₦airaland Forum

Nollywood actress, Mimi Orjikwe and her ex-husband cum actor, Charles Billion reunited for their daughter’s second birthday party recently.

The couple split shortly after the birth of their daughter as Mimi revealed that he was married to another woman in America.

She has severally called him out for being a deadbeat dad. See more photos from the birthday party below,

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/09/actress-mimi-orjikwe-and-ex-husband-charles-billion-reunite-for-daughters-birthday/

The Federal Government is introducing a funding mechanism to carter for patients with confirmed cases of Lassa Fever in the country.

Naija News understands that the Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu made the disclosure on Sunday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He explained that the aim of the healthcare fund was to ensure that money does not become a hindrance for patients in accessing lassa fever treatment.

“We are making plans through the Basic Primary Healthcare Provision Fund, the new funding instituted by the federal government, to cover the cost of treatment of confirmed cases of Lassa fever patients.

“A process is ongoing on how to manage this and it is at the heart of discussion at all levels of government at the moment.“The aim is to make sure that ability to pay is not a barrier to accessing the treatment for public health diseases such as lassa fever,” Ihekweazu said.

According to him, efforts are being made by the government through the NCDC to reduce the burden of lassa fever treatment on patients, pending the take- off of the healthcare fund.

The NCDC boss explained that “We from the federal government level have made sure that the core treatment costs are covered; of course when you are admitted in a hospital there are other costs accrued to you.

“What we have been doing with the Teaching Hospitals is to make sure that such cost is reduced to the barest minimum.“In some cases we are able to treat patients absolutely free, in other cases they still have to pay.“What we have ensured in all the treatment centres in Nigeria is that no patient has ever been turned away because of his or her inability to pay and no patient has been detained in any hospital for not being able to pay.“So, eventually, either upfront or at the end of that treatment period, we ensure that everyone gets the treatment,” he said.

Ihekweazu urged Nigerians to adopt all possible preventive measures such as safe food storage principle and keeping a clean environment to ward off rodents.

He said: “You don’t need to be wealthy to keep your environment clean, so, the key thing is to get the messages out in all Nigerian languages that this is what you need to do to prevent the disease.

“Prevention is so much cheaper than cure because the illness can kill. This is a big financial burden for government. “Even though the cost of lassa treatment is very high, we have carried the biggest part of that cost on behalf of the Nigerian government, and we have ensured that the core treatment cost of every Lassa fever patient is covered.

“Ribalvrin is a very expensive drug but we ensure that every confirmed case gets the drug free, but no matter how accessible you can make the treatment of lassa, it is always cheaper to prevent it.“So, we are really encouraging people not to even get into the circle of treatment because even with all the resource in the world, we still cannot guarantee a great outcome.

“I can tell you that the best most effective, most efficient and most cost effective form of managing this disease is preventing it from happening in the first place,” he added.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/08/fg-introduces-healthcare-fund-for-lassa-fever-patients/

Nigerian Gay rights activist Bisi Alimi is of the opinion that Christianity and Islam are arrogant religions.

He made this known while reacting to a mail he received from a man who tried preaching to him to repent of his evil ways.

Sharing a screenshot of the mail, he wrote;

‘Got this via email today and it sends out few messages for me;

1- Abrahamic religion is an arrogant self loathing religion. I know some people will come here and say not all Muslims or not all Christian, but the truth be told, the world will be a better place without these two blood thirsty arrogant religions
2- it sends a message that homophobia has no border or boundary, some are just more diplomatic with Theo fateful bullshit than others.
3- That religion is a self hating and spiteful movement that despite what it says, lack the component of human connection, empathy and care.
4- finally that like every other idiots online hiding behind religion, this person (possibly a man) that sends this message needs love and care more than I do.

Imagine me, being a young or vulnerable gay man, still struggling with my sexuality as either a Christian or Muslim. Still being hunted by the fear of hell fire and opening my inbox and receiving this kind of message from someone who doesn’t know me but think that he/ she is doing me a favour by indicating that hell fire is my portion?

This is why I will never give a yard in grace to religion, it doesn’t matter how it is practice, it is still rooted in arrogance and self loathing.’

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/07/christianity-and-islam-are-arrogant-religions-bisi-alimi/

After nicking the historic presidential election victory in 2015, the All Progressives Congress was caught in the intriguing, embarrassing webs woven by its members in the National Assembly. That was at the point it showed bad faith in the zoning of key positions in government. Political parties and groups that had coalesced into a mega party to upend Peoples Democratic Party’s 16-year rule had justifiably expected to be rewarded through strategic accommodation in the power-sharing arrangements. But that was only going to happen on an inequitable basis.

Whereas, sharing and ceding positions to the six geo-political zones had never spawned rebellion, what happened with the APC in 2015 and now, contrast sharply with PDP’s years in power at the centre. Considering the historical and political circumstances that produced the APC and the mismanagement of victory by the party leadership under Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the APC power-sharing debacle could be clarified even if the episode suffers from selective understanding based on political interests.

APC’s formation was propelled by a single-minded objective to wrest power from President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP. The decision by the new PDP (nPDP) to factionalise the party, triggered by Jonathan’s decision to seek re-election against widespread expectations by the political North, was the last straw that broke the back of the behemoth.

Five governors – Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Magatakarda Wammako (Sokoto), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano) – as well as other leaders of the party, including then Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, Bukola Saraki, Adamu Abdullahi and a host of others, had exited the party to join the opposition elements in the formation of the APC.

The APC demonstrated a lack of sagacity to manage its electoral victory. That leaders of the legacy party did not tidy up power-zoning arrangements before going into the general election was glaring. They had possibly decided to cross the bridge when they got there. But on nicking victory and reaching the bridge of zoning, crossing it became more convoluted and herculean than they had envisaged.

The party leadership had coupled some zoning arrangements to muddle through that intersection. Some influential party leaders who saw through the chicanery and the shenanigans had acted proactively by taking their destiny in their hands. That was how Bukola Saraki led the rebellion that had Hon. Yakubu Dogara and others as foot-soldiers to disrupt ceding the positions of senate president to the Northeast zone and speaker to the Southwest zone.

Saraki’s group demanding what was in the new government for the nPDP was valid. Other groups that merged to form the APC such as the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) had produced President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo respectively. But for Saraki’s disruptive politics, the party had actually zoned the senate president to Northeast and had micro-zoned it to Ahmed Lawan from the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) political tendency while the speaker had been zoned to the Southwest and micro-zoned to Femi Gbajabiamila, another member of the ACN.

That was why Saraki decided to provide leadership to the nPDP. He simply navigated his way back to the PDP caucus for support to jointly produce the leadership of the senate. He was able to get the numbers to emerge as senate president. A similar scenario played out in the House of Representatives where Dogara from the Northeast bested Gbajabiamila in a close race to emerge speaker. That was how the positions of President, Senate President and Speaker ended up in the North.

A carefully-crafted zoning formula or some power-sharing arrangements ahead of the election that accommodated all the interests based on their contributions to the success of the APC would have forestalled that resultant debacle. For the APC, there was a lesson to learn. Currently, from what’s unfolding on zoning after another general election victory, APC appears to have learnt very little lesson.

APC is surprisingly digging its feet into the 2015 scenario that fractured its internal harmony. Wisdom should have counselled the imperative of strategic change. This is more so now that there are three ranking senators from the Northeast whose interests in the position are unbridled. If the party wants to retain the position in the North, it should have prudently looked towards the North central where it is not likely to have a clash of interests as it is being witnessed in the Northeast.

Besides, if it was true that senators-elect and other interested stakeholders were not consulted before the party announced Northeast zone and Ahmed Lawan as the potential beneficiaries of the position of senate president, then it was a political misstep. Had there been consultations, former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, who claimed to have briefed and received the promised support of Buhari to contest for the position earlier before he formally wrote a letter to the party to intimate it of his interest would not have negatively reacted to the supposed party position.

Danjuma Goje, the third ranking senator from the zone, believed to enjoy the support of PDP’s Senate caucus, is covertly plotting. Indeed, what is sacrosanct about senate president going to the Northeast and speaker going to the Southwest that already has the position of vice president? What is sacrosanct about the candidatures of Lawan and Gbajabiamila for the same positions that they unsuccessfully aspired for on the basis of the 2015 original arrangements?

Do these echo 2023 presidential succession politics? If the leadership had wanted the 2015 zoning arrangements to prevail, it could have seamlessly achieved this by carrying along all the interested stakeholders in the party and in the government. This is because the zoning arrangements are very fundamental such that a tweak as has been announced by the party to the existing arrangements foisted on it by the rebellion of Saraki and Dogara would affect other strategic positions and their occupants in the different zones.

