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Chelsea winger, Willian has issued out warning to Liverpool over winning this season’s Premier League title.

Willian warned Liverpool that Chelsea can still catch them in the Premier League title race this season.

Chelsea are currently 11 points behind Jurgen Klopp’s men on the Premier League table.

Maurizio Sarri’s side defeated Crystal Palace 1-0 on Sunday in the Premier League encounter.

“Yeah our target is to stay at the top,” Willian told beIN SPORTS when asked about Chelsea’s title hopes.

“We know we cannot talk about the title, we know we are 11 points from Liverpool.

“But we have to believe. In football, you never know. Even more in the Premier league.

“So we have to believe until the very end, and we have to win games.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/31/epl-chelseas-willian-warns-liverpool/

Chelsea manager, Maurizio Sarri, has said that mounting injuries have left his team “in trouble”, after Olivier Giroud suffered suspected ankle ligament damage, during Sunday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Giroud left the field on crutches in the 76th minute, after being injured by a James Tomkins tackle, while scoring an offside goal.
Chelsea held onto the lead given to them by N’Golo Kante’s earlier strike to move five points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal.

Sarri was forced to leave Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Cesc Fabregas, Pedro and Callum Hudson-Odoi out of his squad for the game due to injury, and may now be without Giroud for several weeks, with Chelsea’s workload showing no sign of easing in a busy January.

“The problem is his ankle. I don’t know the severity. We have to wait for [Monday]. I think that, later in the evening, I will see the doctor for the first results, but I think the real result will only be known [on Monday].

“In the last few days we were a but unlucky. Yesterday [Saturday], in 10 minutes we had three injuries — Fabregas, [Loftus-Cheek] and [Danny] Drinkwater — then Giroud, and we were already without Pedro and [Hudson-Odoi].

“We are in trouble because, in January, we have to play every three days. Fabregas has a neck problem. The injury was in the last five minutes of training, so I’m not sure whether he has to rest for two or 10 days. I will have a meeting with the doctor this evening,” Sarri said according to ESPN.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/31/epl-sarri-admits-chelsea-trouble/

The Presidential Candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, has promised a better deal for women and youths if elected in 2019.

Ezekwesili made the promise in an interview with newsmen shortly after canvassing for votes from market women at Afor-Ukpor market, Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra on Sunday.

Ezekwesili said that if elected, the ACPN would ensure that 50 per cent of appointments into the cabinet were made up of women and young people.

The presidential candidate said the party’s major campaign targets women, who are operating at low productivity in the economy.

“We have a programme that targets all the barriers that impede economic productivity of women, some of which include the lack of large-scale farm land for decent output.

Retailers turning to technology to offer smarter online and in-store experiences

“One of the research for development showed that women in Osun state, who were given the same amount of inputs as their male counterparts, performed more than their male counterparts by 40 per cent.

“We will do everything in terms of our policies, rules and procedures to empower our women in the agricultural sector,” she assured.

Ezekwesili said if elected, her administration would also focus on education for women, adding that education enhances the quality of policies women make in governance.

According to her, of the 80 million Nigerians living in poverty, more than 50 per cent of them are women.

“So, if we must tackle poverty in Nigeria, we must focus very much on women and young people,” she said.

“It will be an inclusive government where merit and competence will guide our selection and where every part of the country is well represented in governance,” she added.

The former Minister of Education expressed confidence that INEC would conduct free and credible elections, but said “the society must compel the commission to do so.

“INEC is able to do it but may not do it because of political pressures that may come upon it; that is why we as citizens must insist that electoral integrity is a sine qua non for the 2019 elections.

“It is therefore imperative that President Mohammed Buhari is prevailed upon to sign the Electoral Amendment Bill 2018,” she said.

Ezekwesili urged President Buhari to also invite all the candidates for the elections and political parties to discuss the rule of the game in terms of how the military and the police will work during the elections.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/30/2019-oby-ezekwesili-pledges-50-per-cent-appointment-women-youth/

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organization, PPCO, has described the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential campaign flag-off in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital as an embarrassing outing for President Muhammadu Buhari.

PPCO in a statement by its Director, Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Saturday claimed that the cold response by the crowd when the President was speaking showed how much Nigerians now begrudge him over his failures in governance.

The council said it was a pitiable sight as “An embarrassed President Buhari could only slur, failed to articulate any clear reason for seeking re-election and had to cut short his presentation when he realized that the rented crowd, which refused to carry APC brooms, was not paying attention to him.

“More embarrassing was that, apparently miffed by Mr. President’s attempt at yet another false performance claims, the crowd started leaving the venue of the rally at the time he was being handed his party’s flag by his national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, a development that led to a hurried closure of the event.

“Nigerians were alarmed when Mr. President claimed that the nation was secure under his rule, when there are killings and daily bloodletting in various parts of our country; when insurgents who had been pushed to the fringes of the North East by the PDP administration, leading to the conduct of elections in all the local governments in the country, have under the Buhari administration spread to other states of the north.

“While Mr. President was making his claims, insurgents had taken Baga; there are killings going on in Zamfara and our soldiers and policemen are being killed by terrorists, due to the neglect of his administration.

“Our citizens were further startled when President Buhari claimed that he has achieved food security when in actual fact there is hunger and starvation everywhere. This statement not only confirms the Buhari Presidency’s proclivity for false claim but also shows that Mr. President is completely insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.

“President Buhari further embarrassed his office on his claims of commitment towards the war against corruption when he was surrounded at the podium, by individuals who are facing corruption allegations, including the Director General of his Campaign, Rotimi Amaechi, Adams Oshiomhole, his South South Zonal Director, Godswill Akpabio and a host of others.

“Furthermore, Nigerians are invited to note that our First Lady, Aisha Buhari, who was on the side of President Buhari throughout his 2015 campaign conspicuously shunned Mr. President’s 2019 re-election flag off apparently in fulfillment of her stance not to support him for a second term if he failed in his first tenure.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/30/2019-buhari-embarrassed-uyo-pdp/

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Saturday described the death of former president of Nigeria, Shehu Shagari, as the end of an unforgettable era and a national loss.

