₦airaland Forum

According to the actor, "some one created a fake nude Photoshoped picture with my head on it, using it to defraud women. This is the hight of stupidity. Who ever you are, shame on you. I'll catch you soon I promise! and it will be my turn".

See The Full Photos Here: https://www.mcebiscoo.com/nollywood-actor-mike-godson-shares-a-totally-nude-photo-of-himself-with-an-explantion/

Ynonne Nelson has shared the story of how she lost a telecommunications deal when she opened up to the company that she was few months pregnant. The mum of one shared the story while reacting to news of Kenyan Lawmaker, Zuleikha Hassan, who was thrown out of the Chambers for bringing her sick baby to work.

Yvonne wrote

I’ll tell you mine, a telecommunication company dropped me because i came clean and told them i was pregnant, they wanted me to shoot an ad, told them i had 3 months more to go and assured them i could come to work right after! Guess what, the lady who called didn’t even say congrats she said ‘ sorry yvonne, the dynamics will change’ i was hurt! I was broken! All these and more made me stronger!! IM PROUD TO BE A MOTHER!!!! Best decision ever! I will forever WIN!!!!! #proudmum #woman #africa

See More Here: https://www.mcebiscoo.com/yvonne-nelson-recounts-how-she-lost-a-telecommunications-deal-just-because-she-was-pregnant/

President Muhammadu Buhari has enumerated the success recorded in the Nigerian Civil Service Reforms at the Dubai Investment Summit held recently.

The reform, according to the President, were inaugurated to check excesses in public service and restore confidence in domestic and foreign trade, as well as digitize public service operations for greater efficiency.

President Muhammadu Buhari explained to the world at the summit how Nigeria has improved in its governing process with best practices in revenue generation, taxes zero tolerance in corrupt practices and a productive and growth driven public sector that can be dependable to chart economic and political future for Nigeria.

He also highlighted that Nigeria’s public sector reform programmes, from procurement to payroll to revenue collections, focus on digitizing key operations. He said: ‘‘furthermore, our public sector reform programs focus on digitizing key operations.

From procurement to payroll to revenue collections, we are using digital platforms to reinforce our objectives of improving efficiency, accountability and transparency in governance. ‘‘We are also working on creating the largest digital database in Africa.

Already, our digital identity system has captured over thirty million Nigerians and legal residents. As earlier observed, the digital world is borderless. In many instances, the criminals in this world are faceless and without physical addresses. This is why we must all come together to protect the good while eliminating the bad.’’

According to him, the recourse to technology and digitisation reinforces the administration’s objectives of improving efficiency, accountability and transparency in governance. Analysts said the public service reforms has repositioned all revenue organs of government in oil and non-oil sectors to increase their annual returns by over a 100 percent, sometimes hitting well above targets earlier set by such organisations.

They explained that the reforms have also taken Nigeria away from a mono-oil economy to a multiplicity of revenue institutions cut across major sectors of the nation’s resource, which of course are fundamentals of growth and rise in economic index performance.

The successes recorded in the ongoing reforms have been attributed to President Muhammadu Buhari, who gave the approval and conducted the inaugural ceremony for the takeoff of the four year reform process, which has become the pride of this administration and Nigeria as a country.

According to a public analyst who craved anonymity, ‘‘the nation could not have been taken aback, looking at the composition of the various committees trusted with the duties of implementing the plan to get the Nigerian civil service back on track, and improve in the entire process of conducting government business.

‘‘The service lost so much to indolence and low productivity which undermined the development of the political economy of the nation several decades behind.

However, the aggressive and tougher measures deployed by the present administration to tackle headlong the challenges in the public service has resulted in high level productivity and growth. ‘‘Development index shows clearly that the handlers of the reforms, which is the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation took a holistic survey on the direction to go, and the results are gradually manifesting as demonstrated by the President at the Dubai Investment Summit.

The woman behind the implementation plan Winifred Oyo-Ita is committed more than ever before to deliver on her mandate as the reforms enters its zenith within the next few months,’’ the analyst said.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/10/pmb-enumerates-gains-of-public-sector-reforms-at-dubai-investment-summit/

Pitching the state as an investor’s delight in Nigeria, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has taken time off from his annual vacation to step up engagement with prospective investors for the array of blossoming industrial and enterprise parks in the state at the 9th edition of the Annual Investment Meeting holding from April 8 to 9, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The annual meeting in Dubai, according to its organisers, is “the largest gathering of corporate leaders, policymakers, businessmen, regional and international investors, entrepreneurs, leading academics and experts showcasing up-to-date information, strategies and knowledge on attracting FDI.”

Nigeria’s delegation to the meeting themed ‘Mapping the Future of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI): Enriching World Economies Through Digital Globalisation’ are President Muhammadu Buhari; Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hon. Abubakar Bawa Bwari; Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Yewande Sadiku and Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc, Nigeria, Wale Tinubu, among others.

Governor Obaseki, at the meeting, engaged with investors on prospects of investing in the Benin Industrial and Enterprise Park; Benin River Port; Benin Auto Park; technology hubs and parks; housing estates and other projects to drive industrialisation and sustainable development in the state.

He stressed that the state is a prime destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) not only for its advantage as a transport-cum-logistics hub, but also because of reforms in ease of doing business demonstrated with the Private Property Protection Law; development of broadband infrastructure to boost internet connectivity; respect for the sanctity of contracts by government agencies, among others.

According to the organisers, “The Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) is the World’s Leading Platform for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). It is an initiative of the UAE Ministry of Economy, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

“The meeting also seeks to explore investment opportunities in more than 140 countries, connect businesses and countries willing to engage in sustainable partnerships with investors.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/08/obaseki-showcases-edos-exciting-business-opportunities-at-dubai-investment-meeting/

Shehu Sani, the Senator representing Kaduna Central, has reacted to decision by Nigerian Government to suspend mining activities in Zamfara State.

The federal government through the acting IGP Adamu Mohammaed had on Sunday announced the suspension of mining activities in the state and threatened to revoke licenses of violators of the order.

The government also ordered all foreigners engaged in mining activities to leave the area within 48 hours as part of measures to check banditry in the state.

Reacting, Sani on his Twitter page commended the government over the new development.

However, Sani noted that the suspension of mining activities in Zamfara was not a solution to putting an end to banditry in the state.

He wrote: “Suspension of mining activities is a good step in ending illegal mining; but a non starter in ending banditry.

“The nation is at war; the moral, historical and constitutional calling at times like this is for the leadership to frontally rise to the occasion in defence of this republic.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/08/zamfara-killings-suspension-of-mining-by-buhari-govt-will-not-stop-banditry-shehu-sani/

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has assured that the state would stage a comeback to the limelight in Nigeria’s sporting scene, as ongoing reforms in the state would engender a robust structure for sports development in the state.

The governor said this in commemoration of the International Day of Sports for Development and Peace, marked every April 6, by the United Nations and its organs.

According to him, “The International Day of Sports for Development and Peace reflects our strategy to deploy sports to drive development in urban and rural areas. As a state with immense sports potential, we have laid out a plan to tap from the talent of our people to drive sustainable development and foster peace. We are going to do this by putting the right structures in place for grooming talent and providing youths with the opportunity to showcase their talent.

