₦airaland Forum

Former Edo Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Tuesday, met members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in the House of Representatives over his plan to become chairman of the party.

Oshiomhole had, last week, declared for the chairmanship of APC, ahead of the party’s National Convention on June 23.

He told the APC caucus, led by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, at the National Assembly, Abuja, that his background had prepared him for the big task.

He said “I have come as a member of the APC family. I had the opportunity to function as district officer in one of the provinces, officially called governor in Edo State.

“I completed my tenure and handed over on Nov. 12, 2016 to a successor from my own party. And so, APC has continued to provide leadership at the level of the state government in Edo State.

“The good news which I considered as my strong point is that my background prepared me for this kind of role.

“As president of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), my deputy was elected on his own merit as well and every other members of the central working committee of the NLC.”

He added that in his eight-year stewardship with NLC, he learnt about the capacity to persuade, convince, negotiate and make concession “because if we don’t offend each other, we are less than humans.

“As senior members of our party, we are all familiar with not only the provisions of the party’s constitution and that of Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, we are also to deal with issues of electing our leadership.

“It is on that basis I decided to offer myself to contest, by the special grace of God and with your support for the office of the national chairman of the APC.”

Oshiomhole said he was contesting not because there was leadership vacuum but that having been an active member of the party, he was convinced that the state of affairs could always be improved upon.

The former Edo governor added that the task of building and sustaining a truly cohesive political party was
beyond creating a platform for electioneering campaign and winning and losing elections.

He noted that “I believe it remains an open task or a work-in-progress that we all can contribute to. And I believe working with everyone, we can build a political party that is founded on inclusiveness rather than exclusion.”

He emphasised that President Muhammadu Buhari and the party leadership had an open mind to discussing issues, with a view to resolving problems in the party.

Hon. Dogara, who described Oshiomhole as an active comrade, said the former governor had sought to meet with the APC House caucus and felt it was appropriate for him to come and speak to members.

The House Leader, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, told journalists at the end of the closed-door meeting that “the former governor presented his programmes to us and we are all on the same page. We, as APC caucus, believe in him.” (NAN)

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/oshiomhole-meets-dogara-apc-house.html

Mr Hakeem Fahm, Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, has said that the free public Wi-Fi at the state’s Parks and Gardens was secured by Wireless Protected Access (WPA).

Fahm made this known on Friday in Lagos at the 2018 Ministerial Press Briefing in commemoration of the third year in office of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode.

WPA, which is a security standard for users of computing devices equipped with wireless internet connection, provides sophisticated data encryption and better user authentication.

Fahm said that Lagos residents had begun to have access to the free Wi-Fi provided by the state government at three selected parks and gardens.

He said that the Wi-Fi access at the Ndubuisi Kanu Park, Ikeja, Muri-Okunola Park, Victoria Island and Johnson JakandeTinubu Park Ikeja, were using solar-powered panels to avoid disruption.

“This project represents a quick-win for Lagos State Government towards the vision of making Lagos a smart city, and provides new ways for public to enhance social and leisure activities.

“The government has plans to provide additional Wi-Fi access at bus terminals and other parks and gardens and schools,’’ he said

“Wi-Fi can be anywhere now once funding is in place because we have the infrastructure already.

“We are ready to work with any agency; we are talking to different partners to see how we can further deploy it and look at the value added services available.

“To make sure that the wireless would pay for itself, we are in discussion with Google so that the Wi-Fi we are providing can assist us in placing advert so that it can be used to pay for the advert.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/secured-for-users-watch-out-for-lagos.html

The Oyo state chapter of Socialist Party of Nigeria, SPN, on Sunday described the May 12 council poll in Oyo State as a huge show of shame and stage-managed fraud.

SPN, while calling on the people of the state to wake up and challenge the conduct of the election, called for prosecution of an officer of the state command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, who allegedly killed a teenager during the elections.

The party, in a statement emailed to MC EBISCO by its Chairman, Comrade Kolapo Oladapo, also demanded a fresh election conducted in accordance with the constitution.

Oladapo said, “SPN commiserates with the families of the teenager, Kofoworola Abeke who was murdered by trigger-happy security agent. The report has it that Kofoworola was murdered during charade called LG election. We condemn this unwarranted killing and demand for an open and speedy prosecution of civil defence officer that was involved in this dastard act likewise is an immediate and adequate compensation to the family of the teenager for the irreparable loss.

“Again, we demand that this charade and monumental fraud should be challenged by the mass of the people. As we earlier pointed out, the May 12, 2018 Local Government election is a nullity owing to the fact that it was conducted on the basis of OYSIEC created electoral areas in violation of section 148 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Further confirmed this nullity is also a crude manner the SPN candidate for Ibadan South West chairmanship position was denied nomination form in a deliberate effort to prevent genuine political alternative to be presented in the election, yet the SPN name and logo appeared in the ballot papers.

“This is monumental fraud against our party and every believer in open and democratic process. The election as a huge show of shame and stage-managed fraud.”

Oladapo, on behalf of the party, then demanded a fresh council election.

He said, “In this regard, we of the SPN hereby demands new and democratic Local Government elections conducted in accordance with the requirements of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and with fair opportunities for all parties and candidates including the SPN and its candidate. We call on all people of Oyo state who are equally disaffected with the illegality and fraud that took place on May 12 2018 in the name of elections to join us in the SPN to challenge this charade.

“Obviously, both the OYSIEC and Oyo State APC-led government were threatened by the active involvement of SPN and its critical attitude towards all of the undemocratic conduct of OYSIEC. This explains why SPN candidate was denied nomination form by OYSIEC after being subjected to the rigour of a screening exercise during which he was certified eligible to stand as candidate in the election.”

Oladapo added that, “However, despite the fact that SPN candidate was denied of nomination form, the OYSIEC still went ahead to include both the name and logo of the SPN in the election ballot paper. This show that the denial was deliberate to prevent the SPN from being officially part of the election while the name and logo was decided to be included in the ballot paper with a view to use the name of the party to give credibility to the election.

“This is an electoral fraud committed by OYSIEC against our great party SPN. This is condemnable and further underscores the fact that the state electoral body will continue to be incapable to conduct a credible local government election as long as it continues to be an appendage of the state government and the ruling party.

“It is in a view to bring an end to all these tradition of electoral manipulation that, we of the SPN will continue to canvass for the democratisation of state and national electoral bodies whose members will comprised of the elected representatives of trade unions, youth and professional organisations, trade and artisan associations including the community associations like residents association.