Is the party ready for such possible tailspin? If senate president goes to the Northeast that already has so many strategic positions, would the individuals holding those positions be comfortable to be sacrificed for someone’s elevation? And, if the party decides not to remove them, then the North central which got the position in 2015, through Saraki’s rebellion can justifiably ask what is in the new administration for it since speakership has been or is being ceded to the Southwest?

For the reasons supra, the APC leadership must come clean about the zoning arrangements. The leadership should have met at the levels of the national caucus, National Working Committee and National Executive Committee to take the zoning issue through the mill and eventually announce the power-sharing formula at once, instead of the piecemeal approach it has adopted.

And this should have been ahead of the general election subject to review after the election once the zonal performances are appraised. In other words, zoning arrangements should be worked for and positions justifiably earned in terms of number of votes earned in the presidential election, number of National Assembly seats won in pari materia with the outcomes of governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

Where no fewer than 13 members-elect from across the six geo-political zones had already declared interest in the speakership before the party’s announcement via the media and not at any meeting with members-elect, does not augur well for confidence building and mutual rapprochement between the party caucuses in the National Assembly and the party leadership.

The situation that has now gone awry needs salvaging in the interest of harmony. The party should present a united front on the floors of both chambers when the 9th National Assembly is inaugurated and election of leadership is conducted. In 2023, steps should be proactively taken to settle the zoning arrangements before the general election.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/06/apc-must-come-clean-about-zoning/

The World Bank Executive Directors has on Friday chosen David Malpass as President of the World Bank Group for a five-year term, beginning on Tuesday, April 9.

The World Bank in a press release published on its website, said the appointment followed a transparent nomination process where any national of the Bank’s membership could be proposed by any Executive Director or Governor.

“The Board looks forward to working with Malpass on the implementation of the Forward Look and the Capital Package Agreement as articulated in the Sustainable Financing for Sustainable Development Paper,” the bank said.

The World Bank President is Chair of the Boards of Directors of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA).

The President is also ex-officio Chair of the Boards of Directors of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the Administrative Council of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

Malpass previously served as Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs for the U.S.

As Under Secretary, Malpass represented the United States in international settings, including the G-7 and G-20 Deputy Finance Ministerial, World Bank-IMF Spring and Annual Meetings of the World Bank.

He also played a role in several major World Bank Group reforms and initiatives.

He was also instrumental in advancing the Debt Transparency Initiative, adopted by the World Bank and IMF, to increase public disclosure of debt and thereby reducing the frequency and severity of debt crises.

Prior to becoming Under Secretary, Malpass was an international economist and founder of a macroeconomics research firm based in New York City.

Earlier in his career, Malpass served as the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Developing Nations and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Latin American Economic Affairs.

In these roles, he focused on an array of economic, budget, and foreign policy issues, such as the U.S involvement in multilateral institutions, including the World Bank.

Malpass had served on the boards of the Council of the Americas, Economic Club of New York, and the National Committee on U.S–China Relations.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Colorado College and his MBA from the University of Denver.

He undertook advanced graduate work in international economics at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. (NAN)

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/05/david-malpass-appointed-13th-president-of-world-bank/

At least four people have been killed and 10 others injured in a fatal accident in Jigawa State.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Abdullahi Haruna, confirmed the incident to Channels Television on Friday.

Haruna who also confirmed the casualty figures said the accident took place on Friday occurred along the major road linking Jigawa and Kano States.

He explained that a truck involved in the incident was loaded with livestock including goats and poultry, and conveying them to Delta State in Nigeria’s south-south region.

The command’s spokesman added that a car rammed into the truck while the driver who caused the accident due to his recklessness was on the run.

The driver of the truck, Shehu Ibrahim, also narrated how the accident occurred.

He said, “I was just driving when I noticed a Mercedes Benz trying to overtake another car and it was moving around as if the driver had lost control of the car.

“I tried to move away off the road, but the driver drove towards the truck and that was how our truck crashed.”

“Three people died on the spot while the other person died on the way to the hospital. The driver of the Mercedes Benz who was not injured ran away and left his vehicle,” Ibrahim added.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/05/four-killed-10-injured-in-jigawa-truck-accident/

Jihadist group Islamic State said Thursday that it had killed 13 Nigerian soldiers and five troops from a West African anti-militant force in attacks over recent days.

Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which split from Nigeria-based Boko Haram in 2016, has carried out a series of attacks in the last few months.

In its newspaper Al-Nabaa, IS said its fighters killed the Nigerians in attacks on a military barracks on Friday, a military post on Sunday, and a town on Monday, all in northeastern Borno state.

Fighters also detonated explosives on Wednesday on a vehicle
in the Lake Chad region, killing five more soldiers, IS said, without specifying the country.

The militants said the vehicle was carrying members of a multinational task force — made up of troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon — set up to fight them.

A Nigerian military spokesman declined to comment, and a spokesman for the task force could not immediately be reached.

Boko Haram has waged a decade-long insurgency in northeast Nigeria that has killed around 30,000 people and forced about 2 million to leave their homes.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/05/18-soldiers-reported-killed-in-iswap-attacks-on-military-barracks-other-targets/

The Debt Management Office (DMO) has announced Nigeria’s total debt stock comprising external and domestic debts stand at N24.387 trillion.

Director General of the DMO Ms. Patience Oniha made this disclosure at the public breakdown of the nation’s public debt data in Abuja on Thursday.

According to Oniha: “the Total Public Debt stood at N24.387 trillion or USD79.437 billion as at December 31, 2018 representing a year-on-year growth of 12.25%.

From the breakdown, it was revealed that the FGN External Debt in 2018 was N6. 460 trillion up from N4.527 trillion representing a 42.69% increase.

“The FGN Domestic Debt in 2018 on the other hand was N12,774 trillion up from N12,589 trillion the previous year representing a 1.46% increase.

“The sum of both external and domestic FGN debts was put at N19,234 trillion while the total sum of the external and domestic debt stock of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was put at N5,152 trillion broken down as N3,853 trillion domestic debts and N1,298 trillion external debts.”

The DMO boss further stated: “Progress was made towards achieving the target Debt Stock mix of 60% (Domestic) and 40% (External). The share of Domestic Debt dropped to 68.18% from 73.36% as at December 31, 2017 thereby achieving a Mix of 68.18% and 31.82% in the Debt Stock.

“The DMO strategy of using relatively cheaper and longer tenored external funds is achieving the expected objectives.

“Some of the objectives were: to create more space for other borrowers in the domestic market, extend the average tenor of the debt stock in order to reduce refinancing risk and increase External Reserves.”

The implementation of the strategy led to an injection of N855 billion through the redemption of Nigerian Treasury Bills in 2018 and a general drop in the FGN’s borrowing rate in the domestic market from over 18% p.a. in 2017 to 14 – 15% p.a. in 2018.

With regards to the N3.4 trillion Promissory Notes Issuance to Settle Inherited Local Debts, Oniha disclosed that the purpose is to use it to settle Inherited Local Debts and Contractual Obligations of the Federal Government.

The programme, which is estimated at N3.4trillion, Oniha said covers: Contractors; Exporters; Judgement Debt; State Governments and Oil Marketing companies.

The features of the promissory notes to be issued are that it will serve as Sovereign and negotiable Instruments and also have Liquid Asset Status.

The DMO boss stated the FGN’s Domestic Debt Stock includes N331.12 billion Promissory Notes issued to Oil Marketing Companies and State Governments in December 2018.”

The benefits of issuing the promissory noted the DMO boss stated include: “it will provide stimulus to the economy and unlock investment across a number of sectors currently having liquidity issues; Positive impact on the non-performing loan ratios of banks which will in turn, increase the banks capacity to lend; Enable the Federal Government to formally recognise and account for its true liabilities in line with the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).”

Some of DMO’s major plans in 2019 are to undertake more of project-tied borrowing and access more external borrowing from Concessional Sources. Furthermore, the DMO announced plans to issue 30-year Federal Government of Nigeria Bonds (FGN Bonds) for the first time.

“The issuance of the Bond Oniha said: “will meet the needs of annuity funds and other long term investors while also developing the domestic capital market and reducing the re-financing risk of the FGN.”

Another area of focus in 2019 will be the management of Risks associated with the Debt Stock to mitigate Debt Service Costs.”

In 2019, Budget Deficit was put at N1. 859 trillion but new borrowings, if passed by the National Assembly have been put at N1.649 trillion.

By this development, the percentage of Deficit to be Funded by Borrowing in 2019 will 88.7 0%.