“This is why we decided to bid for the hosting rights of the National Sports Festival, which we have now gotten. With the festival, we intend to rally talent from the nooks and crannies of Edo State and bring them to national limelight.”

Noting that some of the structures to drive development are already in place, he said, “We are a committed to the holistic development of the sporting scene in the state as shown with the setting up of the Edo State Sports Commission, which brings stability and focus to sports administration.”

The governor added that ongoing renovation of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium will be completed in time for the National Sports Festival, and that other venues for the annual sports festival will be ready for the games, as work have commenced at the sites.

According to the United Nations, “Due to its vast reach, unparalleled popularity and foundation of positive values, sport is ideally positioned to contribute towards the United Nations’ objectives for development and peace.

“To raise awareness of this potential, 6 April was declared as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) by the UN General Assembly. The adoption of this Day signifies the increasing recognition by the UN of the positive influence that sport can have on the advancement of human rights, and social and economic development.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/06/intl-day-of-sports-for-devt-obaseki-harps-on-restoring-edos-glory-assures-on-reforms/

Mohamed Salah scored a classy winner as Liverpool beat Southampton 3-1 at St Mary yester to return to the top of the Premier League table.

Liverpool came into the match sitting one point behind Premier League leaders Manchester City in the table as the two runaway leaders continue to battle for the season title.

However, it was Southampton who took the lead before 10 minutes when Shane Long settled and buried a close-range shot past Alisson from a flicked-on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg header to make it 1-0.

And Long nearly doubled the lead soon after following an unlucky Liverpool bounce from a Trent Alexander-Arnold clearance, but the Ireland international scuffed his shot from close range when he should have done better.

A frantically paced match continued and Liverpool finally found an equaliser on 36 minutes when Naby Keita scored his first goal for the club, powering a back-post header from an Alexander-Arnold cross into the back of the net..

Liverpool pushed hard for the go-ahead goal in the opening 20 minutes of the second half, but saw penalty shouts from Keita waved off before Roberto Firmino flashed a good chance wide from a Sadio Mane cut-back as the match passed the hour mark.

Some good defending on a pair of Southampton corners led to a blistering counter-attack for Liverpool as Salah picked up the ball in his own end, ran the length of the field and finished from 18 yards away to send the travelling supporters into ecstasy at St Mary’s.

The goal was sweet relief for Salah who was on a run of eight games without scoring in all competitions and makes him the fastest Liverpool player to hit 50 in the Premier League in just 69 appearances.

Substitute Jordan Henderson, who started the counter for Salah, then put matters to rest, dispatching a close-range finish from a Firmino pass to give the visiting side breathing room and send them back to the top of the table.

Liverpool’s next match is a Champions League, first-leg match away to Porto, while Saints host Wolves in the Premier League on April 13.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/06/salah-strikes-as-liverpool-move-back-to-top-spot/

Former Big Brother Naija housemate, Cee-C clapped back at a troll who accused her of bleaching her face and forgetting her kegs .

The troll dropped the comment on a recent photo of Cee-C.

She wrote

”Hanty stop bleaching your face and forgetting your legs”..

Cee-C clapped back by saying

”same bleach you used for your eyes that is preventing you from seeing clearly .

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/05/cee-c-replies-troll-who-accused-her-of-bleaching/

President Muhammadu Buhari has been asked to tender an unreserved apology to the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, and to also restore him without further delay.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) gave this advice to Buhari, saying that any further “progression of the torture of the Supreme Court chief debases Nigeria.”

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party stated this in a communiqué issued on Tuesday after its meeting held in Abuja, where it also vowed to continue to support the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in his quest to reclaim his mandate.

The party which faulted the conduct of the 2019 elections, alleged that its members who participated in the exercise were robbed through the combined efforts of state institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Communications Commission (NCC).

The communiqué, which was signed by ADC chairman, Ralph Nwosu and the secretary, Alhaji Said Abdullahi, was read to newsmen by the national publicity secretary of the party, Yemi Kolapo.

Read also: Obasanjo’s comments on Buhari ‘ridiculous and contemptible’, Pro-Buhari group fires

“The only way the democratic electoral process can be strengthened to continue to serve as a role model at this stage of Nigeria’s nation building is for the judiciary to continue to play its constitutional role strongly, without fear or favour, in order to stop the excesses of politicians and save the country.

“We, therefore, call on the learned men of the third arm to act to restore power to the people in our democracy. It is in the best interest of every Nigerian that we do not knowingly bring about the obituary of our democracy.

“Finally, we call on President Muhammadu Buhari to tender an unreserved apology to Justice Walter Onnoghen and restore him to his position with immediate effect. Any further progression of the torture of this Supreme Court chief debases Nigeria.

“The government in power promoted violence, and used the police, military, intelligence agencies and thugs to terrorise innocent citizens and pollute the electoral space.

“There was heavy commercialisation of the process, which involved vote-buying, inducement of electoral officers and ad hoc staff, and other forms of electoral corruption by the incumbent federal and state members of the executive arm of government.

“The cause of democracy was thwarted and the people were denied the right to exercise their mandate. The Nigerian public and international observers are witnesses to the desperation of the Presidency and state governors, and corruption of the entire process.

“As a political party, we abhor fraudulent electoral practices. That is why we were the only party that set up an organisation to address such vices,” the communiqué read.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/03/stop-debasing-nigeria-apologise-restore-onnoghen-as-cjn-adc-tells-buhari/

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has kicked against alleged plan by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to favour Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Collation of results of the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections are resuming tomorrow in the South-south state.

Ahead of the resumption, the party’s Publicity Secretary Chris Finebone, yesterday in Port Harcourt, accused Wike of desperation to be re-elected, thereby depriving the state’s governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Biokpomabo Awara, of his mandate.

The APC, which was stopped by the Supreme Court from fielding candidates in the state elections following internal dispute over party primaries, is backing the 40-year-old AAC standard bearer

NEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo states, May Agbamuche-Mbu, a lawyer, stated in Port Harcourt at the weekend during a stakeholders’ meeting that the commission was not taking sides with any political party or candidate.

Governor Wike and his AAC challenger Awara were among the stakeholders at the meeting.

Agbamuche-Mbu also insisted that the results of the elections were not tampered with, but kept in INEC’s strong room, calling on Rivers residents to allow peace to reign in the state before, during and after the activities outlined for the conclusion of the controversial elections.

Rivers APC, however, said: “We condemn in strong terms, the so-called timeline and activities to conclude the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State, as announced at the stakeholders meeting. It is a mere charade, well-organised and choreographed by INEC, in its bid to work from answer to question.

“The ultimate result can only be to announce their (INEC’s) preferred partner and collaborator (Wike) as the winner, against the AAC’s governorship candidate (Awara), who was clearly in the lead before collation was aborted (on March 10). Whether INEC will succeed in its machinations will be seen in the days to come.

“Several actions of INEC had prepared the minds of many that the entire exercise was skewed to favour Wike and the PDP, leaving in the process, several questions without answers.