“Only elections conducted by electoral bodies with the above outlined membership and character that are capable of conducting election that will reflect the true aspiration and expectation of the people either at the state or national level.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/oyo-lg-poll-show-of-shame-stage-managed.html

The recent declaration of intention to contest for the chairmanship of All Progressives Congress (APC), by a former governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has indeed opened a new vista in the party’s history.

It largely signposts an era of certainties for the ruling party, which had witnessed intra-party conflicts over the choice of who becomes it’s next national chairman.

Considering the attending distractions associated with the crisis, Oshiomhole’s ambition comes as a trouble-shooting shooting one.

Though, a few might have a contrary opinion, it is self-evident that the former labour leader would have an impactful leadership if he emerges the party’s chairman.

His trademark mass appeal is one of the many reasons that suggest the party is poised for an era of inclusiveness. It is for that reason that the declaration ceremony in Abuja, was largely perceived as a sign of things to expect from Oshiomhole.

The event, which held at the Transcorp Hotel, Abuja, was a rallying point for party chieftains, who identified with Oshiomhole’s vision.

Read More: APC Congress: Delegates in Niger protest return of party chairman

Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum and governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and his Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki led leaders of the party to the event.

Others at the forum include; former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipriye Sylva; Senator Ovie Omo-Agege; Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu; and Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Kabiru Adjoto.

Others are National Vice Chairman South South of the APC, Mr. Hilliard Etta, who led Senator Olusola Adeyeye, Senator Francis Alimekhena, and the entire members of the APC caucus from Edo State in the National and state Assemblies to the gathering.

The event was a platform for Oshiomhole to outline the goals he seek to achieve with his vision for the party. He specifically said the need to strengthen the party ahead of the 2019 general election informed his decision to want to serve.

Notwithstanding, he regretted certain things that are wrong in the party, stating that he is on a salvage mission.

To this end, Oshiomhole pledged to provide a leadership that will bring peace and ensure unity among party members.

He said: “ For me, it is fundamental to be able to have a membership driven party grounded at the grassroots. Accordingly, it is important that we must ensure that we have an authentic and verifiable membership register that can be checked and verified by members and even non-members of the party.

It is, therefore, an irreducible minimum obligation on the part of the party to have a credible membership register that cannot be altered at the whims and caprices of any one, including the leadership of the party. 


“Incidentally, the idea of a credible, verifiable membership register was one of the key commitment of the founding leaders of the party. Indeed, the interim leadership of the party under Chief Bisi Akande, working in concert with other leaders tried their best to establish APC Data Centre.

Unfortunately, the Data Centre was raided and destroyed by the State Security Services on the orders of the PDP administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan on November 22, 2014.

“The challenge right now, is not to lament the clear abuse of power that led to the destruction of the Data Centre, but to commit the incoming leadership to rebuild the Data Centre and put it to practical use in the shortest possible time.

With a credible membership register and given the state of information technology, a functional database is an indispensable tool that will help eliminate abuse and corruption in the conduct of intra-party election from unit to ward to local government to state and national levels.

“It will also create a credible platform for conducting direct primaries, which will afford every member of the party opportunity to participate in the party primaries at all levels, rather than the current situation of indirect, delegate election, which is susceptible to manipulation, abuse and corruption by desperate aspirants at all levels.

“ While we will sustain membership recruitment, we will ensure that members of the party are given a robust sense of ownership and control. This would enable the party to adopt a policy of bottom-up, as opposed to top-down approach to party administration process.

The beauty of this is that members of our party will own the party and will be ready to work to ensure the success of the party at all levels and at all times.

“To sustain harmonious interaction between the executive and the parliament, the party must have seasoned parliamentarians including non-serving Senators and Representatives to monitor the National Assembly on a daily basis and advice the party leadership on engagement with the National Assembly.

The party under my leadership will recognise that the parliament is unique, diverse and faced with a lot of challenges. The party will, therefore, ensure coherence in all dispositions and decisions of parliament.

The party will proactively settle any rift between executive and legislature without compromising the principle of separation of powers.

“Finally, we shall put in place mechanism for conflict management. We know that in human interactions, there are bound to be conflicts arising from differences in opinion and perspectives.

The responsibility of the party will be to engage in consensus building and conflict management.

In particular, we will intervene in the lingering crises between Governors and members of the National Assembly in their respective states as a result of poor communication, conflict of interest, or just being victims of rumour mongering.

When I am given the privilege to lead the party by being elected at the National Convention, we will proactively engage all the parties involved in such conflicts with a view to helping them to find common ground on the basis of justice, equity and fairness, and without bias.”

Also speaking at the event, Okorocha said: “I have no doubt in my mind, not even an iota of doubt that Oshiomhole when elected will show the way. Oshiomhole’s coming as a National chairman of APC is bad news to other political parties.

In 2014, I recall vividly how we formed this party the APC. Then he was a governor, and we all sat down thinking how to take power from the incumbent and it was not an easy task.

But I want to tell all of you that Adams Oshiomhole is a rugged fighter. And man who can face challenges and I have no doubt that he will make a good chairman when elected.”

Kamba, writes from Kaduna

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/apc-chairmanship-oshiomholes.html

In a chat with Saturday Beats, Nollywood veteran actor, Paul Obazele joined the quarters of Nigerians who have expressed disliked for the reality tv show, Big Brother Naija. According to him, the show teaches nothing but sex and the sad part is that some people have become celebrities as a result of it.

Paul Obazele wondered why the organizers of the reality tv shows didn’t consider something that can boost internship in Nigeria but rather opted to promoting an alien culture.


“I don’t like Big Brother; why would I celebrate corruption? Do you want to tell me that to become a superstar, you have to be having sex in toilets? What are they depicting? There are so many reality shows that they can do. It is called cultural dislocation, bringing in the white man’s culture into ours. Sex is nothing to them.

The most decent woman I have seen in the years of my travelling is the Nigerian woman. Sex is nothing to other African women, this is the truth. Why would I bring in a group of young people between the ages of 18 and 26 and make sex the topic of the day?

I detest BBNaija cos it promotes sex and corruption - Actor Paul Obazele

What did we learn from the show and today, some people are parading themselves as stars. It is nonsense. There are so many reality television shows they can do; they can send some people on internships but then they were able to cajole Nigerians who have small minds who think about sex always and they started sending text messages to vote. At the end of the day, they were able to rake in more than N350m.