According to Oniha: “the New Borrowing in 2019 (subject to NASS Approval) will be a 50-50 split for Domestic and External both at N824 billion. The domestic borrowing component also known as FGN Bonds, will sourced from Sukuk, Green Bond and Savings Bond while the external (N824 billion) will be largely Concessional, Cheaper and will help reduce Debt Service Cost. Longer-term funds for infrastructure, used to create space for private sector borrowing and Increase External Reserves

Patience Oniha also explained: “Proceeds of the USD500 million Eurobond raised in November 2017 and USD2.5 Billion were used to redeem the N198.032 billion of Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTBs) that matured in December 2017.

“Also, USD2.5 billion Eurobond Proceeds (February 2018) were used to redeem N729.95 Billion Nigerian Treasury Bill (NTB) in 2018.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/05/nigerias-total-debt-stock-grows-to-n24-3-trillion-dmo/

A notorious kidnapper, Lawal Ibrahim and members of his gang who abducted Sheikh Ahmad Sulaiman and other clerics in Katsina State have been arrested by security operatives while trying to flee their den.

While being interrogated by security operatives, in a video obtained by PRNigeria, the gang leader said some members of the terror group brutally attacked and killed one another after releasing the popular Quranic reciter and other Islamic clerics.

Ibrahim, a middle-aged man, and another accomplice who gave his name as Isiyah, said ten of them were involved in the abduction of the renowned Islamic scholar who supported and offered prayers at political rallies for the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari in the build-up to the 2019 general elections.

Ibrahim disclosed that he never met or physically saw one Alhaji Dogo Nalade, who he claimed was their ringleader, but said Nalade regularly communicated with them via phone from an undisclosed hideout.

The notorious kidnapper said they were arrested while trying to flee their den to Obajana town in Kogi State, in search of legitimate unskilled jobs after quitting their ‘heinous’ trade of kidnapping.

He disclosed that the weapons they used for operations were supplied by persons who asked them to use them for their ‘obnoxious profession’ and thereafter requested for commissions.

“Mallam’s release is somehow mysterious. This is because despite our unyielding resolve to collect ransom from his people and well-wishers, we later decided to allow him go.

“However, a violent fight broke out between members of our gang. Two gang members were initially killed in the forest by some of our colleagues. Though, the two of us that were arrested luckily fled the forest to avoid been killed, seven other kidnappers among us were shot and killed by our aggrieved members,” he added.

Sheikh Ahmed Sulaiman and others regained freedom from kidnappers on March 27, 2019, after spending about two weeks in the kidnappers’ den.

The cleric and other victims were kidnapped along Sheme to Kankara road in Katsina, on their way back to Kano State, after attending a religious activity in Kebbi State.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/05/massob-cries-out-over-alleged-abduction-of-five-members-in-ebonyi-imo/

The Presidency on Thursday disowned a list of purported members of President Muhammadu Buhari’s new cabinet for his second four-year tenure beginning May 29, 2019.

The list shows six ministers not only reappointed but also retaining their portfolios. They are Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation); Hadi Sirika (State, Aviation); Abdulrahman Danbazau (Interior); Ogonnaya Onu (Science & Technology); Abubakar Mallami (Justice); and Audu Ogbeh (Agriculture).

Chris Ngige, (Labour & Productivity) is also listed as being retained but with a new portfolio: Communications.

Heavyweight newcomers on the list include outgoing Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode (purportedly penciled down for Budget & National Planning) and Senator Godswill Akpabio (Niger Delta Affairs).

Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Mr. Femi Adesina, however, dismissed the list when contacted by News Express. “Fake news”, he replied when asked to confirm the authenticity of the list.

Below is the list entitled ‘New Cabinet Members’:

1. Kayode Adesola (Ogun) – Labour & Employment

2. Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) – Transportation

3. Chris Ngige (Anambra) – Communications

4. Hadi Sirika (Katsina) – State Aviation

5. Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos) – Budget & National Planning

6. Abdulrahman Danbazau (Kano) – Interior

7. Fatima I Gambo (Taraba) – Women Affairs

8. Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi) – Science & Technology

9. Abubakar Mallami (Kebbi) – Justice

10. Ahmed Mohammad Kwarra (Nasarawa) – Industry, Trade & Investment

11. Barnabas Bala Bantex (Kaduna) – State Education

12. Audu Ogbeh (Benue) – Agriculture

13. Mohammed Binddo Jibirlla (Adamawa) – F C T

14. Halima Babayo (Yobe) – State Foreign Affairs

15. Adebayo Adelabu (Oyo) – Finance

16. Godswill Akpabio (Akwa-Ibom) – Niger Delta Affairs

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/04/buharis-second-term-presidency-disowns-cabinet-list-%e2%80%a2names-on-the-list/

Governor Nyesom Wike is gradually coasting to widely anticipated second term victory as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, resumed results collation on the Rivers state governorship and state assemblies elections it suspended earlier.

At the end of yesterday’s proceedings on the collation of the results, Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, won in 13 of a total 15 Local Government Areas,LGA, so far presented among the 17 LGAs results INEC said it had received before it suspended the exercise March 10.

The cumulative standings among the parties placed Wike in pole position with 426, 279 votes against closest contending All Progressives Congress, APC, backed candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Biokpomabo Awara who is trailing with 129,855 votes.

Aside beating Transport Minister and arch political rival, Rotimi Amaechi to results from the former governor’s home Ikwerre LGA, Wike also won in Port Harcourt City, Andoni, Eleme, Opobo/Nkoro, Bonny, Okrika, Omuma, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Etche, Emohua, Ahoada East, and Tai LGAs while Awara took Oyigbo and Akuku Toru LGAs.

The biggest winning margin between the two so far was reflected in the results from Andoni where Wike polled 92, 056 votes against Awara’s 5335, the cumulative collated figures so far leaving Wike with a 296,424 winning margin against Awara.

Meanwhile, PDP’s Sen George Sekibo snatched Rivers East Senatorial seat as collated, just as Betty Apiafi also of PDP won the Rivers West Senate seat, for a clean sweep for the party in the senatorial elections as Barry Mpigi was first to clinch the first 2019 Rivers senate elections for South East District.

In most of the results presents by the LGAs Collation Officers, votes in several units and wards were cancelled due to reported violence and disruptions on the process.

Collation continues tomorrow with results for the two last LGAs already secured by INEC including densely populated Wike’s home locality of Obia Akpor where he’s expected to increase his lead substantially.

Proceedings yesterday were coordinated by State Collation Officer, Teddy Adias and national commissioner in charge Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo states, May Agbamuche-Mbu who set 11 ground rules for stakeholders before collation started.

INEC resumed the stalemated Rivers governorship andstate assembly elections yesterday amidst protest by pro AAC’s demonstrators led by Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe in major Port Harcourt streets for hours before armed thugs dispersed the crowd with sporadic shooting.

The tense protest atmosphere, added to security operatives shutting of the INEC Office’s end of Aba Road to traffic largely unsettled traffic and panic stricken residents in the Rivers capital yesterday.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/03/rivers-election-pdp-sweeps-all-rivers-senatorial-seats/

The founder of Aiteo Group, Benedict Peters, through his company, joined hands with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to celebrate the legacy of Super Eagles team of 1994 at the second Aiteo-NFF Awards held in Lagos, on Monday.

The Super Eagles class of 1994 won African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in style and stunned the world with an eclectic display of football at USA ‘94 World Cup.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Benedict Peters, the Executive Vice Chairman of Aiteo, paid homage to the legacy of the legendary team that stood tall and made Nigeria proud 25 years ago.

“Today, we all remember that golden era with very fond emotions. It was a phenomenal moment when our country spoke one language – football; when we achieved the highest FIFA ranking ever for an African team for our beautiful playing style; and when our team gave us something bigger than a trophy -A legacy”

He gave a historical perspective to Aiteo’s partnership with NFF in the past two years as its biggest sponsor.

“Since we forged this winning partnership, football in Nigeria has witnessed tremendous improvements. We have not only intervened decisively in eliminating financial constraints that hitherto constricted on-field performance; we have also provided strong moral support to the facilitation of instructive platforms such as this, the Aiteo NFF Awards.”

It was a night of glamour and elegance at Nigeria’s premier football awards. The event was attended by prominent people across various facets of society.

Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, who received a special award from the NFF was present, alongside Lagos Governor-elect, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Kwara state Governor-elect, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, and Abia state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/03/peters-celebrates-eagles-class-of-94/

However, Solskjaer has played down talk of a summer move for Pogba and insists the France international wants to remain with United for the foreseeable future.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has played down Paul Pogba’s recent comments about Real Madrid and insists the midfielder is happy to remain at Old Trafford.