Dr Victor Oye, National Chairman of APGA, said in Awka that Shagari was an iconic politician who played politics with candour, integrity and without bitterness, NAN reports

He said the elder statesman’s reign as president of Nigeria from 1979 to 1983 was one of the most peaceful and progressive in the annals of the country.

Oye called on contemporary politicians to emulate Shagari’s humility and honesty in leadership.

According to the national chairman, Shagari was a strong believer of technology as major driver of economic development, adding that he had a vision to make the country a truly global competitor.

“I was personally present as he discussed the expansion of PRODA with the agency’s director then, Prof. Gordian Ezekwe.

“Unfortunately, Shagari’s plan to advance the cause of Nigeria’s technological development was aborted by the December 31, 1983 coup,” Oye said in a statement.

Oye called on the Federal Government to sustain the vision of the late President by devoting more resources to research in order to promote technical and technological education in the country.

He urged the Federal Government to immortalise the late former president by naming a national monument after him, in spite of the fact that some institutions already bore his name.

Oye said APGA condoled with the federal government and people of Nigeria, while praying to God to grant his soul eternal repose.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/29/shagaris-death-national-loss-apga/

A mild drama on Friday ensued when Miss Congo, Dorcas Kasinde’s wig caught fire durng the Miss Africa 2018 beauty pageant.

DAILY POST had reported that 24-year-old Dorcas Kasinde beat other contestants to win the crown.

Miss Nigeria came second while Miss Zambia came third.

But, in a viral video, the beauty queen, who was excited after being crowned Miss Africa 2018, was celebrating her victory, She was hugging her predecessor when her wig caught fire.

The fireworks used to celebrate her victory led to the accident.

However, the show host, Ebuka came to her rescue before more damage could be done.

See video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xLi6uek7XE

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/28/miss-africa-miss-congos-wig-catches-fire-pageant-video/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Thursday claimed some politicians in Oyo State are approaching the Commission’s officials to buy the state’s unclaimed permanent voter cards in its custody to them.

“They are looking for PVCs to buy. They are looking for what is not available because they know that these things are not available. This is the security report at my disposal,” Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in the state, Mutiu Agboke, said in Ibadan.

Adegoke disclosed that there are 914,529 unclaimed PVCs with the commission. He affirmed that none of these PVCs will be sold to the politicians in the state by the commission or its staff.

“Tell those who are looking for PVCs to buy that there is none to buy in Oyo state. I can assure you that no INEC staff will sell PVCs to any politician,” Adegoke said

“Those who are looking for PVCs to buy, I won’t give you the name. I don’t have the names.

“But, that is the security report I got and the report did not specify the party and the individual that is involved. They want us to give them PVCs but we can’t give it to them. They want to buy PVCs but there is none to sell in Oyo state.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/28/politicians-approaching-us-pvc-sale-says-inec/

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has appealed to the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha to name the powerful persons who have hijacked the current Federal Government.

Atiku said Aisha should identify the powerful people so Nigerians can either beg them or fight to liberate the President and the country from them.

He spoke through his campaign’s spokesperson, Segun Showunmi, while addressing journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State yesterday.

He claimed that Buhari doesn’t know “how to fight corruption” even though he had determination to do it.

Showunmi said Atiku had the capacity to fight corruption in a sustainable manner more than the president.

He said, “I want to beg Her Excellency, Dr. Aisha Buhari, to shatter the glass ceiling and mention those two people that have hijacked our president so that we can either go to beg them or we fight them and liberate the president of Nigeria from their stranglehold.

“Maybe in the remaining couple of months that he has, he will be able to be the Buhari that people wanted him to be.

“We want to know them so that we can write their names in the black book of history that they were the ones that destroyed the Buhari presidency.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/27/atiku-begs-aisha-reveal-identities-two-powerful-people-frustrating-buhari/

Chelsea manager, Maurizio Sarri, has revealed that substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi, was forced off with a hamstring injury during Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Watford.

Eden Hazard scored both goals for Chelsea in a hard-fought victory at Vicarage Road and the result meant Sarri’s side leapfrogged Arsenal to go fourth in the Premier League table.

Roberto Pereyra gave Watford some hope as he cancelled out Hazard’s opening effort in a frantic period before the break, but a moment of recklessness from Ben Foster proved decisive.

Watford’s goalkeeper barged Hazard to the floor in the 58th minute and the Belgian made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Sarri introduced Hudson-Odoi for his first league appearance of the season as Pedro was forced off in the 43rd minute and the 18-year-old showed glimpses of promise.

However, the youngster was replaced by Emerson with five minutes remaining.

Speaking after the win, Sarri explained: “We don’t know how much Pedro is injured, we will evaluate tomorrow.

“That is the same problem with Callum Hudson-Odoi. He had a little injury a few days ago, yesterday it was good and he managed 50-55 minutes.

“We thought it was better to substitute him.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/27/epl-sarri-reveals-substituted-hudson-odoi-twice-watford/

Two principal suspects linked to the killing of a former Chief of Defense Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, have been arrested.

According to Channels Tv, a police source said the suspects were arrested on Wednesday.

According to the source, the investigations carried out so far on the matter reveal that the two suspects were directly involved in the attack that led to the death of the former Defence Chief.

The source added that three suspects had earlier been apprehended, although the police could not confirm their direct involvement in the attack.

They were, however, said to have been instrumental in the arrest of the two principal suspects.

DAILY POST recalls that Badeh was shot dead by unknown gunmen, at Tudu-Uku, along Gigata- Keffi road, while returning from his farm last Tuesday.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/26/breaking-police-arrest-two-suspects-behind-ex-defense-chief-alex-badehs-assassination/

Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has called on residents to remain peaceful and continue to support his government in 2019.

Emmanuel made the call in his Christmas broadcast to the people on Tuesday.

He said that Akwa Ibom was a Christian state, shaped by Christian values to remain peaceful and do well to people irrespective of their social standing.

The governor said that as a leader, he would continue to do his best to project the image of the state in global perspective.

“This particular Christmas broadcast is significant in a number of ways. I am speaking to you my dear people before the 2019 electioneering begin in earnest which will end with the election proper.

“I am hopeful by this time next year with your support we will continue the good works we have started together in rewriting the Akwa Ibom story.

“You will agree with me, that the Akwa Ibom story requires bold new chapters and those chapters are what, together, with your support we have written glowingly in the past three and half years,” Emmanuel said.