If the organisers of the show made that amount of money, how much is the N25m they are giving the winner, it is a stipend to them. We are gullible. Some people would argue that it does not matter because they have warned about viewers’ discretion but that is nonsense. The show is shot in South Africa and to be honest, sex and drugs are nothing to them. I do not promote things like Big Brother. It is unfortunate that they call them stars,” he said.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/i-detest-bbnaija-cos-it-promotes-sex.html

A prosecution witness and Manager of Maydon Pharmaceutical company, Uchenna Okeagwu, has narrated how he paid billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, also known as Evans, 223,000 euros as ransom for his boss, Donatus Duru.

Okeagwu made the disclosure while testifying before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, on Friday.

Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecution, Titilayo Shitta-Bey, Okeagwu said, “I am a manager at Maydon pharmaceutical company and have been working with them for over seven years. After we heard of the kidnap of Duru, we waited to hear from the kidnappers so we will know what to do to rescue him.

“As the manager of the Idumota branch, we worked towards raising money for the kidnappers when they asked for ransom. After about two months, I was called by Anselm Duru, Donatus brother to come and deliver the money to the kidnappers that they have raised 223,000 Euros.

“After counting the money, we put it in a polythene bag and wrapped it very well with sellotape and I went with the money. Anselm gave me his telephone that they would use it to direct me to where I would take the ransom to.

“I started receiving calls with the phone from the kidnappers saying I should make no mistakes that if I do, I would be shot. I was asked if I know the way towards mile 2 and I said yes, I went with the money inside the vehicle, putting the money under the passengers’ seat in the front and I moved out of the compound towards mile 2.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/notorious-kidnapper-how-i-paid-evans.html

A Nigerian pastor, Rabbai Ephraim Ononye has taken to Facebook where he shared a story of how a man’s brother died after he killed a lizard in the middle of the night. According to pastor, the man suffered witchcraft attack for long before attending his church leading to the incident.


Below is what he wrote.

“I KILLED THE. LIZARD. AND. MY OWN. BROTHER. DIED. INSTANTLY’

This man has suffered witchcraft attack for so many many years but one day, he attended prayers at Power House Assembly Onitsha Obosi branch from Imo state.

He was given a prayer assignment during prophetic ministration.

After his midnight assignment, he laid on his bed and was about sleeping when this lizard appeared on the headside of his bed.

He got up and hit the lizard on it’s head with a tick and the lizard died.

Instantly, his brother started shouting from his own house, My head, my head” and died just like the lizard.

Is he responsible for his brother’s death?

I see the end of the wicked.

God will hand your enemy over to you and end every witchcraft operation in ur life and family Amen’

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/man-dies-after-his-brother-killed.html

Below are pictures showing Tekno and veteran musicians, Danfo drivers chilling and in a happy mood. This is coming after the music duo, Mad Melon and Mountain Black reacted to Tekno’s latest song ‘Jogodo‘ where he sampled their 2008 song ‘Kpolongo‘.

According to them, they are angry cos he sampled their material without seeking their consent or even reaching out to them.

In an interview with Wazobia TV in Lagos, they said they have come to Lagos to hunt for him and collect the money/royalties he owes them for sampling their song without permission.

Going by the pictures seen below, we can as well conclude that they have settled their differences and are willing to move on.


http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/tekno-settles-with-danfo-drivers-after.html

Nigerian Nollywood actors Ufuoma Ejenobor and Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha who are also into movie production are set to go back to school to further broaden their knowledge on movie production.

Ufuoma and Chioma Chukwuka are set to return to school as they have gained admission into PAN Atlantic University.

The duo has enrolled at the institution’s School of Media and Communication to study an Executive Program in Film Making. They are being sponsored by Film One NG.

Ufuoma Ejenobor and Chioma Chukwuka are joined by other celebrities who are set to undergo the training. Other celebrities to take part in the programme include Lancelot Imasuen and Belinda Effah.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/nollywood-actors-ufuoma-chioma-chukwuka.html

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus on Tuesday said that he and other members of his party being maligned and harassed by “despotic APC administration” are not afraid of Nigeria law because they believe in the rule of law.

Prince Secondus said that the desire of the Buhari administration was to drag Nigeria back to dark period where those in power could jail people, including foreigners indiscriminately without going through the process of the law.

Secondus through a statement from his media office, signed by Ike Abonyi, wondered why the Presidency is stressed up on an innocuous letter to the United Nations, UN, that merely stated the obvious happenings in the country regarding democratic developments.

He said: “Instead of debunking the issues raised in the letter with empirical facts they now resort to blackmail and intimidation of arresting and docking PDP members.

“Let the Presidency tell the World what they have done in the past three years to deepen our democracy, is it the inconclusive elections rampant under their watch; is it the evasion of Judges Homes at midnight with deadly weapons or the evasion of parliament and abduction of the mace?

“PDP members are not afraid of facing the law because they believe in the rule of law, what they are resisting and wants the international community to note is the gradual return of 1984 draconian system in 2018.

“Anybody who watched a serving Senator being taken to court in an ambulance in a distance of over 200 kilometers in a frame up charges, would know that our democracy is in danger.

The PDP boss wondered why they did not list those things the administration is doing or has done to deepen our democracy instead of bemoaning about a harmless letter that just explained situations as it is.

“Can democracy flourish in an atmosphere where the Senate of a country is being vandalized and mace symbol of authority removed by hired hoodlums as security operatives that reports to the Presidency watch?

“Is democracy not threatened in a situation where serving legislators are being framed up and humiliated publicly by agents of the state just for having dissenting voice on issues?

“The history of our party is a history of democratic struggle, we know our contributions, we know the price we paid to be here, we cannot just seat and watch it destroyed in the name of fighting corruption while the same government is harbouring and giving cover to known corrupt people in the other room.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/buhari-ruling-nigeria-in-military-style.html

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has announced plans to disqualify some governorship aspirants found guilty of disrupting the Ekiti governorship primary.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed this on Monday while responding to questions at the APC National Secretariat, in Abuja.

Abdullahi stated that the NWC would make public its final decision on the aspirants on Tuesday.

He, however, declined to give the names of the aspirants who stood the risk of disqualification.

He said, “We just received a report from the chairman of the committee that we sent to Ekiti to conduct the governorship primary, the governor of Nasarawa state, Governor Tanko Al-Makura.

“He gave us a full report orally and submitted a written report of what transpired in Ekiti. They also made specific recommendations, which gave the NWC a couple of options on how to proceed.

“The NWC is meeting tonight (Monday) to consider the report and tomorrow morning, we will be able to make our decision clear on how to proceed.”