Pogba fuelled speculation about his long-term future after describing Madrid as a “dream” club, while on international duty with France.
The midfielder also expressed his admiration for Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, who in turn suggested that Pogba could one day join him at the Bernabeu.

However, Solskjaer has played down talk of a summer move for Pogba and insists the France international wants to remain with United for the foreseeable future.

When asked if he was planning to build his team around Pogba, Solskjaer told Sky Sports News: “Definitely. I said that a few years ago as well.

“Paul is happy here, he is playing well. There was talk about the international break and what kind of issues that causes.

“One of the issues is, the players are always available for the press. They are open, and he answered a general question about any player would like to play for Real Madrid.

“He didn’t talk about himself, he is happy here.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/02/man-utd-coach-solskjaer-opens-up-on-pogbas-exit-talks/

Registrar Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, on Monday said the board has de-listed 14 Computer Based Test centres out of the 712 accredited for the conduct of unified tertiary examination because they committed infractions during the conduct of its mock examination on Monday.

Some of the infractions cited by the board included deceit and borrowing computer systems without informing the board.

The registrar said that the 698 centres left in operation were ready for the conduct of the UTME scheduled to begin on April 11.

Prof. Oloyede disclosed this during the monitoring of this year’s mock examination with the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, in some CBT centres in Abuja.

He said: “So far, so good; all the centres are doing very well. Of the 712, we have had to dis-accredit 14 this morning for one infraction or the other

“Some had technical problems and some due to deceit whereby some of them will go and borrow some computers, thinking that we will not know.

“Those centres we discovered went ahead to borrow computer systems for the exams have been dis-accredited.

“Now, we have about 698 centres left in the operation, but we have distributed the students across board.”

Oloyede, also revealed that two JAMB officials were attacked during the mock exercise which took place on Monday in some select CBT centres nationwide.

The registrar said the attack took place at a centre in the Lagos State Polytechnic.

He said the two officials would also have been set ablaze but for the quick intervention of the security agencies which saved them from the attempted jungle justice.

He said the reason for the dastardly attack was yet to be ascertained, even as the two officials have been taken to the hospital after they were rescued.

The registrar said the board has launched an investigation to ascertain the cause of the attempted murder of its officials on legitimate duty.

The registrar said: “The very first sad thing that we noticed was that two of our staff were almost murdered in Lagos.

“There was an attempt on their lives at the Lagos State Polytechnic. For whatever reason, they were wet with petrol and they were to be set ablaze.

“We have sent a rescue team and they took them to the hospital. We are still looking into what happened, but we have evacuated our staff from the place.

“We hope that whoever attempted that, the law enforcement agencies will not allow such an assault on innocent officials of government who went about their normal business.”

The minister, at the end of the monitoring, expressed confidence in the successful conduct of the examination on April 11.

He appealed to centres bent on perpetrating infractions to desist from such act.

The minister said: “Everything is going on fine. The assessment of the exam is that everything is in order and from the report I am receiving from all over the country, everything is fine.

“I will advise those centres perpetrating some kind of malpractices to stop and adhere to whatever guidelines they have been given by JAMB; otherwise, the same fate will befall them.

“From what I have seen today, JAMB is ready for the examinations.”

157,000 candidates who indicated interest for the mock examination at the point of registration, sat for the preparatory examination nationwide.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/04/01/jamb-de-registers-14-cbt/

South Africans have forgotten Nigeria’s sacrifice during its liberation struggles, a former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode has said.

Concise News understands that Fani-Kayode’s comment was in a reaction to the renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

There have been a series of attacks of foreign nationals in South Africa this week with images going viral on the internet.

According to the chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in a tweet on his handle, the renewed attacks must end as soon as possible.

“The murder of Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa must stop,” he tweeted.

“The South African people appear to have forgotten the great efforts and tremendous support that Nigeria gave to them during their liberation struggle and the fight against apartheid and white minority rule.

“It is a pity that black South Africans are now treating other black Africans in the same way that white South Africans once treated them.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/03/31/xenophobic-attacks-what-former-minister-said-about-incident-in-south-africa/

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Melvin Pinnick, has said that his main target this year is for the Super Eagles to win the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by Egypt in summer.

Nigeria has won the African football showpiece three times, the last one was in 2013 in South Africa under the watch of the late former player and captain of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi.

Speaking at the weekend in Lagos, Pinnick who also doubles as the 1st Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) insisted that a fourth AFCON title is long overdue for Nigeria, a power-house in the beautiful game globally.

“There are so many competitions this year and we intend to, as usual, put our best foot forward in each and everyone of them. The target always is to emerge victorious. However, the very big one that we do not want to miss is the AFCON title. We have won it three times but we want it for a fourth time so that we can close the gap with the likes of Egypt and Cameroon,” observed Pinnick who is also President of CAF’s Organising Committee.

To achieve these lofty heights, the NFF chief stressed that the Super Eagles as well as all the national teams going for continental and global competitions will need better preparations.

“The NFF will work with the technical crew to achieve an excellent preparation of the Super Eagles for the tournament. Everything legitimate would be done to ensure the Super Eagles triumph in Egypt.

“The NFF will equally give the Super Falcons all the support to perform excellently at the World Cup,” he restated.

Egypt has won the Africa Cup of Nations title seven times while Cameroon emerged champions on five occasions with Ghana having four titles to her credit.

The CAF Executive Committee on Tuesday last week voted for Egypt, hosts of the 1959, 1986 and 2006 editions of the competition, to host the first –ever 24-nation finals scheduled for between June 15th and July 13th this year.

The Super Eagles, like they did in the qualifying race for last year’s FIFA World Cup finals in Russia, have earned a ticket to the finals with a match to spare, following a 1-1 draw with South Africa in Johannesburg on 17th November 2018.

They will take on Seychelles in a purely ceremonial session in Asaba on March 22 to conclude the campaign.

“The match against Seychelles will serve as the beginning of our preparations for the AFCON 2019, to be followed four days later by a friendly against the Egyptian national team at the same venue.

“The team would likely play two matches during its final training camp before the AFCON finals,” Pinnick hinted.

The Draw Ceremony for the four-week, 24-nation championship is expected to be done at the end of March.

Nigeria won her first AFCON title on home soil in 1980, when Olusegun Odegbami scored two of the goals in a 3-0 whiplash of Algeria in the Final at the National Stadium, Lagos on 22nd March 1980.

The second title came in Tunisia in 1994. Emmanuel Amuneke scored both goals in a 2-1 comeback defeat of Zambia at the Stade El Menzah in Tunis on 10thApril 1994.

In 2013, Sunday Mba got the only goal of the final against Burkina Faso at Soccer-city, Johannesburg on 10th February 2013 to give the Super Eagles their third African title. Thereafter, Nigeria has failed to qualify for the last two editions of AFCON.

Apart from the AFCON, Nigerian teams would this year be involved in the Africa U20 Cup of Nations (from where the Flying Eagles expect to qualify for the FIFA U20 World Cup).

Other competitions Nigeria has qualified to feature in include; Africa U17 Cup of Nations (from where the Golden Eaglets expect to qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup), FIFA Women’s World Cup finals and the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

There is also qualifying series for the Africa U23 Cup of Nations, qualifying series for the All-Africa Games football tournaments, qualifying series for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics football tournaments, qualifying matches for the 2020 African Nations Championship, qualifying matches for the 2020 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, qualifying matches for the 2020 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup and the preliminary round for the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/15/pinnick-winning-afcon-2019-major-target-year-must-read/

The Nigerian Police Force said today that suspected Peoples Democratic Party, PDP thugs went on the rampage in Ilorin, Kwara and disrupted a rally being held by the All Progressives Congress.

This was contrary to the impression created by Senate President Bukola Saraki on Friday that it was the APC members that were attacking his family home and supporters.

“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”, police spokesman Jimoh Moshood said.

“The family house of the Senate President was not attacked as being peddled in some social media”, Moshood added

The APC governorship candidate, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak confirmed the attack on the party’s rally, but he gave a different location.

“Today’s attack on us during our rally in Ode Alfa Nda shouldn’t shake us rather we should see it as one of the last attempts of a drowning dynasty to stay alive by clutching at anything including violence. Their time is up, they just don’t know it yet”, Abdulrazak tweeted, along with photographs of some of the vehicles damaged during the attack.

The Nation reported that Abdulrazak was whisked away from the rally as thousands of supporters also scampered into safety, after shots were fired. Two persons were injured.