He said that Akwa Ibom people have reason to be thankful to God and support his administration due to the developmental stride and peace experienced in the state so far.

According to him, his government had been on course to work hard and reposition the state to greatness in spite of the challenges confronting it.

He said: “Politics will come and go, but Akwa Ibom will remain non-negotiable and sacrosanct. May we have a peaceful and violence free electioneering and elections come 2019.”

The governor appreciated the public servants for their steadfastness, adding that he has graciously approved Christmas bonus to all public servants in the state. (NAN)

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/26/christmas-emmanuel-sues-peace-solicits-people-support-2019/

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged Nigerians to keep working for peace as the 2019 general elections draw closer.

He warned that Nigerians, and not God, should accept responsibility, if peace eludes the country.

The elder statesman gave the advice on Sunday evening during the 2018 Christmas Carol and Service of Six Lessons organised by the Chapel of Christ the Glorious King (CCKG) situated inside the sprawling Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, the State capital.

He expressed the hope that 2019 “will indeed be a year of blessings for all and sundry in the country”.

“National peace is very important in view of the growing insecurity in the country,” said a statement by Obasanjo’s Special Assistant (Media) Kehinde Akinyemi.

The ex-president, who expressed delight at the service, however, said the present situation in the country was not good enough.

“The situation is getting worrisome by the day. I was in Kaduna and I thought that the story would be different. The people there said insecurity, kidnapping and killings are happening.

“If peace eludes us, it is not an act of God, but our making. That is why I am happy that our Bishop in his sermon also talked about peace. This is the appropriate time to talk about peace; this is the season of peace.

“It will be a year of blessings for each one, and particularly for Nigeria. When people come to me and say they are giving up on the country, I tell them no and that next year is a year of blessings for all.

“With right statements and right actions, people will be trooping back into the country. We had it before; there is no reason not to have it again,” Obasanjo said.

Archbishop of Ogun Province, the African Church, Abeokuta Most Revd. S.O.B. Ojumu urged Nigerians to embrace the spirit of peace during the festive period and as the general elections draw closer.

He called on the nation’s politicians to make peace their cornerstone while seeking political offices.

According to him, politicians should ensure that they do away with self-interest on getting to office.

Ojumu lauded Obasanjo for his role in peace-building globally.

“He has contributed immensely for peace in Africa and the world,” the cleric said.

Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, reads the Sixth Lesson, taken from Acts 10:38 and John 4:10-14.

In attendance also was the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Taiwo Adeoluwa, members of Owu Traditional Council and the campaign train of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/25/blame-peace-eludes-nigeria-says-obasanjo/

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has said he does not fear President Muhammadu Buhari, but only God.

Speaking at the 2018 edition of the state Christmas Carol and Service of Nine Lessons, Amosun said this in response to reports quoting him to have said that “he fears no one except Buhari and God;”

According to the governor, he had addressed leaders and members of All Progressives Congress (APC) during a stakeholders’ meeting held last Friday at the party Secretariat in Abeokuta.

Amosun said he was misquoted as he only fear God although he loves and respects Buhari.

“You know this is our time as politician, a time when politicians will call black, blue.

“Yesterday I held a meeting with our people, and the way I started was that, I was brought up to fear God but only for me to see in the paper this morning that ‘Amosun says he fears God and Buhari’.

“No , it is only God I fear, the one that is alive, the only one that will say ‘kufayakun’ and no one can change that is the only God that I fear.

“Of course, I respect President Buhari; I love him and he loves me too, but I know him he fears God because he is from God. He doesn’t beg for respect he commands and earns it. So, it is only God that I fear.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/24/fear-god-not-buhari-gov-amosun/

The Niger State Police Command has deployed 2,331 personnel across the state to ensure a hitch-free Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Mr. Bibal Yakadi, the state Commissioner of Police disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Sunday.

“We have deployed armed personnel with communication gadgets on various roads including Minna-Suleja road, Suleja-Kaduna road, Bida-Makwa-Kontagora road and Makwa -Birnin Gwari road to ensure safety of road users.

“We have also deployed plain cloth personnel to churches, recreational centres, motor parks and public buildings across the state against any form of threats to lives and property.

“Our personnel are battle ready to deal with any form of security threats before, during and after the festivities,” he said.
Yakadi advised residents attending religious programmes in various Churches to be security conscious.

“People attending religious functions should be conscious of happenings around them. They must all be watchful and observe their environment,” he said.

Yakadi added that extra security measures had been taken to guarantee the safety of lives and property during and after the festive period.

“We don’t want to be taken unawares; we have adopted proactive security measures to deal with any unforeseen circumstances,” he said.

The commissioner urged residents to use the Christmas to pray for peace, progress and economic development of the country.
He also advised members of the public to assist the police with useful information to track down criminals in their midst.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/23/yuletide-police-deploy-2331-personnel-niger/

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Ogun State, Chief Derin Adebiyi, has described the party’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as an undertaker planted by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to destroy the ruling party.

The Oshiomhole led National Working Committee of APC had three days ago announced the dissolution of state and local executive committees in both Ogun and Imo states.
Adebiyi told Sun that the dissolution was an exercise in futility, adding that if not for President Muhammadu Buhari, the APC would ceased to exist because of Oshiomhole’s actions.

He continued, “My stand remains unchanged. The dissolution is of no consequence, patently illegal and of course, I would call it executive rascality.

“Between me and you, Oshiomhole was only using the name of the NWC to perpetrate illegality, he is the only person that doesn’t want to see us because of his penchant for illegalities.

“How would you explain in an election year a national chairman behaving that way? All over Nigeria people are not happy with him in APC.

“I believe people are maintaining graveyard silence because they don’t want to rock the boat of the party because of election.

“If not for the interest people have in President Muhammadu Buhari, I can tell you as at today, there will be no APC again because of the actions of Oshiomhole.

“The man is behaving like an undertaker. And I have strong feelings that Oshiomhole is an agent of opposition.

“He was planted by the PDP to destroy APC because in my 44 years in politics, I have not seen anybody at the helm of party affairs behave that way, and yet, you want that party to win.

“It is not done! I have said it severally and I will repeat it, Oshiomhole is behaving as a trade unionist.