“How come that Wike knew about the 17 local government areas, which results had been allegedly collated and had posted same on his (Wike’s) official Twitter handle, long before INEC made the announcement? Answers to this and other questions will continue to hang on the neck of INEC like an albatross.”

The APC blamed the logjam in the Rivers electoral process on what it called a tripartite collaboration between Wike and the INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obo Effanga, ably assisted by the Administrative Secretary of the commission in Rivers, Elder Etim Umoh.

But Wike, through his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, declared that APC’s accusation against him was meaningless and senseless.

The Rivers commissioner, who doubles as PDP Campaign Council’s Information and Communications Director, said: “The APC’s accusation that INEC is favouring Governor Wike does not hold water. It is the same old song; empty, meaningless and senseless. Majority of Rivers people do not take the APC in the state seriously.

“They (APC members in Rivers State) blame everybody, apart from themselves, for every problem. When they had internal problems that cost them their place in the ballot, they blamed others. When their adopted puppet in AAC could not win one unit in the state, because he was unknown and never campaigned, the APC blamed others.”

Okah also stated that like a bad workman, who would always quarrel with his tools, leaders of the APC in Rivers would attempt to teach INEC, soldiers, police etc., how to do their job, accusing them of resorting to blackmail whenever they meet a brick wall.

In his remarks at the stakeholders’ meeting on Saturday, the INEC administrative secretary said: “We have the results for these seventeen LGAs: Ahoada East, Akuku-Toru, Andoni, Bonny, Eleme, Emohua, Etche, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ogu/Bolo, Okrika, Omuma, Opobo/Nkoro, Oyigbo, Port Harcourt and Tai. Their (17 LGAs) collation was at the local government level. Collation was not completed in the remaining six LGAs: Abua/Odual, Ahoada West, Asari-Toru, Degema, Gokana and Khana.

“In Abua/Odual LGA, the materials and men did not even go out to the field. They were frustrated from going out and elections did not take place there. In Gokana LGA, materials and men went out to the field, but none came back, because there was outright violence and everything was destroyed. So, we do not have any result from there.

“In Ahoada West LGA, out of about 100 polling units, we have results in only 24 and that is not good enough. Asari-Toru LGA was not concluded, but we have the polling units’ results available, but they were not collated. Degema LGA has 17 registration areas, which we call wards in INEC’s context, and collation took place in ten, remaining seven.

“The seven wards, their results are in INEC’s strong room. In Khana LGA, there was no collation at the local government level, but we have results from the polling units and the collation from some wards available.”

Umoh also disclosed that the collation, scheduled for between April 2 and 5, would hold at the INEC’s office on Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

The Rivers Commissioner of Police, Usman Belel, also assured during the stakeholders’ meeting that there would be adequate security of lives and property of residents of the state before, during and after the collation of results.

Belel, who is also the Chairman of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in the state, expressed optimism that the collation would be hitch-free, in view of the stakeholders’ synergy.

The Police chief said: “As it is usual in every contest, winners and losers must emerge, but the maturity with which the contest’s results is accepted, determines how peaceful the society can be.

“I wish to appeal to all stakeholders to give peace a chance (in Rivers State) and be magnanimous, either in victory or in defeat, as there will still be Rivers State beyond these elections.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/01/rivers-apc-kicks-as-inec-resumes-collation-of-march-9-elections-results/

The Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) Monday described the move by President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to forcefully remove the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen as autocratic and an assault against the judiciary.

It also said the Buhari presidency manifested the autocratic attributes in a bid to rig the forthcoming general elections.

The party’s spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan said this in a statement in Abuja.

He said, “The Buhari Presidency and the APC, in this venture, have exposed their desperation to subdue and annex the judiciary, particularly, following increasing agitation by Nigerians for the prosecution of President Buhari’s cronies and APC leaders over exposed corruption.

“The Buhari Presidency and APC in turning around to fight Nigerians have further exposed their desperation to replace Justice Onnoghen with a pliable CJN, who will execute their plots to use the courts to detain opposition leaders as well as vocal members of the Civil Society during the elections.

“It is now crystal clear to all Nigerians that apart from failing woefully in all its promises, the APC and its presidential candidate, President Buhari, are beginning to manifest their autocratic attributes.

Further more, Ologbondiyan affirmed that it was despicable that the presidency and the APC rather than retracing their steps from the ignoble act against the CJN, after the ”spontaneous public outrage that trailed the shameful act, they are attempting to blackmail Nigerians, who condemned the assault on the judiciary, as being sympathetic to corruption.

The opposition party maintained that the Buhari presidency was not only corrupt but has become an asylum for corrupt people.

It is on this premise that the PPCO challenged the APC and the Buhari Presidency to name one APC member that has been investigated, prosecuted or arraigned before any court of competent jurisdiction in the last three and half years in spite of their humongous corruption.

Also, Ologbondiyan averred that If for anything, President Muhammadu Buhari has ”encouraged corruption in our nation more than any President that had the privilege of governing our country, Nigeria.”

The party’s spokesman added, “It is important to restate that the Buhari Presidency is now a refugee camp for known and well-advertised faces of corruption.

“From the factional National Chairman of the APC, the co-chairman of the Buhari campaign Organization, the Director General of the Buhari Campaign, the zonal directors and the recent entrants from Bauchi and Gombe states, all leaders of the APC and Buhari campaign structure are all candidates of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“We, therefore, charge Nigerians not to be deterred by the attacks by the Buhari Presidency, which has since become desperate and anti-people following its rejection by Nigerians because of its corruption, incompetence and insensitivity to the plights of our citizens”.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/14/cjn-onnoghen-pdp-portrayed-suit-chief-justice/

The Nigeria Police Force has said that the allegation by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, that his life was in danger is false and an unwarranted attack on the Inspector General of Police, Idris Abubakar.

Recall that Saraki had alleged that the security agencies in Kwara were allegedly giving cover to some persons, who are unleashing violence on his supporters.

He noted that, “this latest round of violence is part of efforts to jeopardise and undermine my personal security and that of my immediate and larger family.”

But the Force, responding through a press release by its PRO, Jimoh Moshood, said that all the police personnel attached to Senate President and his office and family were intact and all the statutory security protection on him were also accorded him all the time and that there was no complaint from the Senate President before now to the police on this.

The release read in part: “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to categorically state that all the allegations in the statement of the Senate President are incorrect, misleading and false and should be disregarded and discountenanced by the general Public.

“The Force sees this unprovoked and unwarranted attack on person of Inspector General of Police by the Senate President as criminal defamation, hate speech and insulting.”

“As we speak, the situation report from Kwara State Police Command was that the APC holding a governorship campaign rally at Agbaji in Ilorin came under a sudden attack by suspected PDP thugs, who disrupted the rally, damaged five vehicles and some Keke Napep and wounded two innocent people. The family house of the Senate President was not attacked as being peddled in some social media

“The attention of the Nigeria Police Force was drawn to a statement in the media on Friday, 11th January, 2019 credited to the Senate President on the recent political development in Kwara State where he raised allegations that “…the entire world to hold the IGP responsible if anything untoward happens to members of my family and myself and that the Inspector General of Police is after my life” as serially false and mischievous.