According to The Nation, there was also another attack on APC supporters in Ile Aiyelabegan, a household that is a short distance from the Agbaji homestead of the Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Police revisited Saraki’s allegation in light of Sunday’s disruption of APC rally by suspected PDP thugs.

Senator Saraki at a press conference in Abuja raised concern over his safety, his family and those of his political supporters in his state, Kwara.

He claimed that the police have continued to show hostility to him and his supporters in Kwara State as part of efforts to jeopardise and undermine his personal security and that of his immediate and larger family.

He cited three incidents to illustrate his fear about his security. One of them was the allegation that on Thursday, some supporters and thugs of the APC attacked PDP supporters at Adewole/Adeta, Ilorin, who were holding their weekly ward meetings.

He claimed that the same thugs went to his family quarters in Agbaji in Ilorin and vandalised houses, shops and inflicted machete wounds on three persons.

“All these destructions took place in the presence of policemen who came with them but watched without any care, as the APC thugs and supporters unleashed violence on our people.

But in a rebuttal, repeated Sunday, the police said all the allegations of the Senate President “are incorrect, misleading and false and should be disregarded and discountenanced by the general Public”.

Police even gave another instance why Saraki’s complaint should be disregarded.

“The media will recall that while Senator Dino Melaye was evading arrest by hiding inside his residence in Maitama, Abuja, the Senate President made a statement that the Nigeria Police Force did not send a letter of invitation to the Clerk of the National Assembly by the Police inviting Senator Dino Melaye to report to the Kogi State Police Command for investigation for offence of criminal conspiracy, attempted murder and culpable homicide, this statement by the Senate President on Senator Dino Melaye was however discovered serially and entirely untrue and false, as the Police Investigation Team provided an acknowledged copy of the said letter stamped received on the 24th July, 2018, by the Clerk of the National Assembly”.

Police reiterated that they 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 persons 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 Police further said that the senate president is fully protected as he enjoys the full panoply of security provided by them.

“It is pertinent to state that all Police personnel attached to the person of the Senate President, his office and family are intact and all the statutory security protection on the person of the Senate President are also accorded him all the time and there was no complaint whatsoever from the Senate President before now to the Police on this.

“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. No doubt, the statement of the Senate President is evidently his characteristic mind set and pattern of misleading and misinforming the public to unjustifiably deride and castigate the leadership of public institutions such as the Nigeria Police Force.

“It is incumbent on the Force to set the record straight and correct the wrong impressions that must have been created in the minds of the general Public and the International Community from the misinformation and misleading account from the Senate President. The Inspector General of Police is not after the life of the Senate President and did not try any trick to implicate the Senate President in some criminal charges as alleged by the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki; the facts are in the public domain about the suspects of the Offa Bank Robbery now being prosecuted who implicated the Senate President on his involvement in the matter”. (NAN)

https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/01/13/kwara-pdp-thugs-attack-apc-rally-in-ilorin/

Four former governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, in Niger State have defected to the All Progress Congress, APC, along with their supporters.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the defectors were received by Adeniyi Adebayo, Deputy National Chairman, APC South, on behalf of the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomonle, at the launching of the state governorship campaign in Minna on Saturday.

They include Ahmed Ibeto, Hanafi Sudan, Ahmed Baka, and Umaru Ahmed popularly known as Dogon Koli.

Mr Ibeto, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, gave assurance to work with the party to ensure the victory of APC during the general election.

At the occasion, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo expressed optimism that APC would win big at the forthcoming poll.

He said work had been completed on the Baro Port project, which would soon be commissioned as part of efforts to boost the economy of the state.

“I want to tell you that President Muhammadu Buhari is very committed to the well-being of Nigerians. The Lagos to Kano railway project is one of such commitments of this administration to ease movement of our people.

“The completion of Baro Port shows that this administration means well,” he said.

Mr Osinbajo, however, described Governor Abubakar Bello as ”a young and hardworking man who deserves another four years to continue with the infrastructure development of the state.

He appealed to the people of the state to support the re-election bid of the governor as well as other candidates of APC.

Earlier, Mr Bello expressed confidence that APC would win the forthcoming general election and appealed to the people to come out and vote massively for APC candidates

Rotimi Ameachi, Director General of Buhari Campaign Organisation, urged the electorate not to take the forthcoming general election for granted.

He said that the election was between the rich and the poor, describing PDP as “a party that stole resources meant for Nigerians for 16 years.”

Mr Ameachi noted that the present administration had delivered on its 2015 campaign promises to fight corruption, insecurity and ensure economic development.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/13/deserting-four-pdp-governorship-competitors-join-apc/

All seems not to be well with the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the Monday, January 7, 2019, Federal High Court ruling that the party cannot present any candidate in the state during the 2019 general elections.

However, the leadership of the party in the state said it would appeal against the judgement.

Following the ruling of the court, political parties in the state are taking advantage of the crisis in the APC to woo voters to their side.

As it stands, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), aside other parties, stands the chance of winning nearly all the electoral seats in the state if the situation does not change before the elections.

In a statement issued on its website, the Rivers State chapter of the PDP said the judgement was a right step in the right direction.

Commenting on the ruling, counsel to PDP, Dike Udena, expressed satisfaction, saying the APC failed to comply with the electoral act.

Taking advantage of the situation, a chieftain and founding member of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Dr. Acho Nwokogba, called on patriotic and visionary members of the APC in Rivers State to join ADP en masse.

Nwokogba said the ADP had demonstrated commitment, organisation and focus, attributes he said had made the party a credible alternative to the major parties.

He said, “We hate to sound like we are beneficiaries of our opponent’s misfortunes, but we have always presented the ADP as a credible alternative to both the APC and the PDP.

“We are a very peaceful party with good programmes and plans for the state. Our manifesto is there in public domain. We are suing for peace and good governance. So we are calling on APC members to join us because we plan to eradicate poverty, hunger, as well as restore honour, order and security to the state.”

The state Chairman of Labour Party (LP), Ruben Favour, said their governorship flag-bearer, Dumo Lulu Briggs, had all it took to win the forthcoming governorship election in Rivers.

The clamour by other political parties in Rivers to woo APC members started when a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt nullified the primaries conducted by both the Rotimi Amaechi and Magnus Abe factions of the party. The two political gladiators have been locked in personality clash over who will fly the party’s governorship ticket.

Specifically, the court ruled that the APC cannot participate in the governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State.

Delivering judgement in the case: “Sen. Abe and others vs Rivers APC”, Justice Kolawole Omotosho declared that the party must bear the consequences of its disobedience to law, noting that the primaries conducted by both the Amaechi and Abe factions were illegal, null and void as they were held in defiance to a suit before Justice Chinwendu Nwogu of the Rivers State High Court.

The court, therefore, held that the names sent by the Amaechi faction and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2019 general elections were illegal and should be disregarded.

The court also said the direct primaries conducted by the Sen. Abe faction were illegal because the NWC of the party did not monitor or participate in the processes.

Omotosho further granted a mandatory injunction directing INEC to remove all APC candidates from ballot papers and other electoral materials, further imploring INEC to obey the judgement of the Rivers State High Court.

In another verdict, the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt granted an injunction stopping all candidates of the APC in Rivers State from presenting themselves as candidates for the 2019 general elections.

The Publicity Secretary of APC in the state, Chris Finebone, said, “We have just received excerpts of the judgements delivered by Hon. Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, in two separate suits. One was filed by Sen. Magnus Abe and 49 others, asking the court to declare the candidates of the APC in the 2019 general elections in Rivers State, and another filed by the PDP, asking the court to declare that APC has no candidate for the elections.

“However, we do not agree with the court…the APC has absolute powers to schedule, reschedule or even cancel its congresses, noting that the party effectively terminated its ward, local government and state congresses of May 5, 12 and 19, 2018, respectively.

He further pointed out that the party’s primary elections, based on the unchallenged results and outcome of subsequent congresses, were lawful and valid.

Spokesman of Tonye Cole (one of the factional APC gubernotrial candidates) Campaign Organisation, Ogbonna Nwuke, said the party was already in court challenging the judgement of Justice Chinwendu Nworgu of the Rivers State High Court.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/13/pdp-others-take-advantage-apc-crisis-rivers/

All is set for the third edition of the Online Publishers Association of Nigeria (OPAN) Annual New Media Conference holding at the Sandralia Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria, on Wednesday, January 16, 2019.

The theme of this year’s conference is: “Free Press and Objective Reporting in the 2019 Election Year”.