“You know that he used to be a professional agitator, he has forgotten that as at now that he is in executive position, he needs to exhibit characters of a good leader.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/22/2019-oshiomhole-undertaker-sent-pdp-destroy-party-apc-chairman-adebiyi/

Labaran Maku, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Nasarawa State, has promised to end insecurity in the state if elected in 2019.

Maku, a former Minister of Information, made the promise on Friday while addressing some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Akon, Obi Local Government Area.

He said that he would ensure that peace returned to all parts of the state within his first 100 days in office.

Maku, who is also the National Secretary of APGA, said that his administration would convene a peace, unity and security summit, where the template for the restoration of peace and the people’s integration would be fine-tuned.

“By the grace of God and the commitment of my government, we will make sure that no community is taken over by any militia group.

“We will make the state too hot for any militia group to operate; we will also defend our people in all parts of the state from attacks,” he added.

Maku said that if he was elected, his administration would empower community leaders with communication gadgets to enable them to report any suspicious activities in their domains to the government for prompt action.

He bemoaned the alarming rate of kidnapping, assassination, rape and attack in communities across the state, vowing that his government would bring the masterminds of the violent activities to book.

The governorship candidate said that the Tiv people were most marginalised ethnic group in the state because of factors such as under-representation in government, among others.

Maku stressed that he would be fair and just in treating all matters relating to the majority and minority ethnic groups in the state, if elected governor in 2019.

Speaking, Mr Francis Iyua, the leader of the IDPs, said that the Tiv people had no any other choice than to vote for Maku in order to ensure their safety.

He said that Maku had, over the years, demonstrated that he had the capacity to govern the state with a clear vision and purpose.

Iyua recalled that suspected militia groups had ravaged their communities, killing and maiming some residents.

“Out of all the governorship candidates, it is only Labaran Maku who has empathised with us, while speaking against the injustice meted out to us.

“Therefore, voting for Maku is voting for our peace, unity, security, progress and development,” he added.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/21/2019-ill-make-nasarawa-hot-bandits-jonathans-minister-labaran-maku/

Former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has reacted to outcome of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 budget proposal presentation to a joint session of the National Assembly yesterday.

DAILY POST had reported earlier that during the budget presentation, President Buhari got laud jeers from some lawmakers.

Jibrin noted that it takes courage for a President to appear before a joint session of the National Assembly at a time like this when lawmakers are divided across party lines.

He commended Buhari for the show of courage and added that the President did excellently well.

The lawmaker tweeted, “It takes courage for a president to go to NASS and present the budget during a period of bad politics and sharp divide across party lines.

“It was a show of extreme courage by @MBuhari to have gone ahead and did excellent as well.

“If you think it’s a tea party,ask his predecessors.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/20/2019-budget-abdulmumin-jibrin-reacts-reps-senators-booing-buhari/

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said that an Igbo man would someday become the governor of the state.

Sanwo-Olu pointed out that Igbo people were already stakeholders in Lagos project.

Sanwo-Olu stated this at a reception where he was honoured by his Igbo friends with the title: “Ugochinyere Eze Ndigbo” at the National Stadium in Lagos on Wednesday.

The governorship candidate said the Lagos would remain home to Igbo people.

He said this is because they had contributed to its economic growth through their various businesses in the state.

He noted that Igbo people had not been found wanting in that area.

“One day, your son will stand here as the governor of this state, a senator in Lagos or any other top political office.

“No Lagosian will fight an Igbo man because he is part of us.

“Lagos will be land of milk and honey to you. We know that you are very relevant in this state considering your activities in the area of commerce,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu pointed out that the peaceful co-existence between Igbo and Yoruba people would be worthy of emulation.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/20/igbo-man-will-lagos-governor-sanwo-olu/

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has condemned the killing of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh.

Speaking at the Fourth Quarter Chief of Air Staff Conference on Wednesday in Abuja, Abubakar said the force has been working very closely since Tuesday night to apprehend those behind the heinous crime, adding that “by the special grace of God, we will get them and they will face justice.”

According to him, the killers of Badeh “is not entirely a military affair; those guys that shot Badeh came from an environment; so, we all have to put hands together to make sure that our national security is not undermined by individuals.”

The Air chief stressed that the death of Badeh is an eternal reminder to Nigerians that the military had shouldered the responsibility of protecting lives and property of all Nigerians.

“Though we are working hard, we should redouble our efforts; we need to work round the clock, we need to put in more effort.

“We need to collaborate more closely to ensure that these criminals are not allowed to endanger the lives of our people.

“On our part, as a service, I am sure you are aware of the efforts we are making to build the capacity of the special force and regiment personnel so as to add value to what we are doing in all parts of the country,” he said.

Abubakar further disclosed that the service recruited no fewer than 700 regiment personnel who were in training in Kaduna, adding that another batch would commence training soon.

According to him, the idea is to make sure that we bridge the gap there is in our system in order to be able to deal with these challenges.

He stressed that security was everybody’s business, and that every Nigerian had a role to play to ensure that Nigeria was safe and secure.

He pointed out that the military had been working to ensure that every Nigerian was able to pursue his or her business without fear or intimidation.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly for the resources they had provided to ensure that security challenges were reduced.

“There are gaps and these gaps have been there for long and we are trying to bridge them,” he said, and announced that NAF had just received one of its aircraft, NAF 476, from the United States.

“We are working on it to make sure that we have sufficient number of aircrafts.”

The air chief assured Nigerians that the service was working round-the-clock to ensure that Nigeria’s sovereignty was not under threat.

He appealed to the Chiefs and Commanders at the conference not to be discouraged, but to be very bold and courageous to ensure that the country was secure.

Badeh died from gunshot injuries sustained when his vehicle was attacked while returning from his farm along Abuja-Keffi road.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/19/alex-badeh-killing-ex-defence-chief-not-entirely-military-affair-air-chief-sadique-abubakar/

A judge will decide on Tuesday whether former national security adviser Michael Flynn should be sent to prison.

He is to be sentenced for lying to Federal Bureau of Investigation in a case stemming from the investigation into possible collusion between President Donald Trump’s campaign team and Russia in 2016 election-run-up.

US District Judge Emmet Sullivan will sentence Flynn in Washington at 11am ET (1600 GMT).

Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller, who is leading the investigation into Russian interference, has asked Sullivan not to imprison Flynn.

Flynn is a former general, because of his military service and because he provided “substantial” cooperation with the probe Sullivan makes a plea for him.

Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to FBI agents about his conversations with Sergei Kislyak, Russia ambassador in Washington at the time.

Flynn told investigators in January 2017 that he had not discussed US sanctions against Russia with Kislyak, when in fact he had, according to his plea agreement.

Lying to the FBI carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Flynn’s plea agreement states that he is eligible for a sentence of between zero and six months, however, and can ask the court not to impose a fine.

Flynn’s lawyers have asked the court for a probation term of no more than one year, with minimal conditions of supervision, and 200 hours of community service.

Flynn also deserves leniency because he was not warned before the meeting with FBI agents that it was a crime to lie to them, his lawyers said in a recent court filing.

They also said that then-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe had told Flynn that the “quickest way” to conduct the interview was without counsel present.

Critics of the Mueller probe argue that Flynn, who held the White House job for only 24 days, was set up.

Mueller last week countered in a court filing that Flynn had no cause to lie in the interviews.

He added that a “sitting National Security Adviser, former head of an intelligence agency, retired Lieutenant General, and 33-year veteran of the armed forces knows he should not lie to federal agents.”

Flynn is so far the only member of Trump’s administration to plead guilty to a crime uncovered during Mueller’s wide-ranging probe.

The probe has so far ensnared 32 individuals and three Russian firms.

Trump denies there was any collusion and has labelled the investigation a “witch hunt.”

Russia also denies it meddled in the election, contrary to the conclusion of US intelligence agencies.

On Monday, Sullivan ordered the special counsel to release a redacted, five-page FBI account of Flynn’s January 2017 interview, saying it was relevant to his sentencing.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/19/ex-donald-trump-adviser-michael-flynn-sentenced-lying-fbi/

The Cross River State Government has read out the riot act to militants who refuse to handover weapons and surrendered themselves for amnesty.

Mr Ani Esin, the Security Adviser to the state governor, Ben Ayade, disclosed this to DAILY POST in Calabar on Tuesday while the registration of ex-militants was ongoing in the state.

Esin said, “Cross River State Government will make sure that the ex-militants who surrendered their weapons of mass destruction are rewarded and the weapons would not be allowed to go into the wrong hands any longer.

“But, for those who had refused to come out and hand over the weapons would have themselves to blame. We will chase them out of the state, the state would not be conducive or haven for them to resides any longer.

“Those who harbour them (militants) would be dealt with severely and we will make sure that those creeks identified and others yet to be indentified would be destroyed and they would not be adequate for any militant to leave,” he said.

The State Security Adviser noted that government had been on the amnesty issue for long. “The government had been on the issue of amnesty for a long time now with the Bakassi strike force and by God’s willing; it has come to fruition now.

“We are sure that these weapons mopped up now will not go into the wrong hands again. As you can see, for two weeks now, the security of the state had been very intensive, from arm robberies that were stopped, kidnapping prevented in several areas, the hit would have been more intensive.

“We have been able to prevent break down of law and order, crime rates have been reduced drastically. We are working tirelessly, 20/7 to ensure that we do our best to get the best out of a very bad situation particularly in this period of economy recession in Nigeria.”

He pointed out that the government was trying to bring out a framework that would forestall recurrence of crimes in the state, “We are trying to bring out a frame work whereby everybody has to say something in his/her areas, that we can have a pre-advance information before crime happened.

“Once you see negative thing in your area, negative people coming in, you suspect certain movement, please don’t fail to call the police or any security operatives, we have kept the security operatives on red alert to make sure that people have a successful Christmas and Calabar Carnival.

“After the Christmas period, we shall be going into the general elections, all these call for adequate security, hence we have to work very hard to ensure that we have trusted security line up

“Governor Ben Ayade has empowered me adequately, to make sure that the state is safe for visitors and investors who come in for Christmas and Carnival have zero crime rates,” he stated.

He called on people to be peaceful, stressing that, “Parents should warn their wards of negative activities in the society. Land Lord should look at who their tenants are, tenants should look at themselves who is coming into the compound. We assure Nigerians of violence free Christmas and Calabar carnival.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/18/cross-river-govt-reads-riot-act-militants-refusing-surrender-weapons/

Mr Mutiu Agboke, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, on Monday said a total of 1,902,032 electorate have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from 2015 to date.

Agboke disclosed this during the Maiden Christmas Carol and Lecture organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state.

According to him, 941, 705 registered voters are yet to collect their PCVs in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the lecture is ‘’The Role of Christmas in the Conduct of Credible 2019 General Elections“.

Giving the breakdown of the PVCs distribution, the INEC official said that 1,681,144 cards were distributed in 2015 while the commission distributed 152,741 new PVCs and 68,147 old PVCs this year.

He implored owners of unclaimed PVCs to visit the nearest INEC offices in their local government areas for collection.

He charged religious leaders to sensitise their followers against hate speech, vote buying/selling, thuggery and other forms of electoral violence before, during and after the elections.

The Guest Speaker, Pastor Femi Emmanuel, General Overseer, Living Spring Church, Ibadan, noted that a credible poll in 2019 was crucial to the destiny of the nation.

Emmanuel charged Nigerians to work towards successful elections, saying that free and credible poll would douse tension and make the country to progress.

The cleric advised Christians against apathy to the electoral process and urged them to play central and crucial roles in electing those who would govern them.

He said every Christian had a duty to pray for peaceful conduct of the general elections, noting that nothing could be achievable without prayers.

He further urged Christians to be agents of peace and admonished them not to be involved in violence.

The cleric expressed optimism that the nation would overcome her challenges and witness successful general elections come 2019.

Choirs of INEC, Nigeria Prisons Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) were among groups that rendered carol songs at the occasion.

Prayers were offered for the unity of the country and success of the 2019 general elections.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/18/rec-1-9-million-electorate-get-pvcs-oyo-state/

The war of words between the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and his immediate predecessor, Ayodele Fayose over the financial status of the state is yet to abate, as the governor has again accused the ex-governor of plundering the N18 billion Paris club refund to the state.

