing promoter Barry Hearn.However, the reigning WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO champ would still “love to fight Tyson Fury” at some point.

“AJ’s first choice is Wilder because when you’re collecting belts, which he is, he wants to be the unified champ.

“He’d love to fight Fury as well, but for now I think Wilder is the one he wants.

“There’s three or four options at the minute for us.

“Sooner or later fight fans are going to get everything they want, but we won’t be doing any silly deals – that’s for sure.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/08/joshua-will-beat-fury-wilder-mercilessly/

A Wuse II Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, on Thursday, admitted political activist and Coordinator of Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju, to bail in the sum of N500,000.

Adeyanju was remanded by the court on Tuesday, following his arraignment on charges of cyber-stalking, inciting disturbance and criminal defamation by the police.

NAN reports that Magistrate Idiat Akanni, in her ruling, said the offence the defendant committed is bailable.

Akanni ordered the defendant to produce two sureties in like sum each as bail bond.

The magistrate added that the sureties must be civil servants of not less than Grade Level 12, and must produce an utility bill.

DAILY POST recalls that Adeyanju got into trouble with the authorities when he led a protest to the force headquarters on Nov. 28.

Adeyanju and his group had stormed the force headquarters with banner bearing the inscription: “Police are not politicians; this rally is about saving democracy.”

The protesters were calling on the Police and other security agents to be non-partisan, especially as the 2019 general elections approach.

He was arrested alongside two other campaigners, Daniel Abobama and Boma Williams, and arraigned before the Karshi Magistrates’ Court, which remanded them in the Keffi Prisons in Nasarawa State.

The accused persons were charged with criminal conspiracy, public nuisance, disturbance of public peace and threat to public security and safety, criminal defamatory and derogatory conduct against constituted authority.

They were granted bail by the presiding magistrate, Aliu Kagarko and were able to perfect the bail conditions on Dec. 3.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/06/deji-adeyanju-granted-bail/

The House of Representatives has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to transmit the report of the tripartite committee on the new minimum wage to the National Assembly for consideration.

This according to the reps is to avoid the looming strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The House has also resolved to set up a joint adhoc committee with the Senate to look into the protest by staff of the National Assembly which prevented the two chambers of the Assembly from sitting on Tuesday.

Both decisions formed part of the resolutions reached by the lawmakers during plenary today (Wednesday).

Also, during today’s sitting, a lawmaker, Gabriel Onyenwife defected from the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said his actions followed a crisis in the party due to what he described as a non-democratic process during its primaries.

Meanwhile, three new lawmakers from Bauchi, Katsina and Kwara States, all from the APC, were sworn in by the speaker, Yakubu Dogara.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/06/minimum-wage-reps-ask-buhari-to-transmit-report-of-tripartite-committee-to-nass/