In a media statement distributed on Friday, OPAN President, Austyn Ogannah, said the one-day conference will provide an interactive platform for new media practitioners – publishers, bloggers and social media influencers, to engage with government and state institutions on issues bothering on legal and regulatory frameworks for reporting elections, corruption in elections, ethics and professionalism in reporting elections in Nigeria and the independence and media literacy of the judicial system.

Other issues to be explored according to the OPAN President are conflict sensitiveness and hate speech, the dangers of fake news in a multi-ethnic society in an election year, digitally reporting election results, the social media and INEC rules, among other topics.

Ogannah said top officials including vice presidential candidates of the two leading political parties – Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN (APC), Mr. Peter Obi (PDP), INEC Chairman, Mr. Mahmood Yakubu, EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, candidates of other political parties, lawmakers, lawyers, and representatives from civil society groups and the judiciary will participate at the conference.

The president further said all addresses delivered at the conference will be complied and published in a book to be unveiled at the 4th annual conference next year.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/12/osinbajo-obi-yakubu-magu-grace-3rd-annual-opan-new-media-conference/

Mr Adams Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), has formally handover the party’s flag to the governorship candidate of the party in Abia, Chief Uche Ogah, in Abia state.

At a rally in Umuahia on Friday, he also endorsed the candidates for state and National Assembly candidates.

He said that President Muhammadu Buhari had done substantially well for the South-East to deserve the people’s massive support in the February polls.

He said that Buhari’s developmental strides in the zone in less than four years of his administration was enough to prove his critics wrong.

He listed the reconstruction of Enugu-Onitsha and Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressways, the construction of the Second Niger Bridge and completion of Late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s mausoleum in Onitsha, as some of the president’s achievements in the area.

The party’s national chairman therefore urged the people of the zone to vote massively for Buhari’s re-election.

He admonished them not to repeat the mistake they made in 2015, when they allegedly voted against APC.

He further charged them to vote for Ogah and other APC candidates in the polls to ensure the rapid transformation of the state.

He described Ogah as a product of self-effort, industry, creativity and enterprise.

He said, “Ogah is self-made. He is not coming into government to steal your money.

“I’m happy that in Abia we had a direct primary that produced him. It was transparent. I’m proud of him.”

Also, former Gov. Orji Kalu, who is the Abia North Senatorial candidate of APC, said that Abia would give Buhari 70 per cent vote in the Feb. 16 election.

He berated the Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu led-administration for allegedly failing to utilise the state’s resources to transform the state.

Orji decried the poor state of infrastructure in the state, saying that Abia had not witnessed any meaningful development since he left office in 2007.

He expressed the hope that Ogah as a businessman would replicate his success story in his private business in governance, if elected.

In his speech, Ogah, an oil merchant, promised to make the people of Abia happy when elected.

“Abia rejoice! Your light has come and the glory of God has risen upon you,” he said, amidst loud ovations from his teeming supporters at the Umuahia Township Stadium, venue of the rally.

Ealier, Chief Donatus Nwamkpa, the state Chairman of the party, said that APC painstakingly chose credible candidates for all the elective offices in the state.

Nwamkpa assured the people that an APC government would put an end to the sufferings of the people and salvage the state from many years of economic underdevelopment.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other candidates that received the party’s flags at the event included Kalu, Mrs Nkechi Nwaogu (Abia Central) and Marc Wabara (Abia South).

The rally was attended by the Ministers of Labour and Employment, Science and Technology, Dr. Chris Ngige and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, respectively, amongst others. (NAN)

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/12/orji-kalu-hits-ikpeazu-apc-storms-abia-unveils-candidates-%e2%80%a2i-will-rescue-abia-says-uche-ogah/

Saheed Yusuf popularly known as ‘Spider’ has issued a warning to those who tried to kill a chieftain of the Lagos State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Musiliu Akinsanya, a.k.a MC Oluomo, few days ago.

Chieftain of the National Union of Road Transport Worker (NURTW), Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo was stabbed in the neck during a violent clash between NURTW members at the All Progressives Congress (APC’s) governorship flag off Campaign on Tuesday, 8th January 2019.

It was claimed that MC Oluomo was stabbed twice with a poisonous knife called Makenje (which literally translates to don’t touch blood).

Saheed Yusuf who showed solidarity for MC Oluomo and prayed for his quick recovery, said that God/Allah is the only person that can bring someone to life and take their soul.

He also sent out a warning to the person(s) who purchased the alleged poisonous knife which was meant to ‘kill’ MC Oluomo at the rally as he said that they should know that what goes around would surely come around.

Meanwhile, reports have it that EKO Hospital, where MC Oluomo was rushed to for treatment after the attack – has been fully secured with armed officers of the Nigeria Police Force.


http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/11/mc-oluomos-friend-spider-issues-warning-stabbed-apc-governorship-campaign-lagos-state/

In a rare show of love and solidarity, all the traditional rulers of Isoko ethnic nationalities and their Presidents-General have endorsed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as their candidate for the 2019 governorship election in Delta State.

At an emergency national conference of Isoko nation convened by the Isoko Development Union (IDU) held on Thursday at Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, the traditional rulers observed that the only way they could reciprocate Governor Okowa’s good governance in Isoko land is to re-elect him to continue with his good works.

The Ovie of Oleh Kingdom, Omagha I, HRM Anthony Ovrawah, who is the Chairman of Isoko Traditional Council of Traditional Rulers, led more than 19 traditional rulers to pray for the governor, assuring that all Isoko sons and daughters will cast their votes for him.

Earlier, the President-General of Iyede Kingdom, Chief Jerry Okokowa, moved the motion for Isoko people to collectively, cast their votes for the return of Governor Okowa to Government House, Asaba till 2023, stating: “We have no other option than Governor Okowa, he has executed a lot of projects in Isoko land including the construction of this edifice, the Isoko house and he will do more for us in the next four years.”

The President-General of Oleh Kingdom, Chief Believe Alakri, seconded the motion.

Governor Okowa, filled with emotions, thanked the Isoko people for the love they have shown to him and his administration, stating: “I am surprised, I am excited at what you have done this afternoon; It is a great honour that you have done to me and I must thank the Isoko people for the love you have for me and my administration; what is happening here today, convinces me that you have accepted me as one of you; it tells a lot of story that you are not ashamed to identify with me; I thank you for the peace you have continued to give to us as a government which has given us the enabling environment to carry out development projects.”

“Thank you for the partnership which will make me to relate more with the Isoko nation; in the next four years, a lot more will be done for the Isoko nation because, the Isoko people truly deserve it. With the pronouncement of the traditional rulers, this is a total support, which will give me more votes than what you gave us in 2015.”

The governor in an emotion-laden voice, pleaded with the traditional rulers and the president-generals to vote for all the candidates of the PDP, especially, for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for President, Senator James Manager and Hon. Leo Ogor, saying: “Since you have shown love to me, show love to other candidates of the PDP because, the success of the PDP in the February 16 elections will make the March 2 elections easier.”

President of IDU, Chief Iduh Amadhe, said: “What is happening in Isoko has never been done for any man, Isoko people are not psychophants but, when we heard that you (Governor Okowa) are coming to Isoko nation for campaign rally, an emergency national conference was called for you; 19 traditional rulers are here, the president-generals of different kingdoms are here and whatever we have done today will be translated to all the villages in Isoko and It will be respected, you will get the votes of Isoko people.”

The governor was accompanied to the meeting by his wife, Dame Edith, and notable politicians in the state.

•Photo by Jibunor Samuel shows Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (2nd left); his wife, Dame Edith (left); President General Isoko Development Union, Iduh Amadhe (right) and President General Idu Women’s Wing, Chief Mrs. Felicia Suleiman, during the Endorsement of Governor Okowa by the Isoko nation.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/11/2019-isoko-traditional-rulers-presidents-general-adopt-okowa-governorship-candidate/

The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has appealed to the electorate in the state to vote massively for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in next month’s presidential election.

He said this was because of his sincerity in advocating ranching as solution to the lingering herders crisis in the country.

The Governor who spoke Thursday at his reelection campaign rally in Katsina/Ala also stated that the former Vice President was not a religious fundamentalist.

He reiterated that Atiku who was on the same page with the people of the state and all PDP candidates in the forthcoming election.

He observed that while President Muhammadu Buhari was canvassing for the opening up of cattle routes which would impact negatively on the land of the people of the state if implemented, Alhaji Atiku had been establishing ranches for his cattle and even proceeded to build feed-mills.

He said, “ranching is critical to the survival of our state because it remains the best solution to the incessant crises between farmers and herders with monumental loss of human lives and property over the years hence we must vote against those who opposed it.

“Besides Atiku has a long standing relationship with the Benue people who conferred a chieftaincy title on him years back and he also believes in the corporate existence of Nigeria.”