Fayemi expressed worries over how Fayose, who owed between four and eight months salary and pension arrears, could not defray the backlog of workers’ benefit with such humongous amount of money but rather preferred to divert it for other use.

The governor said he had not reneged on his avowed commitment to offset all the outstanding salaries and pension entitlements before marking the first year in office.

On the increasing wave of kidnappings in the state, Fayemi said he had started giving incentives to security outfits in the state to be able to ensure safety of lives and property, adding that he was strategizing with the state’s security chiefs on how to erect a unique security architecture for Ekiti residents to be safe during the yuletide.

Fayemi spoke in Ado Ekiti on Sunday evening while appearing on the December edition of a programme tagged: ‘Meet your Governor’.

Addressing the rumour milling rounds that he had collected a sum of N11.5 billion Paris Club barely two months he assumed office, Fayemi said: “Let those making the allegation came with verifiable proofs to substantiate their claim. Let them come with evidence.

“I have not collected any money in the fashion of road intervention or Paris club refund. Governor Fayose had the opportunity of paying bulk of these backlog of salaries and pensions. He collected a sum of N18b out of the N21.5b due to Ekiti in the fund, so what is left for Ekiti is just N3.5b which can’t pay a month if we add the overhead costs of subvented institutions.

“As we speak, we are doing a lot of cleansing and that had reduced the monthly pay to workers to N2.1b. Those not properly employed had been left out until they provide evidence. The medical workers that were employed on consequential ground had been reabsorbed.

“I decided to delay appointment of politicians into government for me to be able to pay our workers. With this, Ekiti can now know who is the real and honest friend of the masses.

“I don’t want to do media trial for anyone, so I have hired the services of a renowned audit firm to look into our finances and the forensic state’s accounts will be published during our 100 days in office in January, 2019”, he said.

He said the state anti-grazing law signed into law by Fayose’s administration has not been suspended, clarifying that efforts will be made to rein in rampaging herders in the state, by not being tolerated to carry assorted rifles.

“The ultimate aim of any government is to make people safe. We are not going to tolerate kidnapping here, that is not what we are. We are also going to protect our farmers against invaders.

“We are giving incentives to security to be able to deliver. It was the same hilux vans that we gave to the police that are still being used and the three Armoured Personnel Carriers, nothing was added under Fayose”, he alleged.

Fayemi said his government has paid the West African Examinations
Council (WAEC) fee for all SS3 students in the state as part of his commitment to free education. He also warned that any principal found collecting illegal money in public schools will have himself to blame.

“But let me clarify here, it was only the N500 per term for primary and N1000 for secondary development fee introduced by Fayose that was abrogated. Any other fee agreed by the school including money for uniforms would be paid by parents,” he clarified.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/17/fayose-wasted-n18bn-paris-club-refund-ekiti-fayemi-alleges/

Chairman of Senate Committee on Banks and other Financial Institutions, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, has slammed the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, over his recent utterances about members of the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

He said Tinubu’s utterances were increasingly unbecoming of a leader.

Tinubu had at a public function attended by Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, in Ibadan , the Oyo state capital, accused some Senators of political prostitution in the build-up to the election of the 8th Senate President on June 7, 2015.

Reacting to the allegation, Ibrahim said he was neither a political prostitute nor a robber in the events that culminated in Senator Lawan losing the Senate Presidency to Dr. Bukola Saraki on June 7, 2015.

In an interview published on ThisDay newspaper on Monday, Senator Ibrahim (Kwara South), said: “With a little apology to Tinubu, it is unfortunate that such utterances were coming from an elder statesman like him.

“Tinubu should seek caution in his public utterances because good leaders don’t talk down on people the way he does and should note that his being a leader today does not mean he will be leader forever.

“I can say with emphasis that our own leaders don’t talk to us the way Tinubu is talking.

“I reject being called a political prostitute in totality and can also say this about my other APC Senators then because I knew no money exchanged hands but we voted based on our conviction.”

Ibrahim said Tinubu was to blame for planning to impose a leadership on the Senate without carrying along APC Senators. He wondered why the former Lagos governor is still pained by what transpired over three and half years ago.

“You haunted and persecuted Dr Saraki since his emergence as Senate President and it took the ruling of the Supreme Court for him to be vindicated

“So, when there was no sincere reconciliation, we left the APC for them. Now, Tinubu is now referring to an old issue forgetting that he and others caused the problem then,” the Senator added.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/17/senator-ibrahim-blasts-tinubu-comments-sarakis-defeat-lawan-clinch-senate-presidency/

The former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, on Sunday declared that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar will defeat President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

Babangida stated that if the 2019 election was free and fair and security agents were not unleashed against Abubakar, the former Vice President would win the poll.

The former governor made the declaration during an interactive session with reporters in Kaduna.

According to Babangida, “Believe me, not only in my state, I believe that if the elections are free and fair, if there is no rigging, if the security agencies are not used against our party, we will make it. We will win.

“Atiku will defeat Buhari squarely.”

On Buhari’s refusal to sign the Electoral Amendment Bill, Babangida said: “If the national assembly feels very strongly, they should be able to over-ride the veto.

“But if it will create problems for the moment, we can wait. I understand that some of the conditions the president gave was that the electoral act could start with the next election and not this particular one.

“But I think that we need to be careful under his watch, to make sure that we don’t have any problem with the 2019 elections.

“In 2015, we understand what happened and everybody rallied round, even though the difference in the votes was not much, given the population of voters in the country.

“But if the Electoral Act Amendment Bill is not signed by the president and not over ridden by the national assembly, then it means we will use the old law and we will have no basis for asking anybody whether card reader has been used or not.

“We appeal to the president either to reconsider his position or appeal to the National Assembly to look at it again.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/17/pdp-vs-apc-atiku-will-defeat-buhari-squarely-2019-babangida/

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), has urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honorable Justice Walter Onnoghen, to activate Section 52 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act (as amended) for the investigation of the alleged $5million bribery allegations against Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.

In a letter forwarded to the CJN and signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, the Resource Centre said it is requesting the office of the CJN to give effect to the provision of Section 52 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission Act 2000 (as amended) in the promotion of accountability, probity and anti-Corruption agenda of the government and the judiciary under your able leadership.