“The Nigeria Police Force wishes to categorically state that all the allegations in the statement of the Senate President are incorrect, misleading and false and should be disregarded and discountenanced by the general Public.

“The Nigeria Police Force did not give any protection to any political thug or shield any APC thug to go to the family quarters of the Senate President in Agbaji, Ilorin and vandalize houses, shops and inflict wounds with machete on three people as claimed by the Senate President.

“The Police did not equally receive any complaint or report of gunshot and wounding as claimed by the Senate President in other areas he mentioned such as Adewole/Adeta, Ile-otan and ubandawaki/pakata in Ilorin, Kwara State,” the press release read.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/14/sarakis-allegation-unprovoked-attack-igp-police/

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, has advised the electorate to vote into power, in the 2019 general elections, those they could trust.

Martins gave the advice at the solemn dedication ceremony of St John’s Catholic Church, Igando, Lagos.

He said that voters should not engage in selling of their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) “because many politicians are inducing intending voters to sell their conscience”.

The archbishop said that people who did that were selling their birth rights and at the same time selling their future for just a few Naira notes.

According him, voters, politicians and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have various roles to play.

He, therefore, called on INEC to provide conducive environment in ensuring peaceful conduct of the general elections and advised the politicians to play by the rules and not heat up the polity.

Rev. Fr Christian Echewodo, pleaded with the youth to be focused and not allow themselves to be used and dumped by politicians.

He advisd that youths should shun political thuggery and not allow any politicians to ruin their future.

http://dailypost.ng/2019/01/13/2019-election-archbishop-lagos-tells-nigerians-candidates-vote/amp/

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar III and the Prelate of the Catholic Church in Nigeria, His Eminence, Cardinal John Onaiyekan will on Jan. 16, lead religious leaders in a two-day interfaith conference on peaceful elections and national security.

The Co-Chairmen, General Assembly of Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP), Alhaji Ishaq Sanni and Bishop Sunday Onuoha, made this known in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

The chairmen said that the theme of the conference is, “2019 Elections and National Security: The Role of Interfaith Communities.”

According to the statement, the keynote address will be delivered by the , Prof. Sani Lugga, Wazirin Katsina, while all KAICIID Dialogue Centre Fellows in Nigeria would be observers at the conference.

The duo, who said that the conference would discuss the imperative of National Security in the conduct of the elections, disclosed that religious leaders across the country will also participate in the conference.

Other participants expected at the conference include, the leadership of the three arms of the Federal Government, all State Governors, the FCT Minister and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

IDFP is a national interfaith and intercultural dialogue forum that has the peaceful co-existence of all government recognised religions as well as ethnic groups in Nigeria as its central objective.

The Vienna based KAICCID is the only intergovernmental organisation with a Board of Directors made up of representatives from major world religions and founded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Austria and Kingdom of Spain. (NAN)

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/13/sultan-onaiyekan-lead-inter-faith-parley-peaceful-elections/

Fishermen in Borno, whose means of livelihood were disrupted by insurgents, have hailed the military over the victory against Boko Haram insurgents,

They are also full of praises for the gallant soldiers for reclaiming Baga and other communities in northern Borno from Boko Haram fighters.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Army had on Thursday announced the defeat of the fighters and recapture of Baga and other communities in the ongoing clearance operation against the jihadists.

Malam Muhammad Labbo, the Vice Chairman of the Lake Chad Basin Fishermen Association of Nigeria, made the commendation in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Maiduguri.

Labbo, who was among thousands of persons displaced by the recent conflict, said that the military under the Operation LAFIYA DOLE, demonstrated valour and professionalism to defeat the insurgents, leading to the liberation of communities in northern Borno and Lake Chad region.

He described the defeat as “commendable’’, adding that it indicated the Nigerian Armed Forces’ commitment to defend the nation’s territorial integrity as well as protection of lives and property.

“Some of our people who were still in Baga told us how the military defeated the Boko Haram insurgents after a fierce battle on Wednesday.

“Boko Haram insurgents fled, leaving behind their ammunition and scattered toward the axis of the Lake Chad and border with Niger Republic.

“Frightened by the superior might of the military, the insurgents fled in other communities without any resistance. It is a great victory by our gallant military.”

Labbo urged the military to take the fight to various Islands in the Lake Chad, noting that the call was imperative to clear remnants of the criminals hibernating in the area and end insurgency.

He disclosed that there were several high density Islands in the Lake Chad, where the insurgents hide to commit atrocities against the citizens.

Labbo listed the Islands to include Madari; Mari, Kaukiri, Duguri, Shuwaram, Kirta-Wulgo, Kwallaram and Dabar Masara.

The fisherman stressed the need for practical operations to rout out the insurgents’ hide outs in the Island, to end insurgency and ensure lasting peace in the war-torn region.

“The insurgents fled into the Lake Chad Islands, the military should continue its pursuit to eliminate them and make it safe.

“It is also good to utilize the Air Task Force component due to the grass that outgrown and blocked the river and made movement difficult for the troops.

“The insurgents could be better be defeated from the air, as they were taking advantage of the terrain to escape onslaught by the ground troops,” he added.

According to him, over 10, 000; registered fishermen were displaced due to the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in Baga and adjourning communities.

Labbo further expressed the hope that the war would soon end to enable them to return home and resume their normal fishing activities.

He also prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed heroes and wished the wounded soldiers quick recovery.

Statistics by the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) showed that about 30,000 persons were displaced in northern Bono and Lake Chad region due to resurgence of Boko Haram insurgency in the past few weeks.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had distributed food and non food items to over 20,000 displaced by the conflict at the Teachers Village and Gubio Internally Persons (IDPs) camps in Maiduguri. (NAN)

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/12/armys-victory-baga-excites-fishermen/

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Friday injected the sum of $263m into the Retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS), being its first intervention in that sector this year. This was in addition to the sum CNY 39 million consummated through a combination of spot and short-tenored forwards, arising from bids received from authorised dealers.

The figures obtained from the CBN revealed that the US dollar-denominated interventions were for requests in the agricultural and raw materials sectors while the Yuan sale was for payment of Renminbi-denominated Letters of Credit for agriculture as well as raw materials.

Mr. Isaac Okorafor, the Director, Corporate Communications at the CBN, said the move was in furtherance of the Governor’s avowed commitment to ensuring foreign exchange liquidity in the system as well as boosting trade and production.

With the rates closing at N359/$1 on Friday, Mr. Okorafor, expressed confidence that the CBN, in the weeks ahead, will sustain its intervention through the sale of foreign exchange to all segments of the market to

meet all legitimate foreign exchange demand in the market while also striving to achieve exchange rate stability in the market.

Okorafor also disclosed that the Governor, Godwin Emefiele, will further unfold the Bank’s plans for the year during the first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting for the year scheduled for January 21 to 22, 2019.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/12/cbn-injects-263m-cny-39m-forex-market/

“Nigerians leaders are shortsighted and selfish; ‘it’s all about me’. Continuity is one of the hallmarks of good governance.”

The name Donald Duke needs no introduction in Nigerian politics. He made a remarkable success, especially with his establishment, nurture and promotion of Tinapa Tourism industry, during his tenure as Cross River State governor for eight years. Before the court pronouncement that came truncating his dream as the presidential candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP), he spoke with Effects, in his Ikoyi office, on his lifestyle, among other things.