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/10/2019-benue-individuals-cast-ballot-atiku-ortom/

The plot here is to get the South East to vote for APC in 2019 if it wants the party to reward it in 2023. But that ploy does not appear to be working.

Amanze Obi

This question would have been redundant if the South East were a settled region. But the question is germane and compelling owing to the fluidity of the politics of the region. The South East is something of a babel. It is a land, an enclave, where everyone is lord unto himself. Everybody has an opinion and a say on everything. And each feels sanctimonious about his position or point of view. This disposition, more often than not, leads to fractiousness. The region hardly moves in a predetermined, predictable direction.

But somehow, the people of the region differed radically from this famed or infamous disposition of theirs in 2015. Since the beginning of post-Civil War politics, the Igbo have never stood in one accord over their voting pattern. But they achieved near unanimity in this during the 2015 presidential election. President Goodluck Jonathan was the beneficiary of that turnaround. The reverberations that were to follow showed that many outside the region were anything but comfortable about the development. In fact, it was an issue that the Igbo voted the way they did. But it was considered normal for other regions to vote as a bloc because they have always done so. Many were curious about what may have led to the resurgence that underlined the Igbo voting pattern at that time.

Since then, the issue has remained on the front burner. President Muhammadu Buhari trivialised it when he chose to dish out appointments based, ostensibly, on the percentage of votes cast for him region to region. Whereas he frets over his rejection by the South East, he is not making an issue over the fact that the South South did not vote for him either. This goes to reinforce the point earlier made that what Nigerians found curious was that the Igbo, for the first time since 1979, voted in a predictable manner as against their individualistic and cavalier attitude to power struggle.

So, what will the picture look like in 2019? That is the focus of attention now. Since the 2015 general election was won and lost, very serious efforts have been made and are still being made to balkanise and truncate the political cohesion that the South East achieved four years ago. The powers that be do not want a repeat of that ensure that the Igbo return to their fractious and unpredictable voting pattern, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has stopped at nothing to break into the region. Even Buhari, the President that excluded the region from the commanding heights of his government, is pretending to be at one with them. He wants their votes in his effort to actualise his return bid.

Significantly, the people of the region have not made it possible for anybody to know the way they would likely vote. A few prominent Igbo politicians have joined the APC train in order to bolster the reach of the party in the region. But that has not brought about the expected shift in allegiance. And those who do not want a united Igbo arrangement are not giving up. They are employing all manner of subterfuge to break the ranks of the Igbo. That was the ploy employed by Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola and Yemi Osinbajo, who have petulantly told Nigerians at various times that power would return to the South West in 2023 under the APC presidency. The plot here is to get the South East to vote for APC in 2019 if it wants the party to reward it in 2023. But that ploy does not appear to be working.

Concerned organisations are also speaking. A few days ago, an organisation that calls itself Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) tried to hack into the politics of the South East. They flew a kite on the way they think the Igbo should vote in 2019. In a statement, the group held that South East governors were working for Buhari’s reelection. The group included the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, as being in cahoots with the South East governors to ensure that the region votes for Buhari in 2019. There has not been any serious rebuttal of this assertion by BMO except the feeble one from a chief press secretary from one of the South East states. The rebuttal in question was not and cannot be taken seriously by anybody because it came from wrong quarters. The received impression at this time is that the accused are maintaining a studied silence over an issue that they should have treated with urgency.

But why did the BMO decide to stir the South East over 2019? Watchers of our politics will readily have an answer to this. They will tell you that it is so because the region appears to be fishing for the big fish. The bigwigs in the region do not seem to bother about having a common position and galvanising the rest of their people into toeing the preferred line of action. What is going on instead is a rat race. The people that matter in the region are pursuing and advancing their personal and selfish interests. Group interest has been subjugated to the backwaters.

This dangerous trend is easily found among the South East governors who have been accused by some pro-Biafra groups, particularly the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and now BMO. The governors always like to play safe when matters that concern the survival of their people are concerned. What they play up instead is the self-preservation instinct in them. They crossed the red line when they joined forces with the federal government to outlaw IPOB. They failed the people as well when they said nothing and did nothing about the military invasion of Afaraukwu, Umuahia, in which many IPOB members were killed. All these have since petered out and quite a number of people have continued to patronise the governors regardless of these shortcomings.

However, it was thought that the choice of one of their own as the vice presidential running mate by a major political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), would get the governors and other South East leaders to adopt a common agenda on how to face the presidential race. But that is hardly the case. The people are still running from pillar to post without a discernible sense of direction. The Igbo are not about to embrace PDP whole-heartedly because they have a big stake in the coming contest. They do not seem to be interested. This contrasts very sharply with the South West’s disposition over the same matter. Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State was quoted the other day as saying that it is only a bastard Yoruba that will not vote for APC because, according to him, 2019 is a contest between Hausa-Igbo and Hausa-Yoruba. The Yoruba, Ajimobi is saying, must embrace their own. By that, you can easily determine where the Yoruba are headed in 2019.

But you cannot say that of the Igbo. They have no common position on 2019. If you expected the governors to take a clear-cut position, you would wait for eternity. They are playing behind the scenes. They cannot make a declarative pronouncement. Such will not favour the agenda some of them are secretly pursuing.

But whatever the governors are doing, the Igbo as a collective owe themselves a duty to put on their thinking cap and approach 2019 with high-level circumspection. This election year holds so much for the future of Igbo politics. The people must not fall for cheap baits.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/10/2019-election-will-south-east-vote/

Eagle-eyed Air Peace all-female crew comprising Captain Sinmisola Ajibola, Senior First Officer Onohi Agboighale, Mojoko Ewane, Taiye Abbey, Victoria Ukpiaifo and Ngozi Ezeamaka on Sunday frustrated an attempt by a middle-aged woman and her collaborators to traffic a three-day-old baby boy through the Port Harcourt Airport to Lagos.

The suspect had booked Air Peace Port Harcourt-Lagos Flight P4 7393 on Sunday. During boarding, the Lead Crew of the flight, Mojoko Ewane observed that the suspect was handling the baby in an awkward manner and decided to question her.

When she was questioned at the boarding door of the aircraft, the suspect claimed the baby was three days old. She, however, later told her interrogators that the baby was born on January 5, a day before her aborted trip. The suspect said she gave birth to the baby shortly after travelling from Lagos to Port Harcourt on an Air Peace flight on January 5.

A call was later placed to the contact numbers the suspect said belonged to her husband and the doctor who handled the birth of the child. While the alleged husband claimed that his wife was actually pregnant, the alleged doctor’s number rang unanswered. When the suspect was asked to breastfeed the baby, she could not as there was no breast milk.

The suspect tried to create a scene, rallying other passengers on the flight to prevail on Air Peace crew to allow her fly, but the crew stood their ground. When the crew informed the suspect that the carrier’s standard operating procedure barred them from allowing passengers fly with a week-old baby on grounds of health, she claimed to be a nurse and insisted that the baby’s health would not be jeopardised.

The airline, it was gathered, later invited personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Port Harcourt Airport to take over the case for further investigation. Air Peace Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah confirmed the incident on Wednesday, saying the airline was proud that its crew professionally discharged their responsibility to ensure passengers’ safety and assist government in fighting crime.

A DSS source in Port Harcourt also confirmed that the suspect had been transferred to the zonal office of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State for further handling. The source claimed that the suspect confessed that a lady gave her the baby. The DSS source commended Air Peace crew for foiling the attempted child trafficking with their vigilance. In June 2018, Air Peace crew also exposed a suspected trafficker of a three-month-old baby on its Lagos-Banjul flight.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/09/air-peace-female-crew-foil-attempt-traffic-3-day-old-baby/

The country with the world's most powerful passport in 2019 is ... Japan.

That's the view of the Henley Passport Index, which periodically measures the access each country's travel document affords.

It's the second time in a row that the Asian nation has come out on top in the index, which is revised quarterly.

Japan retains its top spot as the world's most travel-friendly passport thanks to the document's access to 190 countries.

South Korea edged up the ranking from October's index to join Singapore, offering access to 189 jurisdictions, thanks to a new visa-on-arrival agreement with India.

That the top countries in the list are all Asian -- along with other significant movers from the region -- shows that many Asia nations are "sustaining a high comfort level with mutually beneficial economic migration," Parag Khanna, the founder and managing partner of FutureMap in Singapore, told Henley & Partners.

Elsewhere in the region, China jumped almost 20 places in just two years, from 85th in 2017 to 69th this year.