Speaking specifically about the violence which marred the exercise, he stated, “What I can assure you is that the individuals that took part in disrupting the exercise in Ekiti have been fully identified and we know the people they represented at the event.

“If we find them to be culpable accordingly, the aspirants they represent will be disqualified from the exercise and the individuals that participated in disrupting the exercise will be fully prosecuted.

“That is what I can tell you at the moment. But tonight (Monday), we will meet to consider the report and we will make our decision known and send the team back to Ekiti as part of the way forward.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/apc-to-disqualify-some-ekiti-guver.html

Nigerian Nollywood actor Chinedu Ikedieze is one fellow that has been able to carve out a niche for himself in the Nigerian entertainment industry even with his height.

Many would have felt inferior with the height god decided to bless them with but Aki is not concerned as that has even made him more popular without listening to critics.

If you are a Nigerian and you don’t know ‘Aki’ then you will simply be referred to as a bush man because he has grown in the past years to become a household name.

The actor may be rich and famous but he still harbors great fears in him that is making him strife harder every day.

According to him before he became famous in 2003, he was soaked in poverty and would not love to taste it one more time. He said been poor is what he fears most in life and he is ready to do anything legal not to become poor again in life.

“My biggest fear in life is to become poor. I have experienced poverty and it was not funny; I would do everything legal to ensure that I never witness poverty again in my life,” he said.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/chinedu-ikedieze-aki-reveals-what-his.html

Says he’s driven by need to create more jobs

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday inaugurated the Yola outlet of Chicken Cottage, an international fast food brand, saying that the driving force behind his investments in Nigeria is to create more jobs for Nigerians.

The first outlet of the Chicken Cottage Quick Service Restaurant, a United Kingdom-based company now acquired by Malaysian investors, is Atiku’s newest addition to his string of companies operating in Nigeria.

“The Chicken Cottage Quick Service Restaurant is one of the contributions of my family at reducing unemployment in our dear country. This second restaurant is therefore expected to boost the socio-economic conditions of the people of Adamawa State through the provision of gainful employment to the youths,” the PDP presidential aspirant said while inaugurating the outlet.

According to him, “the procurement of chicken, vegetables, potatoes, rice and other agricultural products that are locally produced by our farmers will enhance their productivity and livelihood of our farming population.”

In addition, the Waziri Adamawa said that a number of other service providers such as, transporters, beverage suppliers, appliance manufacturers, Artisans, Furniture makers amongst others are expected to also benefit from this business.

The presidential aspirant said that in line with the vision and objectives of the company, the Management of Food Merchants International Investments Limited, promoters of the franchise in Nigeria has been mandated to work assiduously towards opening at least two other branches at any location of its choice before the end of the year.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/atiku-inaugurates-yola-outlet-of.html

Last week’s bilateral meetings between President Muhammadu Buhari and US President Donald Trump at the White House, including Buhari’s meetings with top executives of some US companies, got a lot of wins for Nigeria. Tokunbo Adedoja writes

For the better part of last week, global media focus was on Nigeria as United States President Donald Trump hosted President Muhammadu Buhari in the White House. Buhari’s visit to the White House, the first by any sub-Saharan Africa leader since President Trump assumed office over a year ago, enjoyed days of media blitz. Expectedly, the keen interest in Buhari’s visit among U.S. media outlets was somewhat tied to the alleged vulgar remark made by Trump a few months earlier about African countries.

From the preview of his arrival in the U.S. to the joint press conference in the Rose Garden, coupled with the warm handshake by both leaders and that remarkable photo opportunity with Trump grinning and leaning over Buhari’s shoulder while (Buhari) was signing the visitor’s book in the Oval Office, images and clips of the visit went viral on the internet.

The reports, images and video clips of the leader of the free world and the largest economy with the leader of Africa’s biggest democracy and its biggest economy sent an unambiguous message about the strategic partnership between Nigeria and the U.S.

A week after the visit, the media have not stopped appraising Buhari’s engagements in Washington. The common thread in all the reports was the conclusion that he returned home with a basket full of wins for Nigeria.

Prior to the visit, both the White House and Nigerian State House had released statements on issues that would come up for discussion. The statements listed security, trade and governance as key focal points of the bilateral talks. These issues were discussed at the meeting between the two presidents in the Oval Office, at the working lunch of 1+10 on each side at the White House, and emphasised at their joint press conference.

Investment and financing opportunities were also explored at the meetings Buhari held with top executives of some U.S. companies at the Blair House where he stayed during the visit.

The round-table discussions provided the opportunity for top Nigerian companies and business leaders to interface with top executives of U.S. companies, where Nigerian policymakers, led by the president, were seated. There couldn’t have been a better demonstration of Nigeria’s commitment to the investment talks.

Even before their departure from the U.S., members of the Nigerian delegation were confident that the engagements they had were fruitful and beneficial. They were of the view that they got all they wanted.

“It was a good meeting and it’s a win-win for both Nigeria and the U.S. There were a lot of wins,” Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama enthused.

“Today has been a good day for the United States and it’s actually a good day for Nigeria,” Industry, Trade & Investment Minister Ikechukwu Enelamah said, adding that in those meetings, “businesses were literally striking deals”.

One of such business deals was struck two days before the arrival of Buhari in Washington. It was a deal with the GE Consortium, comprising SiniHydro, Transnet and APM Terminals for the interim phase of the Nigerian narrow-gauge railway concession.

That interim agreement would last for 12 months during which remedial works will be carried out on part of the narrow-gauge rail line system to make it technically and economically operable. A joint operation will also be established between the consortium and the Nigeria Railway Corporation with an initial supply of 10 locomotives and 200 wagons.

The second phase will revamp the existing rail network and build new ones. The first phase is valued at over $40 million while the second phase is $2billion.

There were also several expressions of interest in investing in Nigeria at the meetings held at the Blair House with top executives of some U.S. companies, including those in agro-businesses. For example, John Deere – a U.S. company that manufactures agricultural, construction, and forestry machinery – was said to be looking into assembling and supplying tractors in Nigeria. It will start with a few hundred, then thousands and its full expression, it is expected to exceed 10,000 tractors.

Another major win for Nigeria was the unambiguous expression of support for the battle against terrorism without preconditions. Efforts by Nigeria in the past to get military hardware from the US had met with several hurdles involving allegations of human rights abuses and lack of corporate governance.

Though prior to the visit, Nigeria had secured America’s nod to purchase 12 Super Tucano aircraft for deployment in the ongoing counter-insurgency and anti-terrorism campaign and had even partly paid for the aircraft, the meeting between Buhari and Trump erased fears that it was a one-off deal.