With your political aspiration, how is your band doing?

Suffering, they are really suffering because I have not blown a saxophone in about six months because I’m distracted. That is my therapy. When I was governor, every Sunday, I would play from 9pm till 3am, nonstop. Saxophone and dancing was my therapy. If I don’t do it that Sunday the whole of that week I will be very irritable. The band boys are all scattered all over Nigeria but it’s a fantastic band.
What’s the name of the band?

When I was the governor, they called it Governor’s Band. Now they call it Ex-Governor’s band. We don’t have a name (laughs)
Did you go to music school?

I started learning music at the age of three. I went to a school called Corona. And we had a music teacher, a lady called Miss Matchan, a White lady. She taught me how to play the piano, then I learnt how to play the flute. In secondary school, I learnt how to play guitar and I discovered the saxophone through Fela. I got a sax and he took me through the rudiments. I found that that is my instrument. My first daughter plays too. She’s more a musician than me. She plays the sax, she plays the guitar, she plays the drum, she plays the keyboard, and she likes music. She’s also a lawyer.

Who influenced you while growing up, your dad or mum?

My father is the first influence in my life. He’s also my best friend. He died 30 years ago. There are two other gentlemen that have profound influence on me: Goziam Onyia, (lawyer) and Pius Okigbo. They are all late now. David Garrick is another lawyer. They took me as their own. They were my father’s best friends. All of them guarded me jealously as their own son. I was blessed to have them. The Governor then wanted me to be a commissioner. I didn’t want to be a commissioner. Three times I was offered the job; I said I’m not interested because I had a relationship with the governor. I contributed to his campaign and I just wanted to be the governor’s friend, continue my business, and make money. He went to Okigbo (my father was late then) knowing full well that he has influence over me and Okigbo summoned me that I have to go and take the job. I couldn’t say no to him. So I had to go and take the job. It wasn’t what I wanted but I’m glad I did because it changed my life completely at the age of 30.
You are also stylish, what informs your dressing?

My dressing reflects my mood. And I don’t dress to impress anyone but my wife. Before I go out she looks at me and say ok you can go. We do the same for each other. She wouldn’t step out of the house except I endorse what she’s wearing and I learnt that from my father. My father would dress up my mother. Someone has to look after you, When my wife wear a dress and the neck is too low, I tell her, the colour doesn’t match, I think you should do it differently. We compliment each other. She’s my band manager. She put together all the musicians on my band and I’m telling you I have one of the finest musicians in my band. We will play anywhere. We play publicly, and we will get any crowd off their feet. She doesn’t play any instrument o. She just manages the band. At times, when we play about 3.am, she would come in and say shut down now. I have been married for 32 years. I met my wife when I was 18-19 years and we got married in 1986. I met her in 1980. She’s my best friend.
What’s the secret of the success of your marriage?

You got to renew your love every time. It’s like a plant, you got to tend to it, water it. You can’t take each other for granted. When you take each other for granted you drift and once you drift, to come back is hard. Everyday, you have to renew your love. You have to find what brought you together in the first place and keep it alive. Human beings are creatures of nature, the way you tend to a plant that’s the way you attend to your relationship. If I get home at night and she’s asleep I kiss her forward, it’s an endearment just to reassure her. It’s not that we don’t have disagreement but regardless of how we disagree, she knows that it doesn’t affect the affection. We also have to be role models to our children; when they see that affection in their parents, they will want to replicate it too. I always tell my son-in-laws (who are now my sons) ‘you can’t have two captains in a ship,’ a woman is more intuited; always listen to your wife. When I don’t listen to her, 10 out of 10, I make a mistake. If you have a good wife, always listen to your wife. Don’t disregard her opinion. It’s very difficult because men are machoistic in nature but I have learnt to listen.
Does she agree with your political moves?

Totally, because this is bound to disrupt her own life too, so I have to carry her along, even when I was leaving PDP. Politics is a casino. If you go around Nigeria today and talk with 200 million Nigerians and ask how many will like to be president, I assure you that 80% of them will like to be president but they don’t want to go through the process. In this casino only one person will win. There’s nothing like a guaranteed winner, except you are running unopposed. If it was a guarantee, Hilary Clinton will be president today. In fact, she would have been president in 2008, Obama would not have been president. So you never know, put yourself forward, do your best and remember one thing: ultimately, you are a tenant in this creation; God is the landlord and the landlord will decide who he wants to run his house. So I don’t know. I will give it my best.
Are you a Christian, sir?

Yes, if you believe in Christ’s principles you are a Christian.
But people say you are an adherent of Grail message?

No, Grail is not a religion. It is life; it is the truth. So if you ask me, I’m a Christian because I believe in Christ’s principles. I’m a Christian. But Grail is not a religion, it just teaches about life basics. The Bible says: work and pray. If you pray, pray, pray and you don’t work that is voodoo, you are practising magic. You must work and you must pray. Let your work be the prayer because you are working with the trust that God will bless your effort.
Favourite holiday destination?

Obudu Cattle Ranch. Sadly, it’s a very difficult place to get to now. You need to have flight, it’s 45 minutes from Calabar, direct flight to Obudu. It’s like an earthly paradise. I have a home there that I love and cherish. I have staff there I have to maintain but I haven’t been there in three years. My cows are now dead. We used to have the biggest breed on the African continent but they are dead. We had a fantastic cable car, where is it today? Obudu is magical for me.
Your take on Tinapa currently?

What happened in Tinapa is that successive governments abandoned it. It’s helpful because of the impact it had on the state economy. Nigerians leaders are shortsighted and selfish; ‘it’s all about me’. Continuity is one of the hallmarks of good governance. Do I regret Tinapa? No, it was a brilliant project, it brought traffic; tourism is all about traffic. It brought three million visitors minimally annually into Cross River State. If each of them was spending hundred thousand naira, that’s three hundred billion naira coming into the Cross River economy at that time. The multiplier effect of that is, at least four times five and that’s 1.2 or 1.3 trillion circulating in Cross River State. That will move the state forward. Like I said earlier on, success of the government depends on the wellbeing of the people, so I don’t regret; it’s not too late to ameliorate. Look at Ajaokuta, it’s an abandoned project, no matter how you look at it. The state is even worse than Tinapa. The amount of money that we use in importing steel in a year can get Ajaokuta working, but we don’t see the larger picture.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/12/breaking-nigerian-leaders-selfish-donald-duke/

Three people have appeared in court in Zimbabwe, accused of stealing a suitcase containing $150,000 (£117,600) of cash from the country's ousted president, Robert Mugabe.

The suspected thieves allegedly spent the money on cars, homes and animals.

A relative of the ex-president, Constantia Mugabe, is among the accused, government-owned media report.

She allegedly had keys to Mr Mugabe's rural home in Zvimba, near the capital Harare, and gave the others access.

The other suspects were employed as cleaners at the time of the theft, which allegedly happened sometime between 1 December and early January.

"Johanne Mapurisa bought a Toyota Camry... and a house for $20,000 after the incident," state prosecutor Teveraishe Zinyemba told Chinhoyi magistrates court.