The provisions of Section 52 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act stated that:

52.-(1) When an allegation of corruption or anything purporting to contravene any provision of this Act is made against the President or the Vice-President of Nigeria or against any State Government or Deputy Governor, the Chief Justice of the Federation shall, if satisfied that sufficient cause has been shown upon an application on notice supported by an affidavit setting out the facts on which the allegation is based, authorize an independent counsel (who shall be a legal practitioner of not less than fifteen years standing) to investigate the allegation and make a report of his findings to the National Assembly in the case of the President or Vice-President and to the relevant State House of Assembly in the case of the State Government or the Deputy Governor.

(2) The Commission shall be enjoined to fully cooperate with such independent counsel and provide all facilities necessary for such independent counsel to carry out his functions.

The letter reads: “Your lordship, in this particular case, we wish to invite your office to activate this inherent power as vested on you by the ICPC Act to launch a thorough investigation into the lingering scandalous $5 Million dollar bribery allegations against the current Governor of Kano State, who based on a series of video revelations to the media by one Mr. Jaafar Jaafar, a Journalist and publisher of Daily Nigerian, has been found using his official position to obtain and or extort bribes from contractors carrying out various jobs for the state.

“According to a report by the Vanguard Newspaper published on the 1st day of November, 2018, two similar videos were earlier released by the aforementioned Mr. Jaafar Jaafar; wherein the Governor was shown allegedly collecting bribes in dollars and stuffing the wads of money in his white “Agbada” also known as “babariga” cloth.

“Dr. Ganduje had denied the videos, saying they were photoshops. However, it is worth noting that Mr. Jaafar had lastmonth, honoured the invitation of the Kano State House of Assembly investigating the bribery scandal, where he tendered many other video clips showing the allegedly Governor collecting bribes from contractor at different times. Mr. Jaafar also at the said investigative hearing reiterated the allegation, explaining how a contractor working for the Kano State government had agreed to attach cameras to his kaftan in order to capture the videos. He also stressed that the video clips were authentic and had not been doctored in any way.”

The Resource Centre further noted: “It is also reported that another shocking video has subsequently emerged showing the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, in black Kaftan, allegedly collecting bribe in wads of dollars from a contractor and though the previous video had no audio, the recent and trending one has the audio voice of the Governor requesting for bribe from a contractor.

“The video which has interpretations in words claimed the Governor collected over Two Hundred Million Naira. The video shows the Governor darting his eyes, perhaps towards the door every now and then to ensure nobody was coming in.

“The video also showed the happy governor packing the money into a paper bag under his table just as the names of contractors, the contracts and those who have either paid or were yet to pay up their bribes to him were mentioned in the video. The video which has sparked outrage on social media has got many calling for the impeachment of the Governor.”

“The Kano State House of Assembly investigative committee set up to probe the allegations has summoned the Governor to appear before it, while also asking the Governor to come with his lawyers if he so wishes and also requested for a written, signed and dated statement of the Governor on or before the date of the hearing. The committee also said that copies of the video clips showing the Governor receiving bribes in dollars were also sent to him for ‘perusal’.

“It is however disheartening that up until the time of this letter, the Governor has neglected, failed and or refused to appear before the said committee and rather sent the State Commissioner of Information, Mohammed Garba to represent him at the hearing,” the letter said.

Continuing, HEDA said: “Learned Law Lord, the foregoing provisions of the ICPC Act is self explanatory on the inherent power of the Chief Justice of Federation in matters such as that in reference. It is a very potent instrumentality for curtailing, if not completely eradicating, theft, kleptocracy, misappropriation and all other forms of corrupt practices prohibited by the various national and international legal instruments against corruption and illicit assets.

“In line with the current administration’s commitment to zero corrupt practices by public officials, we therefore call your office to invoke this power and authorise an independent Counsel to investigate these allegations and the report of such investigation be submitted to Kano State House of Assembly timeous action to serve as deterrent to other corrupt officials.

“We look forward to your usual positive response and action. Attached is an affidavit in support of this petition, as required by section 52 (1) of the ICPC Act.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/17/alleged-5m-ganduje-bribery-heda-seeks-activation-section-52-icpc-act-asks-cjn-institute-independent-counsel/

Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand, has revealed two clubs that will play in the Champions League final this season.

According to Ferdinand, Premier League giants, Manchester City and Liverpool are the two clubs that will play in the Europe topflight league final this term.

The ex-England defender stated this ahead of Monday’s Champions League round of 16 draws.

Speaking to reporters in Kenya, Express UK quoted Ferdinand as saying: “In the league, I think City are looking strong and better than any other team at the moment.

“I expect them to receive a strong challenge [from Liverpool] but they should still be in a position to weather that.

“I will not be surprised if City meet Liverpool in the final of the Champions League this season.

“That is how strong these two teams are this season.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/16/champions-league-rio-ferdinand-reveals-two-clubs-thatll-play-final/

The 37 state party chairmen of the Social Democratic Party, including that of the Federal Capital Territory have rejected the Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf-led court order which declared Prof. Jerry Gana as the presidential candidate of the party.

An FCT High Court had on Friday declared Gana the winner of the presidential primary of the SDP conducted on October 6, over alleged violation of the party’s constitution.

Specifically, the court ruled that SDP’s National Chairman, Chief Olu Falae, and the presidential candidate, Mr Donald Duke, are from the southern part of the country.

Duke had won the October 6 primary with 812 votes, while Gana polled 611, but the former Minister of Information had approached the court to declare him the winner on the grounds of zoning and rotation formula contained in the party’s constitution.

But chairmen, in a statement jointly issued on Saturday by its Forum’s Chairman, Oke Idawene and Secretary, Abubakar Dogara, insisted that the embattled Duke remained the presidential candidate of the party for the 2019 election.

The chairmen said the court’s ruling was an act of gross injustice, unconstitutional, null and void, adding that it will not see the light of the day.

The statement read, “The party shall abide by the unanimous decision taken by the party’s delegates and the mandates of the 36 state chapters and the FCT when they convincingly and overwhelmingly voted for Mr. Donald Duke in the October 6, 2018, national presidential primaries of the party.

“The mandate given to Donald Duke as the party’s presidential candidate is sacred, supreme and so remained sacrosanct as the will and ultimate decision of party members and leadership which no court can abort.”

The Forum said it would use all available legal and judicial processes to protect its mandate and ensure that the will of the people prevailed.