Trump emphatically stated, in response to a question on how soon those aircraft would be delivered, that those reasons that denied Nigeria access to such military hardware were not tenable.

“Part of the problem is you weren’t allowed to buy helicopters in our country and now you are. I worked that out so that now you can buy the helicopters that you want.

“They weren’t allowed to buy the helicopters for various reasons, which frankly weren’t good reasons. Now they get them, and they get them very quickly, and they are the best helicopters in the world.

“We are also helping our Nigerian partners by facilitating intelligence cooperation and providing training and military equipment to Nigerian forces. For example, we recently sold to Nigeria 12 US A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, great aircraft, in the first-ever sale of American military equipment to Nigeria,” Trump said.

Trump’s acknowledgement of the effort to redeem Nigeria’s “massive reputation of corruption” through the current anti-corruption crusade, which had been faulted severally by critics as a witch-hunt and one-sided, was a big win for Buhari.

Coming at a time when there were allegations of selective application of his anti-corruption crusade, the thumb’s up from Trump will be a talking point for the regime as it approaches the 2019 election.

Buhari’s visit to Washington also raised the possibility of Trump visiting Nigeria “soon”. At the joint press conference with Buhari, Trump said he would love to visit Nigeria, although he did not provide specific timelines. A visit by the U.S. president places the country visited under global media attention. If Trump does, then he will be the first U.S. president to visit Nigeria in a decade.

Foreign Affairs Minister Onyeama noted that presidents’ schedules were usually tight and that it could take a year to plan such visits. He, however, said: “Maybe sometime next year we could envisage something like that.”

The United States got its own wins, so did President Trump. One of such wins was the call for the removal of trade barriers which has now been brought to the front-burner of discourse between the two countries. The balance of trade between Nigeria and the U.S. shows Nigeria has a bigger balance sheet, but that is because of Nigeria’s oil exports to the U.S.

Trump canvassed for the removal of trade barriers that affect U.S. agriculture produce, but that could also aid Nigeria’s agriculture exports. Nigeria does not seem to be averse to Trump’s call. Industry, Trade & Investment minister said: “The important thing is that the balance of trade should grow on both sides and it should be a win-win. And that is exactly what will happen based on what we see today.”

Former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, said Buhari’s visit to Washington was a small win for Trump. He said Buhari’s response to a question on Trump’s derisive description of some African countries as “shithole countries” took that issue off the table and provided a venue for Trump to appeal to his own political base, with his remarks on the killing of Christians by Islamist groups and the call for the removal of trade barriers, which his business friends in America would want to hear.

“Among other things, Buhari’s visit may have at least partly defanged criticism of Trump that he is racist vis-à-vis his alleged derogatory remarks about Africa. However, the Buhari visit is likely to have only a limited impact on American domestic politics in the run-up to the mid-terms in November,” the former U.S envoy said.

Campbell further noted: “For Buhari, the trip was a win in ways that are more concrete. President Trump reaffirmed Nigeria’s regional leadership role, promised security cooperation, and promised that the attorneys general of the two countries are looking for ways to return stolen Nigerian funds, estimated at $500 million, parked in the United States.”

In the Nigerian government circles, optimism about concretising the outcomes of the bilateral meetings is high. This is because the engagements in Washington had the fundamental ingredients required for successful outcomes.

Drawing from his experience of engagements with nations and businesses as trade and investment minister for close to three years, Enelamah posited that economic cooperation requires working at it from three levels, and those three levels must click for cooperation to go far.

He listed the three levels as a government to government cooperation; government to business cooperation; and business to business cooperation.

“At this particular meeting, the government to government level involved not only the two presidents meeting but also cabinet members were there,” he noted, adding that for the government to business level, President Buhari met with various businesses and had very productive and engaging discussions with them.

“I think the necessary thing now is follow-ups. We stay engaged and build on what we know to be a good relationship between Nigeria and the U.S. I think what happened just underscored it and we will not take it for granted,” Enelamah said.

Already, follow-up meetings have commenced. Attorney General Abubakar Malami met with his U.S. counterpart Jeff Sessions last Tuesday in Washington to work out modalities for the return of Nigeria’s stolen money. Those discussions are expected to culminate in the repatriation of over $500 million stolen from Nigeria and stashed in banks in various jurisdictions.

In a couple of weeks, Enelamah will also be meeting with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross to look at the commercial and investment dialogue in details. The call for the removal of trade barriers would be part of the discussions.

More of such follow-up meetings will hold on other issues discussed in the bilateral meetings in the coming weeks and months to fully concretise the outcomes of the bilateral talks.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/just-in-many-wins-of-buharis-us-visit.html

The governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s claim that Fulani herdsmen don’t move around with AK-47 rifles but sticks and machetes as false and misleading.

However, speaking to journalists in Abuja during the weekend, the governor said that it couldn’t have been imaginary that farmers were killed with AK-47 rifles in their clashes with herdsmen in Taraba and Benue states.

“It’s absolutely wrong for the President to say herdsmen don’t move around with guns. I mean, who then kills who? It couldn’t have been imaginary that people have been killed with AK-47 in the farmers-herdsmen clashes.

“We simply have to stand up to the truth and do something to stop the killings,” he said.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/buhari-lied-to-trump-about-ak-47.html

A woman was yesterday found dead under a bridge in Umuahia, Abia State.

Read the report according to Abia Breaking News below...

"The dead body of a lady has been discovered at the Ihie Bridge through Isi court Amakama in Umuahia south LGA. It was alleged that the lady may have been raped by some hoodlums and killed.
When contacted, the Abia state PPRO Ogbonnaya Geoffrey confirmed that police is aware of the development and that the Commissioner of Police Abia State CP Leye Oyebade is making effort to contact the authorities of community for the processes of removing the corpse.
According to the residents of the area, the body of the dead lady was discovered on Tuesday morning which signaled that the lady was killed on Monday night."

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2017/03/this-dead-body-of-woman-found-under.html

Nigerian male Barbie and cross dresser Okuneye Idris popularly known as Bobrisky as suffer another heavy blow as his houseboy elopes with his phones and cash.

Recall that Bobrisky had already had a rift with one of his employee precisely his Driver Jacob and it got to the notice of other celebrities which some sided him and others his driver.

Bobrisky has revealed that his house help took away his two phones business and home phone which are I-Phone and Nokia phones respectively.

The said house help also snip his money which he said was some dollar notes he kept in his room.