"Saymore Nhetekwa also bought a Honda... and livestock which included pigs and cattle for an undisclosed amount."

Mr Mugabe, now 94, was forced out of office by Zimbabwe's military in 2017.

Up to that point, he had been in power for 37 years, first as prime minister and later as president.

Once famously claiming that a country could never go bankrupt, he was accused of enjoying a lavish lifestyle while presiding over Zimbabwe's economic collapse.

US dollars are highly prized in Zimbabwe. In theory, the local "bond notes" that banks dispense are equal to the US currency - but in reality they buy much less.

Since retiring, Mr Mugabe has had difficulty walking and has spent several months in Singapore for medical treatment.

It is unclear if he was at home while the theft took place.

The three suspects have been released on bail. The AFP news agency reports that a fourth is still at large. (BBC)

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/11/breaking-mugabes-suitcase-cash-stolen/

Gallant troops of the newly formed Nigerian Army Special Forces Command (NASFC), Operation LAFIYA DOLE, “have given the terrorists that attacked troops location in Baga a bloody nose,” the Nigerian Army said on Thursday.

“The triumphant troops, particularly the highly revered 707 Special Forces Brigade which is the vanguard of the great exploit, dealt the decisive blow that neutralised several terrorists along that axis despite prior warning to them by some unpatriotic elements.

“The Special Forces commenced clearance operations on 28th December 2018, where they cleared Zare, Gudumbali, Kukawa and Cross Kauwa without any resistance from suspected terrorists. However, at Cross Kauwa, the unfortunate ISWAP terrorists made a costly mistake of raising their ugly heads. In professional fashion the troops exploited the situation to instantly and decisively neutralise the insurgents and captured some equipment,” Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, said in a statement.

ISWAP is an offshoot of Boko Haram terrorists and stands for Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).

According to Usman, “Though some of the terrorists attempted to infiltrate troops’ camp at Monguno, the gallant troops lured them and neutralised many of them and recovered some arms and ammunition.

“The troops who are in high spirit had since linked up with other forces in Baga where they cleared the Naval Base and the surrounding areas. Unfortunately, in the process, the Special Forces lost one officer and a soldier, while 5 other soldiers sustained injuries. The remains of the two fallen heroes and the wounded have since been evacuated. The injured soldiers are in stable condition and receiving medical attention. The troops are now busy consolidating and clearing vestiges of the terrorists within the northern Borno State axis with special emphasis on the Lake Chad region.

“The Special Forces attained these great strides in close operational synergy with Air Task Force of the Nigerian Air Force who gave Intelligence and close air support by bombarding the ISWAP terrorists. The outstanding and dare devil exploits of the NAF's pilots gave more courage and fire power to the troops. Similarly, the Nigerian Navy Special Forces were not left out of these gallant efforts.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/10/special-forces-overwhelm-terrorists-northern-borno/

Four farmers – Akuha Igber, Awuhe Ashwe, Gowon Genki and Takela Denke – on Wednesday appeared before a Makurdi Chief Magistrate’s Court charged with killing a 95-year-old man, Boun Adi.

The suspects, all residents of Tse-Igbazer in Gwer-West Local Government Area of Benue, were charged with criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide punishable under sections 97 and 22 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004.

At their arraignment before Chief Magistrate Regina Ochokwunu, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Regina Ishaya, told the court that the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarter, Naka to the State CIID, Makurdi on Nov. 12, 2018, via a letter.

According to the letter, on Nov. 7, 2018, one Patrick Yanmile of Naka, Gwer-West reported at the Naka Police Station that his 95-year-old uncle was killed.

The letter quoted Yanmile as stating that the accused persons and others, now at large, had conspired, attacked and killed his uncle in his house for no reason.

He further stated that the accused persons, and the fleeing suspects, alleged that the deceased was a wizard and was responsible for many deaths.

The prosecutor said that two persons were earlier arrested and arraigned before Chief Magistrate’s Court 4, for the crime, while the accused persons, who were previously at large, were arrested during further Police investigation.

However, when the case came up for mention, the pleas of the accused were not taken because the court had no jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

The prosecutor informed the court that investigation into the matter was still in progress to enable the Police apprehend the other suspects that were still at large.

He urged the court to adjourn to a later date.

The Magistrate, Ochokwunu, adjourned the matter to Jan. 21, for mention, and directed that the suspects should be remanded in Prison custody. (NAN)

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/10/breaking-4-farmers-trouble-killing-95-year-old-man-benue/

The Lagos Liberation Movement (LLM) has warned of a possible shutdown of the State Government, demanding the resumption of the House of Assembly and expedited passage of 2019 Budget as a solution.

The group issued the warning and made the demand at a meeting held on Saturday in Ikorodu. It called on the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, “to immediately reopen the House of Assembly, which has been under locks and keys since 2018.”

The call, according to LLM, became imperative as Lagosians have “continued to anticipate the presentation of the state’s 2019 Appropriation Bill, to the Assembly for Consideration, by the State’s Executive, led by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.”

“LLM is worried that further delay in the presentation and passage of the 2019 Budget may be counterproductive and lead to a shutdown of governance and economic activities in the state,” the group said in a statement issued on Tuesday, signed by Comrade Mark Adebayo (Convener) and Comrade Femi Lawson (Secretary)..

The Movement noted that “Lagos, which is the fifth largest economy in Africa, is at a palpable risk of slowdown in its developmental strife if the Lagos House of Assembly does not quickly reconvene session to accept the submission of 2019 Budget proposal by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.”

Continuing, the statement said: “It was observed with concern that since the return of democratic rule in 1999, Lagos State Government kept the enviable record of being the first amongst equal to submit its budget proposal before the last quarter of an operational year and passage of same before the end of the first month of the New Year. This has no doubt been responsible for the seamless economic growth of the State of Excellence.

“However, LLM is shocked to receive the news that even when the Commissioner for Budget and Planning in the State wrote the Assembly last year for a date when the Governor would address the lawmakers and submit the 2019 Budget, the Speaker responded that it would be impossible to reconvene the House at any determinable date because members of the House are currently busy with their various political campaigns for offices in this year's general elections!

“This is not only reprehensible but also highly condemnable and disrespectful to the indigenes and residents of Lagos state. This is much more so when viewed against the background that the over N1 trillion budget is largely targeted at meeting the demands of Lagosians and promise of Governor Ambode to complete all the infrastructural development projects like the Agege flyover, Oshodi Transport Interchange, Lagos-Abeokuta BRT corridor among others, initiated by his administration. It is trite to emphasise that the refusal to reopen the Assembly and expedite the passage of the budget would not only affect the infrastructural developmental strides but also equally provoke monumental needless hardships and sufferings on Lagosians.”

LLM alleged that “the Speaker, Hon. Obasa, and many of the members of the House of Assembly are not acting in the best interest of Lagos State that has bettered their lots, but rather working in cohort with other elements outside government to rubbish if not retard the developmental growth of the state.”

It called on “well-meaning indigenes as well as Lagosians at home and Diaspora to urgently intervene in this emerging, seemingly logjam of the state’s economy before it is too late.”