European countries also performed favorably, with European Union member states (along with Norway and the US) filling in the places behind the top three nations -- although the UK continues to drop down the rankings, along with the US.

The two held joint-first position in 2015, according to a press release from the firm.

Henley & Partners' Group Chairman Christian Kalin, who created the Passport Index, says the ranking is a bright spot in an increasingly isolationist world.

"The general spread of open-door policies has the potential to contribute billions to the global economy, as well as create significant employment opportunities around the world," he said.

"South Korea and the United Arab Emirates' recent ascent in the rankings are further examples of what happens when countries take a proactive foreign affairs approach, an attitude which significantly benefits their citizens as well as the international community."

The best passports to hold at the beginning of 2019 are:
1. Japan (190 countries)

2. Singapore, South Korea (189)

3. France, Germany (188)

4. Denmark, Finland, Italy, Sweden (187)

5. Luxembourg, Spain (186)

6. Austria, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States (185)

7. Belgium, Canada, Greece, Ireland (184)

8. Czech Republic (183)

9. Malta (182)

10. Australia, Iceland, New Zealand (181)

Other indexes
Henley & Partner's list is one of several indexes created by financial firms to rank global passports according to the access they provide to their citizens.

The Henley Passport Index is based on data provided by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) and covers 199 passports and 227 travel destinations. It is updated in real time throughout the year, as and when visa policy changes come into effect.

Arton Capital's Passport Index takes into consideration the passports of 193 United Nations member countries and six territories -- ROC Taiwan, Macao (SAR China), Hong Kong (SAR China), Kosovo, Palestinian Territory and the Vatican. Territories annexed to other countries are excluded.

Its 2019 index put Saudi Arabia on top with a "visa-free score" of 167, followed by Germany on 166 and Singapore, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Norway, South Korea and the US ranked third-equal with a score of 165. (CNN)

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/09/worlds-powerful-passport-2019/

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra inspected the construction work on the second Niger Bridge and expressed satisfaction with the standard and pace of work.

The governor, who was visibly happy with the extent of work done so far, said he was confident that the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari would deliver on the job as scheduled.

He noted that the bridge, when completed, would not only boost the economic activities of the South-East and South-South but that of the whole country.

“I have no choice than to praise President Muhammadu Buhari for his determination in the implementation of other federal government projects in the state and other states in the region,” he said.

The Project Director, Julius Berger Construction Company, Mr Fredrick Wieser, explained that the construction would be in three phases.

Wieser noted that the federal government has already made advance payment of 15 per cent which amounted to N30 billion as mobilisation fee.

According to him, the bridge will be 1.6 km, while the access road from Asaba axis will be 3.3 km and 7km from Anambra respectively.

“Right now, we are doing foundation work in the river which will be 50 metres deep.

“The pilling work in the river will be 15 metres above water level to allow free flow of ships,’’ he said.

He, however, pointed out that with the determination of the present administration, the project would be delivered on or before Feb. 28, 2022. (NAN)

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/09/work-2nd-niger-bridge-excites-obiano/

Amazon has eclipsed Microsoft as the most valuable publicly traded company in the U.S. as a see-sawing stock market continues to reshuffle corporate America's pecking order.

The shift occurred Monday after Amazon's shares rose 3 percent to close at $1,629.51 and lifted the e-commerce leader's market value to $797 billion. Meanwhile, Microsoft's stock edged up by less than 1 percent to finish at $102.06, leaving the computer software maker's value at $784 billion.

It marks the first time Amazon has held the top spot and ends Microsoft's brief return to the pinnacle after it surpassed Apple in late November.

The repositioning has been triggered by mounting concerns that the Trump administration's trade war with China and rising interest rates will bog down the worldwide economy. If that were to happen, it's likely to slow the growth of companies in technology and other industries that generate a substantial chunk of their revenue outside the U.S.

That's one reason most technology stocks are well off their peaks. Amazon, for instance, remains 21 percent below its high reached in September when the company's stock value stood above $1 trillion. Apple was worth even more back then, but its stock has plunged by 37 percent since early October to erase about $400 billion of its market value.

Apple confirmed some of investors' worst fears last week when it warned that disappointing demand for iPhones, especially in China, caused its revenue for its most recent quarter to fall well below the projections of its management and industry analysts. (AP)

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/08/amazon-emerges-valuable-us-firm-amid-market-turmoil/

Academic and Non-Academic Staff of the Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE), Omu, Ijebu, in Odogbolu Local Government Area, have gone on hunger strike over non-payment of their 28 months salaries by Ibikunle Amosun- led administration.

The workers’ vowed to embark on total strike by the end of January if the state government failed to pay them, lamenting that all negotiating means have been exhausted to ensure their demands were attended to.

The workers on Monday organised a spiritual exercise tagged “White Monday” where prayers were offered in both Muslims and Christian ways within the institution premises.

Speaking shortly after the prayers, the chairman, Coalition of TASCE staff, Dr Dan Aborisade, told newsmen that the exercise became imperative in view of the fact that they have lost no fewer than 48 members in the struggle.

“The spiritual controls the physical, and we need to commit everything we are doing into God’s hand. We held a prayer session last year December where we all put on black and we tagged the prayer session ‘Black Thursday’.

“We are having this prayer session so as to tell God about our predicament. We are having this with the belief that God has answered our prayers.”

“We have embarked on spiritual cleansing such as fasting, vigils, among others over our hard earn money and we know God has answered us,” he said.

He also noted that government is owing them several months of unremitted pension and cooperative deductions.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/08/unpaid-salaries-tasce-workers-embark-hunger-strike/

Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has won the 2018 Silverbird Man of the Year Award, with a charge to security agencies and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to play by the rules and ensure free, fair and transparent 2019 elections.

He spoke on Monday in Asaba when the management of the Silverbird Communications Ltd led by Mr. Jacob Akinyemi Johnson, Chairman, Editorial Board, paid him a courtesy visit to present the letter of nomination. Governor Okowa said that the award would spur the people of the state to work in unity and achieve more developmental successes.

“Nigerians expect that we will have free and fair national elections in February and March, 2019, and the security agencies and INEC are expected to play by the rules so that we can have a country where democracy can grow and a country that can take its place among the comity of nations. The world looks up to us to get it right.

“I receive this award with gratitude as it will encourage us to do more for our people. In the last three years, we have had our challenges, but we have been able to manage ourselves, united as Deltans, we have connected with our people through roads, education and health. Our people are happy with us and we are happy with them,” Okowa said.

The governor commended the Silverbird Management for the painstaking award process stressing “the award will encourage our people to understand that the more we work together, the more successes we will achieve”.

Earlier, Mr. Akinyemi-Johnson had congratulated Governor Okowa for emerging the “2018 Silverbird Man of the Year”, stating that the governor was voted overwhelmingly by the public among the four nominees.

He informed Senator Okowa that the formal presentation would take place February 3, 2019 in Lagos.

•Photo by Jibunor Samuel shows Governor Ifeanyi Okowa (2nd right); General Manager Silverbird, Mr. Akinyemi Johnson (right); Head of Radio, Mustapha Isa (2nd left) and Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, during a courtesy call on the Governor by the Management of Silverbird, in Government House Asaba.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/07/okowa-charges-inec-security-agencies-ensure-free-fair-2019-elections-%e2%80%a2receives-letter-nomination-2018-silverbird-man-year/

Coalition of like Minds for Atiku Support Group (CLMASG ) is planning to mobilise support groups for aggressive campaigns in favour of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, PDP’s Presidential Candidate.

The Deputy Director Media and Publicity of CLMASG , Alhaji Gambo Jagindi, said in Abuja on Saturday that the Chairman of CLMASG, Princess Kemi Adesanya, has directed all groups under the coalition to mobilise their structure across the 36 state and Abuja for the campaign.

Jagindi said that the coalition was strategically placed to mobilise the electorate nationwide with the clear mandate to vote for Atiku Abubakar.

He said the coalition made up of hundreds of support groups with noticeable present in the six geo political zone, “is rising every hour and day’’.

The number of the support group, he said, was nearing 500.

He emphasize that the group was under the command of Atiku Presidential Campaign Office, APCO.

“All members of the group must register with APCO and submit to the directive and command of APCO and PDP at all times.’’

He said that the group were ready to penetrate the grassroots to “evangelise Atiku Abubakar policy plan to the electorate’’ and would also utilise all the social media network for the propagation.

He commended the former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Gbenga Daniel, and the Director Support Group of the PDP Presidential Campaign, Dr Nathaniel Yaduma, for their support. (NAN)

http://mcebiscoo.com/2019/01/07/2019-coalition-mobilise-support-atiku-nationwide/