He has been left frustrated and he is angered by how male workers are treating him which he said he will not be employing any male worker again as their days are over.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/bobrisky-laments-as-male-house-help.html

The Senator representing Kaduna Central at the National Assembly, Shehu Sani has told President Muhammadu Buhari that integrity alone cannot move Nigeria forward.

Sani, who is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, said the integrity of President Buhari, around which the party built its government, was not enough to govern a plural country like Nigeria.

The lawmaker said there was a need for the emergence of a new political party, peopled mainly by the intellectuals, adding that the ruling party and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, cannot move Nigeria forward.

The Senator was one of the guest speakers at a symposium organised by the Magodo Associates, with the theme “Nigeria: Which way forward?”

It was held at the Afe Babalola Auditorium, University of Lagos.

He said, “What we have here is one man whose major asset is integrity but how many within that camp can also beat their chests and say they are as credible as he is?

“We are talking about building a nation and moving it forward, but can just the integrity of the President move the nation to the Promised Land?

“When we are talking about the qualities of leadership, if only integrity and credibility is what you need to be in public office… integrity or credibility is just one of so many things a leader needs, especially in a troublesome country like Nigeria; there as lot of things a leader needs.

“We need a leader that can give every person the confidence that he is going to be fair and just. We also need a leader who is visionary, who can move the country from where it is to where it should be.

“The intellectuals need to move forward; you need not be scared of the political terrain. Most people you see in political offices, outside they say they are representing the people, but they represent an individual, a certain power broker.

“The existing dominant political parties cannot lead us to the Promised Land; there is a need for a progressive political class to come together, reach out to the academics, the intelligentsia, the working class, come out together with a party that is run on a certain ideology.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/2019-buhari-apc-pdp-cant-move-nigeria.html

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), on Thursday berated the Nigeria Police for arraigning Kogi-West lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye in court on a stretcher.

Falana in a statement described the procedure meted out to Melaye as a degrading and humiliating treatment, which was a violation of his fundamental human right.

He said, “The arraignment of Senator Dino Melaye in a stretcher in Abuja on Wednesday and Lokoja on Thursday morning is unacceptable in a civilised society.

“It is particularly degrading and humiliating as it violates the fundamental right to the dignity of his person guaranteed by Section 34 of the constitution and Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.”

Falana, however, stated that Melaye’s ordeal was a reflection of the suffering ordinary Nigerians faced in the hands of security agents on a daily basis.

He, therefore, called on the National Assembly, which had protested against Melaye’s arrest, to use the opportunity to call on the relevant agencies to turn a new leaf.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/dino-melaye-falana-knocks-nigeria.html

Former Nigerian Beauty queen Dabota Lawson who won the Miss Nigeria beauty UK pageant in 2009 has shared her success story to help inspire and motivate many other Nigerian youths.

The famous Nigerian model was born on the 2nd of June 1991, she is 26 years old. She was born in Rivers State, in the family of ten. Her young and teenage years were spent in Nigeria, but at the age of 16, she went to the United Kingdom to pursue a college education and then university degree.

Dabato shared how she started work early and worked her way to where she is in the present.

She wrote;

“Dabota Lawson, University of Leicester BA Financial Economics 2:1. Today is workers day and I remember when I was 16 and got my first part time job in Leicester. I was in college, in boarding school in the UK. It’s was my official first step to becoming who I am today.

Although back then my ideas and dreams of what I wanted my life to be like was totally different. I really imagined that I would become an investment banker make all the money and rule the world before I’m 40.

In my first year in university I was nominated as the course rep for my department, and in my second year I was the African Caribbean society President. By my 3rd year I had bought my first car.

All the while working and schooling. I mean I was on my way to becoming the first female president.. After school I went on to compete in the Miss Nigeria Uk pageant and won! Woohooo I’m the Queen Of the world. And then I went back to school, this time to get my Ultimate Certificate as a Chartered Management Accountant.

I enroll into the London School Of Business and Finance. After that I moved back to Nigeria and suddenly EVERYTHING CHANGED Lord have mercy!!!! I never knew I could make so many wrong choices and mistakes in my life. I never knew how aggressive and angry I could be.

Even serving God was a different ball game. I also have never experienced so much freedom and fun all at once. All in all through it all my parents have been there for me. They had already given everything I needed to go through life.

My parents sacrificed everything for me and many times I had betrayed them with my wrong choices in life. Today I’m still chasing my dreams and they still stand by me. I’m really living my dreams, working everyday doing what I love so so much. I’m no longer working for people but steady building my empire.

My small accolades in my Bio allow me to celebrate this day as a promising business woman. May God bless my parents. They are the real hard workers and God bless every hard working person out there. Keep chasing your dreams. Dreams come through.” She wrote.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/beauty-queen-dabota-lawson-shares.html

The Federal Executive Council, FEC, has approved the sum of N18.874 billion for repair works at the 3rd Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

The contract was awarded to Borini Prono, an Italian construction firm, which constructed the bridge from the onset.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola told State House correspondents, shortly after the FEC meeting presided by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo that the renovation work was conceived in 2011 but was not captured in the budget.

He said the contract, which is expected to be completed within 27 months, has now been captured in the 2018 budget with a sub head of “Bridge renovation and repair contracts.”

Fashola said that the project will involve the replacement of 33 piles at the first phase with a total of 177piles to be strengthened in all.

He also said expansion joints linking the bridge together would be assessed with a view to replacing the obsolete ones.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/fec-award-n18874bn-for-renovation-of.html

Though there has been no certain proof, for quite some time now, fans have questioned the ongoing relationship between Wizkid and recently single Tiwa Savage as the two have been found in uncompromising positions and actions in public and social media.

Nigerian Singer Kimora_Nelson has taken to Instagram to blast Tiwa Savage over an alleged s--capade with Wizkid, adding that Tiwa is forcing herself on Wizkid

According to the female singer who declared that she is a number one fan of Savage, she is disappointed that Tiwa would be sleeping with Wizkid

She noted that Nigerians are not dumb and she doesn’t care what any body has to say but she is fed up of the public display of affection and unnecessary sexual activities like kissing on stage, while the duo pretend to be best friends

She queried Wizkid for not learning from his counterpart, Davido who picked a young lady to share his life with instead of gallivanting with an old and used rag

Kimora blasted Savage and even trolled the singer over her failed marriage, warning that if she should come back crying to Nigerians, should anything go wrong between her and Wizkid, then she would be served hot!

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/wizkid-and-tiwa-savage-ongoing.html

Ebikimi Okoringa, Special Adviser to Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has been reportedly shot dead by suspected gunmen

Okoringa was killed at his hometown in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that the deceased was attacked and killed at about 10pm on Monday.