LLM raised alarm that “the House of Assembly is working out a script by the purported political Godfather of the State, Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu, and his cabal.”

According to the statement, “Investigations of the Movement revealed that the cabal has set up a Special Committee that oversees the disbursement of the State resources. Most of the disbursed funds are being funneled towards prosecution of the campaigns of the APC anointed candidate for gubernatorial elections, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. This is the reason why the Speaker and House of Assembly are dilly dallying with the passage of 2019 Budget proposal, possibly to be delayed till after the first quarter of the year.

“Thus, it is manifestly clear that the Hon. Obasa-led House of Assembly, in conspiracy with these desperate politicians, are implementing a grand, devious design to milk Lagos dry for the gubernatorial elections without recourse or respect for the constitution or due process even passage of budget.

“Should the Leadership of the State House of Assembly refuse to answer this subtle clarion call to reopen the assembly without further delay, we shall not hesitate to mobilise Lagosians for the necessary legitimate actions, to compel a reopening of the House of Assembly.

“A word is enough for the wise!”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/09/lagos-state-government-may-shut-liberation-movement-%e2%80%a2demands-resumption-state-house-assembly-expedited-passage-2019-budget/

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have attacked Auno village in Borno town, dislodging civil authorities in the area.

The attack occurred early in the evening on Monday, precisely at about 6pm, throwing villagers into panic.

The Borno state Commissioner of Police, Damian Chukwu confirmed the incident to Channels Television in a phone conversation, but maintain that the attack has been repelled.

Chukwu said the attack might have been a reprisal or a rescue mission as some insurgents were arrested in the same village and handed over to the military who later conveyed them to the 7 Div headquarters in Maiduguri.

The police believe that the attack could be in revenge with the hope of rescuing their arrested accomplices.

It is not clear as at now, if there are any casualties in the part of the civilian population or their attackers.

Auno is barely twenty kilometers to Maiduguri, the Borno state capital located at the west along the Maiduguri Damatuturu expressway, the only route linking the state to other parts of the country.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/08/boko-haram-storms-borno-village-dislodges-civil-authorities/

Suspected smugglers have killed a customs officer and injured one other personnel during an encounter in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The incident was said to have occurred while the security operatives were on routine patrol in an attempt to secure smuggled rice into the state where eight vehicles loaded with bags of rice were intercepted.

Confirming the incident to reporters on Monday, Ogun Area Controller of Customs, Mr Michael Agbara, explained that the suspects had regrouped before attacking the security operatives.

“One of my gallant officers, Hamish Sani, lost his life in active service. One other member of the team had equally machete cut on the chest. That is exactly what happened,” he said.

Mr Agbara added that the deceased has been buried while the injured had been taken to a hospital for treatment.

He condemned the attack on the security operatives and revealed that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.

The Customs controller described the attack on the officers as “a heinous crime”, adding that the culprits would not go unpunished.

He, thereafter, asked other personnel of Customs not to be discouraged by the incident but see it as more reason why smugglers and other criminal elements must not be spared.

“They cannot go away with it. We will pursue them and bring them to justice, and I think that is the only time the spirit of the dead will rest,” Agbara said.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/08/breaking-smugglers-kill-customs-officer-injure-another/

A traditional ruler with the Katsina state emirate council and who is equally The Ward Head of Zandam village in Jibia Local government, Babangida Lawal has been kidnapped last night, Daily Trust Reports.

The traditional ruler was picked alongside a businessman in the village, Murtala Rabe according to sources in the village.

The kidnappers stormed the village in the night broke into their respective homes and whisked them away. Some residents who tried to rescue the victims were severely injured in the process.

No ransom has so far been placed on them by the abductors. It was further learnt that in the next neighbouring village of Gurbi Magarya, some cows were rustled away by the bandits.

When contacted the spokesman of Katsina state police command SP Gambo Isah confirmed the incidence noting that” police are making effort to rescue them.” ‎

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/07/shocker-katsina-traditional-ruler-kidnapped/

A detachment of Nigerian soldiers on Sunday sealed off the Abuja headquarters of Media Trust, Limited, Publishers of Daily Trust, Weekend Trust, Sunday Trust and Aminiya, over stories related to Boko Haram insurgency.

News Express Correspondent who monitored the activities of the operatives in Abuja reports that the six-storey building was besieged at about 6pm on Sunday.

The soldiers were said to have been led by a 2nd Lieutenant whose team ordered every staff out of the premises.

The soldiers were also said to have shut down the computers and laptops after which the items were carted away.

Staff of the company were seen loitering around MAFEMI Crescent, Off Solomon Lar Way, Utako, Abuja.

It was learnt that the soldiers, some of whose faces were masked, ordered all staff out of the building, asking them to converge at the front of the complex, where they were surrounded by some soldiers.

The staff were also asked to produce the Political Editor, Hamza Idris, who at the time was not within the complex.

A team of soldiers had equally around 4pm raided the Maiduguri Regional Office of the company in Borno State, where they were said to have arrested two senior editorial staff on hand.

The soldiers were said to have also asked for Hamza, whose byline was on the story seen as offensive by the soldiers.

Sunday Trust equally featured an Editorial opinion on January 6, 2019 which indicated that the government was running out of excuses on the Boko Haram insurgency.

Some staff of the company said that some of the soldiers who raided the office later brought a list of persons detailed for arrest after most of the staff on hand had dispersed.

The detachment of soldiers and plain-clothe operatives were still stationed in the complex to prevent any form of production as at 8.30pm on Sunday.

The soldiers were stationed at the gate entrance gate after a security man attached to the company had taken inventory of the seized items before the soldiers took them away.

A statement endorsed by the Deputy Managing Director of the organisation, Mahmud Jega, said: “Armed soldiers in several vehicles have laid siege to Daily Trust headquarters in Abuja. They have surrounded the premises, dismissed the Mobile Police guards and do not allow entry or exit.

“Soldiers had earlier today entered Daily Trust’s office in Maiduguri and arrested two reporters, including the Bureau Chief, Usman Abubakar. They say it is regarding today’s lead story of Daily Trust on Sunday. Production work has stopped.

More details later.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/07/boko-haram-soldiers-shut-daily-trust-headquarters/

Shehu Sani, senator representing Kaduna central, has asked Nasir El-Rufai, governor of the state, to caution his wife over her comments on his hair.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, the senator said Hadiza El-Rufai, the governor’s wife, always talks about his hair whenever she is out campaigning.

Hadiza has been actively involved in the re-election campaign of her husband ahead of the March governorship election.

“I appeal to Mr Governor to caution his wife to stop talking about my hair everywhere she goes on campaigns. Everywhere she goes its all about my hair. Its not my fault if her man is not blessed with hair. I consider it as hate speech. I will report her to Dr Gummi or Council of Imams if she doesn’t stop. Haba Jammaa,” the post read.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/06/shehu-sani-warns-el-rufais-wife/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday hosted Ohanaeze Ndigbo youth Wing worldwide and told them to prepare themselves for political leadership.

The delegation was led by the Acting National President of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo youth Wing worldwide, Dr Kingsley Dozie.