“We wish to use this medium to assure the general public, especially party members to remain calm and steadfast in their support and goodwill for the party and its presidential candidate towards the actualisation of the vision of the Party to rescue Nigeria through the 2019 General elections.

“The SDP is working within the ambiance of the law to vacate the order of the Abuja court where Prof Gana is trying to pervert and arrest justice through his unlawful claims.

“Against this backdrop, our legal team has filed an appeal against the order of the High Court at the Appeal Court in Abuja. Therefore, we want to appeal to all party members across the country to continue with their party activities and campaigns with utmost decorum, decency, and orderliness,” the forum explains.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/16/2019-37-sdp-chairmen-reject-gana-fault-ruling/

The Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was thrown into mourning on Saturday as Mr. Tope Osatoyinbo, former Senior Special Assistant on Mobilisation to Kayode Fayemi,

suddenly died of cardiac arrest.
Osatoyinbo, who was a senior staff of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) before his demise, was Fayemi’s aide on mobilization in his first term in office between 2010 and 2014.

He later returned to NOA as a career officer after Fayemi lost the 2014 governorship election to Mr. Ayodele Fayose.

Osatoyinbo was said to have suffered attack at his residence at Omisanjana around 9pm on Friday and was rushed to Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital(EKSUTH) for medicare.

According to one of his political associates, the Ado Ekiti born NOA boss was aged 56 and was said to have lost his wife barely six months ago.

The State Director of NOA, Mr. Dayo Famosaya , who spoke with journalists in Ado Ekiti on Saturday , revealed that the deceased was at his duty post at his office located within the premises of Fayose estate along Ado-Afao road on Friday and exhibited no sign that he was ill.

Famosaya said: “He was at the office yesterday(Friday), because he was the next officer to me. He worked till around 4pm before we parted ways.

“Though before the close of work, he told me around 3.30pm that he wanted to attend the wedding ceremony of the daughter of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyeye , which he did.

“Tope told me he would be attending the ceremony in company of few friends and he actually attended the function which took place at the palace.

“I called him around 9pm after he returned home and we discussed some issues. It saddened me to hear this morning that he was rushed to
EKSUTH yester night after suffered certain sudden ailment and died in the hospital”.

Famosaya described the death as shocking and devastating in view of the quality services the former NOA’s boss had put into building his career in the federal government agency.

Osatoyinbo’s body has been deposited at the EKSUTH morgue in Ado Ekiti metropolis.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/15/apc-mourns-fayemis-ex-aide-osatoyinbo-dies-cardiac-arrest/

Nigerian music superstar, Paul Okoye, has announced a change of name.

Paul, a half of the crisis riden Psquare group, made the announcement via Instagram.

Paul said from the 1st of January, 2019, his Instagram and Twitter name will change to ‘iamkingrudy.’

Paul Okoye’s handle across Instagram and Twitter is presently @rudeboypsquare.

He wrote: “PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT! Dear #firedepartment on the 1st of January 2019 my instagram handle and Twitter will automatically change from rudeboypsquare to @iamkingrudy thanks and God bless. #namesecured.”

The change of name means that Paul officially totally dissociates himself from the Psquare brand.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/14/psquare-paul-okoye-announces-change-name/

The House of Representatives has raised concerns over comments allegedly credited to the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma.

The matter came up during plenary on Thursday as a matter of privilege sponsored by Chika Adamu, seeking an apology from the minister and a retraction of the purported statement.

Senator Udoma was said to have accused the National Assembly of frustrating the presentation of the 2019 Appropriation Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The majority leader of the House, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, informed his colleagues that the minister claimed to have been quoted out of context.

But the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara ruled that the minister be given time to retract or clarify the statement.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Budget and National Planning issued a statement in which it faulted the reports that the Senator Udoma blamed the lawmakers for the delay in the presentation of the budget.

Contrary to the reports, the minister’s media adviser, Akpandem James, explained that there was no time that Udoma gave an impression of any dispute between the lawmakers and the executive.

He stated that the minister stressed during a media chat that the executive would follow due process in the presentation of the budget.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/14/delayed-2019-budget-reps-demand-apology-minister-alleged-comments/

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja chapter on Wednesday prevented Noble Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon Rtd and former Education Minister, Dr Oby Ezekwesili from speaking at an anti-corruption event.

The union led by its chairman, Dr Kasim Umaru, disrupted the event held at the University of Abuja.

Umaru told NAN in a telephone interview on Wednesday that they disrupted the programme because of the ongoing strike, adding that they have no regret for their actions.

He said such magnitude of programme could not hold in the institution because lecturers were also involved in the event.

“Those eminent personalities for the programme are all aware of our plight and did nothing, we disrupted the event because we are on strike,” he said.

The convener of the event and National Coordinator of African Initiative Against Corruption and Exam Malpractice AFICEM, Dr Francis Abioye regretted the action of the ASUU, saying they erred by disrupting the event.

Abioye said the management of the university had earlier approved the institution’s auditorium as venue for the anti corruption programme.

He said the programme was not an academic event, but was organized to educate Nigerians especially students against corruption and related cases.

In his remarks, the university Students’ Union Government (SUG), President, Mr Chizurum Anabaronye said the development was regrettable and disappointing.

“It is unfortunate because students would have benefited immensely in the programme considering the personalities involved in the programme.

“Wole Soyinka is a person every student wants to see and the only opportunity to hear him speak was disrupted, we mobilized the students for the event but later communicated to them on the development,” he said.

One of the facilitators and Osun High Court Judge, Justice Oloyode Folahanmi, who also spoke to NAN said AFICEM planned to celebrate the 2018 anti corruption day with a lecture on the `Benefits of Examination Ethics’ which was disrupted.

“The Noble Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka, other eminent persons and myself were to speak to Nigerian students on the need to abide by the rules guiding examination ethics.

“We are partners in progress, we feel the plight of ASUU and we want to fix Nigerian problem so it was wrong to disrupt the programme,” he said.

While calling on FG to address the demands of ASUU, Folahanmi said the reason for targeting students was because of the belief that quest for societal regeneration must begin with the youths.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/13/strike-ASUU-invades-anti-corruption-program-stops-soyinka-ezekwesili-from-speaking/