According to Punch, a community source said the suspected assassins laid an ambush close to his house and shot him immediately he came down from his car.

“They waited for him under the cover of darkness. Immediately he alighted from his car and walked towards his door, they released the first bullet,” the source said.

The spokesman for Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat could not be reached for comment when contacted.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/bayelsa-governors-aide-asassinated-in.html

In many relationships, there is a time when the love is no longer there and one or both of the persons are looking for a way how to end this journey. Most commonly women are the one who is the ones who fight for the relationship to work, but there is certainly a breaking point.

However, today you will know some attitudes and what a woman feels when she stops loving a man, it is impressive. So do not miss it and find out what they are, take note of these 8 things that a woman begins to feel.

When eating together is no longer enjoyable.

When the meals start to get boring and there is no longer any more romance when having a dinner then it is clear the relationship is not on the right path. Especially when no words are exchanged and the only thing you’re sitting together is the food.

You start to stop worrying about whether you are okay or where you are, without realizing it.

It is women’s nature to be worried most of the time where their man is or is he ok. However, sometimes when women don’t feel any connection with their men they stop having this feeling and start caring more for themselves and other people. This does not mean that that person is bad, it is just an indication that there is no more love left in this relationship.

When you say goodbye you do not feel anything at all.

When the men leave and the women don’t really care for how long and when would they return than something is wrong.

When you feel that your partner is no longer the protagonist and does not even appear in your thoughts.

This is something really sad when you feel that this man does not appear as part of your future, where even you visualize without it and feel what is the best.

When you wake up and not even look at him first, you just feel like “it’s just another day”.

When you feel love, it always makes you happy to wake up with him; You look at him, give him a kiss and give him good morning, being one more day of love in their lives together.

When he is not at home, you feel that you do not miss him and prefer to be better alone.

If you feel like the longer he is absent the more time for yourself you have.

You realize that when you are enjoying when he is not near you.

This is when you realize that you don’t need him to be happy, moreover, you feel better when he is not around you.

When you begin to project a new love.

When you constantly imagine you’re with someone else and not just in an intimate way but to have something more.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/when-woman-stops-loving-man-she-begins.html

Ahmed Buhari, the initiator of Ahmed Buhari Youth Movement, has said that he will kill ‘cabalism’ if he wins the 2019 presidential elections.

Buhari, who was speaking with journalists on Sunday in Ilorin, also explained that his interest in vying for the office of the president of Nigeria was informed by the need to have a generational change in the leadership of the country.

The geologist by training, noted that the youth had lost hope in the current system of governance which had created a wide gulf between the young and old generation.

“Most importantly, our involvement is going to be an enlightenment to young people that it is true that we can do something.

“To let them know that the reason we are doing this is because we understand that if we do not allow responsibility to be transferred from one generation to next generation at the right time, a vacuum will be created.

“If this vacuum is created, a lot can go into that vacuum. It could be herdsmen; it could be Boko Haram; it could be kidnapping; it could be baby factory; it could be armed robbery, it could be a lot of things.

“It is because these young people do not feel any need for them to be looking up for something that hope is lost and so we are trying to revamp young people to understand that they have to participate in politics.

“While they participate in politics, they shouldn’t make money politics a front burner for them. They should be more concerned about how they will even support aspirants so that when they get to the office, those aspirants will be answerable to them.

“This will kill totally the whole idea of cabalism and see how we can have aspirants who will emerge and become answerable to those people who elected them because if you do support an aspirant, he is going to come back to you and support you, not by giving you the money you gave him, but by giving you the best of democracy.

“What we mean is that we want to have a country that would be formed on a united ground.

“United ground in the sense that no matter where you come from, regardless of your ethnicity; regardless of your religion; regardless of your social status; regardless of your political party; ideological affiliations; regardless of gender; regardless of your age; you will want to be part of a new Nigeria.

“The new Nigeria that we are looking for is new Nigeria that every one of us would claim without mentioning where we are from.

“We want a new Nigeria where there won’t be a discussion on state of origin, quota system and all of those things that always tend to divide us will be eradicated,” he said.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/04/2019-presidency-buhari-reveals-how-he.html

The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to seek foreign assistance from the United States, US, and other foreign countries in tackling the herdsmen menace in Nigeria.

The call was made by IYC President and Secretary, Eric Omare and Henry Iyalah, respectively, in an open letter to Buhari.

The council also warned of a likely breakdown of law and order in the country ahead the 2019 general election if the Federal Government failed to deal with the herdsmen menace.

According to IYC, “We urge Mr. President to use your foreign trips, including your trip to the United States, to seek support to stop the menace of herdsmen’s persistent killings and ensure free, fair and credible elections and not support to win election for yourself.

“The interest of the generality of Nigerians should be uppermost in your mind over and above your personal ambition to win re-election as President, in the interest of peace and security of our country, Nigeria. We also hope that you will not tell President Donald Trump that Nigerian youths are lazy.”

Buhari is currently on an official visit to the US.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/04/herdsmen-killings-what-buhari-should.html

President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent anticipatory approval of $496 million for the procurement of 12 Super Tucano aircraft from the United States government without legislative approval has generated serious concerns, writes Abimbola Akosile

Some weeks back, when news filtered in that President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the withdrawal of $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) for the procurement of arms to fight insurgency in the North-east part of the country, the presidency had quickly come out to deny it, noting that the president would not do any such thing until he had obtained the approval of the National Assembly.

Interestingly, days ago, the president by his own writing, admitted to granting “anticipatory approval” to the tune of $496 million for the procurement of 12 Super Tucano aircraft from the United States government without legislative appropriation, an action that breached provisions of section 80 (3) & (4) the 1999 Constitution as altered, which forbids withdrawal of funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund without legislative authorisation. The payment was done almost two months ago.

Buhari’s reasons for this breach are in two parts. First, he cited the need to meet the deadline given by the US government for the aircraft order. His other reason was that he was seeking the inclusion of the amount in the 2018 Appropriation Bill that the National Assembly was yet to finalise and the expectation that the parliament would not object to it.

In his letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and obtained exclusively by THISDAY, the president said, “It would be recalled that, for a number of years, Nigeria had been in discussions with the United States Government for the purchase of Super Tucano Aircraft under a direct Government-to-Government arrangement. Recently, approval was finally granted by the United States Government, but with a deadline within which part payment must be made otherwise, the contract would lapse.