Dozie was accompanied by National Secretary of the group, Mazi Madukaibe Uchenna, National Publicity Secretary, Chief Osmond Nkeoma, Chief Chinedu Nwachukwu and Mazi Okechukwu Nwachukwu.

Others were Dr. Onyedika Omeka, Mazi James Alaka, Mazi Umenyi John-Paul, Mazi Nnennaya Hillary, Barr Stanley Ibeagbulem and others.

Buhari told the youths to prepare themselves for political leadership as his generation will eventually quit the scene for the younger ones to takeover.

He described Nigerian youths as very active and critically important in the Nigerian project.

‘‘Youths are very virile and active. A greater part of the Nigerian population is made up of youths. They must always be a factor at all times.

‘‘Youths must begin to groom themselves for the leadership of Nigeria.

‘‘I said this to the leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students yesterday (Thursday) – sooner than later, we will leave the stage and you will takeover. You have to equip yourselves properly.’’

President Buhari welcomed the group for appreciating his administration’s effort in providing the much-needed infrastructure across the country and for ensuring that Nigerians celebrated the Yuletide with the availability and price stability of petroleum products.

‘‘I am glad you appreciate government’s efforts. That is why we are here to make a difference in the lives of Nigerians and on infrastructure.

“We will ensure that the resources of Nigeria work for Nigerians,’’ he said.

On the industrial action embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the President expressed the hope that ‘‘good reason will prevail’’ in the on-going talks between the Federal Government and representatives of the union.

Earlier in his remark, the leader of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing hailed the Buhari administration for stabilising the economy, improved security during the Christmas season and sustaining the development of infrastructure, particularly the Second Niger Bridge.

‘‘We, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing, are partners-in-progress in the Nigerian Project and will extend hands of partnership to any administration that guarantees the interest and welfare of Ndigbo.

‘‘There’s no gainsaying the fact that President Buhari’s administration has impacted on the Igbos in some positive ways, but there are still areas the Igbos need more impact,’’ he said.

The youth leader, therefore, appealed to the President to make a categorical statement on the issue of Igbo presidency in 2023, in addition to initiating a process for the creation of an additional state in the South East, among others.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/05/buhari-urges-ohaneze-ndigbo-youths-prepare-leadership/

Former Manchester United captain, Gary Neville, has claimed both Liverpool and Manchester City are under pressure to win the title, after the Reds’ unbeaten run came to an end at The Etihad on Thursday.

City cut the gap at the top of the Premier League to four points with a 2-1 win.

“We’ve got two fantastic teams to watch, they are brilliant teams, absolutely brilliant. I think both are under real pressure for different reasons. A club like Liverpool, and the history it has got for winning titles, cannot go 25, 26, 27 years without winning, and this is an incredible chance.

“It’s not a now-or-never moment, because Liverpool will always have chances in the future, but you don’t know when your next chance is going to come, you don’t know whether Chelsea or Manchester United or Manchester City are going to be better next year. But this is a moment where Liverpool have to take it.

“For Pep Guardiola, he’s over here to dominate. He’s not over here to win one title in three. I think what you saw from him tonight was him demanding from his team: ‘Are you going to be a team that are a one-season wonder… the best team ever that can’t win back-to-back titles?’ He’s here to create a dynasty. So they are both under pressure for different reasons.

“We’ve got a title race to look forward to,” Neville said on Sky Sports.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/04/epl-gary-neville-reveals-two-teams-pressure-win-title-liverpools-unbeaten-run-ends/

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has stated that Kwara Central Senatorial District, represented by Senate President Bukola Saraki, will be the easiest to be delivered to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in this year’s general elections.

The minister said this on Thursday in Ilorin while inspecting the Campaign Office and Situation Room of the Buhari \Osinbajo Project (BOP) 2019, a political group druming support and votes for the APC in Kwara.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister inspected the office ahead of Friday’s inauguration of the 18,000 grassroot votes canvassers across all polling units in Kwara.

Lai Mohammed, while reacting to prediction in certain quarters that Saraki would be returned to the Senate even if APC wins other elections in the state, said the revolution in Kwara was total.
“The easiest nut to crack will be the Kwara Central Senatorial District because the first revolution started from there.

“Cast your minds back to what happened in the last Local Government elections, you will see that the people of Kwara are ripe for change and we have no fear in any part of the state.

“When revolution comes, it comes in total and hence the slogan across nooks and crannies of Kwara today, “O to ge’’ meaning “Enough is Enough’’.

“What is happening today in Kwara is mass movement and that is why everywhere we go in the state we are warmly received, whereas the PDP are being received there with hostility,’’ he said.

The minister after inspecting the campaign office and the situation room of BOP, and interacting with the people, said he was confident that the 2019 elections in Kwara would be a walk over for the APC.

He said the party had no fewer than 18,000 foot soldiers at polling units level all over Kwara who would in turn target 10 supporters each before the elections,.

According to him, the party will on Friday inaugurate 2,800 grassroot canvassers, 193 wards coordinators, 193 wards secretaries, 193 wards women leaders and 193 wards youths leaders.

Mohammed said the most important was the situation room at the BOP headquarters which would have the details of every ward coordinator and contact them daily on the progress made and their challenges.

“We have telephone numbers of all our canvassers, 10 of them in each polling units and we have the mechanism with which we are going to be calling them daily.

“This method is very important and key strategy even than rallies.

“Yes, rallies are very good for perception and moral boosting, but the real electioneering campaign work is what is being done here,’’ NAN quoted him as saying.
He, however, thanked all the party supporters and financiers for their services and reassured them of victories in the coming polls.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/03/2019-elections-apc-will-win-sarakis-senatorial-district-lai-mohammed/

The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) says the haste by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to haul insults at the PDP and defend the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the alleged pressure on it to drop the display of results at polling centres, confirms that INEC is being compromised ahead of the polls.

Kola Ologbondiyan, Director, Media & Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organization, stated this in a statement on Thursday.

He stated that Nigerians were shocked when the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, through his media aide, hauled insults at the PDP as “hallucinating” in response to PDP’s caution to the commission not to succumb to pressure and enticements by the APC and the Buhari presidency to drop the display and the electronic transmission of results to its main server.

He added that in resorting to insults and engaging in a campaign of calumny instead of words of assurances to stakeholders, INEC has made a dive into the arena and accentuated anxieties by Nigerians as well as the international community that it is being compromised by the APC and the Buhari presidency.

“However, these needless insult of our party notwithstanding, we shall continue to hold the Prof Yakubu-led INEC to its responsibility to deliver a transparent, free, fair and credible 2019 general election”, the statement added.

“It is also instructive for INEC to know that nothing will deter us from monitoring all the processes leading to this year’s general elections and hold the commission accountable on every perceived infraction.

“The PPCO restates firmly that on no account must INEC drop the display of results at the polling units and the electronic transmission of results to its server from its guidelines as being pressured by the APC and Buhari Presidency.

“PDP Presidential Campaign also rejects any plan to use former National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) members as polls officials as this will amount to handing over the electoral process directly to the APC and the Buhari Presidency,” Ologbondiyan said.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/03/warned-nigerians-inec-attacked-us-defending-apc-pdp-explodes/