“In the expectation that the National Assembly would have no objection to the purchase of this highly specialised aircraft, which is critical to national security, I granted anticipatory approval for the release of US$496,374,470.00. This was paid directly to the treasury of the United States Government.

“I am therefore seeking approval of this House for the sum of US$496,374,470.00 (equivalent to N151,394,421,335.00) to be included in the 2018 Appropriation Bill, which the National Assembly is currently finalising. The balance of the requirements for critical operational equipment is still being collated from the different security services and will be presented in the form of a Supplementary Appropriation Bill, in due course.”

Naturally, the lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly considered the president’s action sheer indiscretion and are already gearing up to take on the Executive for what they call brazen disregard for the power of the legislature in the governance of the country.

In fact in both chambers, some members have called for the impeachment of the president for the perceived breach of the Constitution.
However, the Senate last Thursday referred the matter to its Committee on Judiciary for advise on whether indeed there had been a breach of the Constitution; if so, under what circumstances did the breach occur; whether the circumstances justified the breach; and what in the circumstances should be done by the legislature.

Not a few analysts thought Senate President Bukola Saraki in swaying the Senate away from a motion for the impeachment of the president for the breach of the Constitution, only wanted to buy time to allow temper to cool over the matter.

But whether temper would have cooled by Tuesday when the committee is expected to lay its report remains to be seen as the situation in the House of Representatives seems to be more emotive with virtually all the members that contributed to the debate last Wednesday threatening fire and brimstone.

Already summoned by the House to come and explain his concrete response to the unceasing carnage in the country, particularly in Benue, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara States, the president would need his political team to put on their thinking cap to survive the coming weeks that are loaded with potential bile.

Analysts wonder how the president could have fallen into this grave breach of the constitution, asking what the urgency was in paying for a purchase that the government had been discussing with the US government since the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

In any case, argued some critics, these products would not even get to the country before 2020, therefore, the excuse for deadline could be regarded as lame because if government was up to it itself, it had enough time to fulfil all requirements, including prevailing on the legislature for an expeditious approval before traveling the unconstitutional route.

The assumption that he was seeking the inclusion of the money in the 2018 Appropriation with the understanding that the parliament might not object, according to the critics, do not hold water since the president ought to have included the expenditure in 2018 Appropriation Bill, US Congress sale approval having been given in August last year. They contend that the president behaved naively in assuming that the legislature would give automatic approval to an extra-budgetary request that opposition parties and social critics already oppose on the grounds that it is meant to finance his 2019 presidential re-election campaigns.

“The question begging for genuine answers is, how the president allowed himself to be misled into such a gross but cheap constitutional trap, knowing full well that such is not the kind of money to be spent without appropriation, more so the kind of appropriation that transcends the confines of the National Assembly, because it is from the Excess Crude Account and would demand the consent of state assemblies too,” asked one unanimous analyst.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/04/breaking-lured-into-breach-by.html

Award winning Nollywood actress, Kemi Afolabi is celebrating her birthday today,April 28,2018

The beautiful mother of one has since shared dazzling photos of herself to mark her specxial day.

Kemi who was born on the 28th of April 1978 in Lagos, is a graduate of Law and has been nominated and won series of awards in her acting field as she remains one to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry

See the released photos from her birthday photo shoot;

Happy birthday to her

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/04/actress-kemi-afolabi-celebrates.html

Big Brother Naija 2018 ex-housemate, Tobi, has revealed how he felt when he was finally kissed by his romantic partner, Cee-c while in the show.

Tobi, who has been on media tour after finishing in the top five in the Double Wahala edition of the reality television show, spoke with Punch on Friday.

Tobi said he was surprised when the long awaited kiss finally came, adding that even when it came, he felt Cee-c was playing game.

While in the Big Brother House, Cee-c and Tobi chose each other as strategic partners, which later evolved into romance.

But unlike other partners who shared kisses freely, Cee-c found it difficult kissing Tobi.

It took a long while before Tobi kissed Cee-c but it finally happened. Asked how he felt about the kiss, Tobi said, “I actually did not see us kissing because I felt she had a picture she wanted to paint to the world, so I never really expected a kiss despite the fact that we played around the house and it was almost as if we were flirting with each other.

“Even when she kissed me, I thought she was playing a game with me and this is me being honest.

“The kiss came to me as a surprise and for a few days, I was worried because I began to wonder what game she was playing.

“That was a situation I did not understand.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/04/bbnaija-2018-how-i-felt-after-kissing.html

It appears BamBam and Teddy A are not quitting on their couple goals anytime soon. The couple shared photos with BBNaija fans, via their social media pages, rocking matching bathrobes.


Flaunting a leopard print designer bathrobes in a photo shoot, Teddy shared a word for his fans. His quote read’

Wisdom is a great source of power. It is through others’ stories of failure and success we learn the most. It is through their experiences we get to witness that which feeds us the knowledge of how we need to fly high; to navigate and to build upon what we already know. There is little in life that a wise mind can’t conquer.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/04/bambam-and-teddy-serve-some-couple.html

Imam Imam, the spokesman for Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal is dead.

Imam, died at the age of 44 after being diagnosed of pneumonia at Nizamieye Turkish hospital in Abuja in the early hours of Friday, April 27.

Imam was also the special adviser on media to Tambuwal as then speaker of the House of Representatives, between 2011 and 2015.

Until his death, he was the Special Adviser on Media to the Sokoto Governor.

He is survived by two wives and four children.

The deceased will be buried at 2pm at Annur Mosque, Abuja, according to Islamic rites.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/04/governor-tambuwals-spokesman-imam-is.html

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the increasing attacks and killing of innocent people in Benue State before it degenerates into a national crisis.

Secondus in a statement on Wednesday, by his spokesman, Ike Abonyi, said ‎the continued bloodletting in Benue and other parts of the country raised a lot of concerns on the future of the nation.

"From whichever angle you are witnessing what is happening in this country, one thing is agreeable that this country is sliding dangerously.

"Nigerians and the global community have continued to watch as all the tenets of democracy are being eroded and giving way to dictatorial tendencies.

"I find it unexplainable that some group of gunmen should hold a state to ransom since January killing and maiming citizens and destroying their houses and the security operatives appear helpless.

“Where are the military operatives that carried out Python and Crocodile dances in South East and South South regions respectively lately brandishing their might to less dangerous citizens and who have been unable to tackle the Benue killings.

“How can anybody expect Benue State for instance, to contribute its own share of the $1b security votes when the nation security architecture is not designed to protect their people?" Secondus queried.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/04/just-in-pdp-asks-buhari-to-stop-benue.html