₦airaland Forum

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THE Cross River Government has invited all the presidential candidates of political parties contesting in the 2019 general elections to take a week-long vacation from campaigns and participate in the annual event scheduled for Dec 28.

The State governor, Professor Ben Ayade disclosed this on Sunday in Calabar while flagging off the third and last dry run of the 2018 Calabar carnival which has the theme ‘Africanism’.

Represented by his Deputy, Professor Ivara Esu, Ayade said that the carnival has no political or religious affiliation, adding the show was open to all.

“This is the final dry-run and the event is looking as if today is the grand finale. This shows that our first and second dry run was successful.

“I want to use this opportunity, on behalf of the state governor to invite all the candidates of various political parties to come for this year’s carnival.

“We want them to take off one week rest from their campaigns and come and enjoy themselves. Calabar carnival does not know any political party or religion.

“When you come to Calabar for the carnival, you are as free as air. I will like to invite them to come here and relax and as the people see them, maybe those who are able to dance better may attract more votes.

“So, we want to see the candidates who can come here and rock it better, in such a way some people may be encouraged to vote for them,’’ he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Calabar Carnival Commission, Mr Gabe Onah, said that the carnival has become the melting pot of Africa’s hospitality.

Onah said that the ‘wonders on wheels’ had earlier had their dry-run where over 200 bikers participated.

He said that the state had sustained the hosting of the largest street party in Africa for a record 14 years, adding that it has promoted the talents of budding artists and has equally united the people of Cross River and Nigeria at large.

The Chairman said that the five competing carnival bands and others were designed to tell the African story from the African perspective.

He commended DSTV and MTN Nigeria for their partnership and support for the carnival over the years.

The President of the Federation of Tourism Association, Alhaji Sabo Saleh, said that the association was in the state to underscore and study the carnival with a view to find areas of partnership and support.

Saleh said that tourism plays an important role in the economy of any nation or state, adding that the association under his leadership would continue to support Calabar carnival because Cross River has placed Nigeria’s tourism on the world global map.

“This is one of the biggest events that is coming out of Africa and it is sponsored by the Cross River Government.

“They are doing this to support the local people because tourism is multifaceted and this helps the local economy to grow.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/calabar-carnival-to-host-presidential-candidates.html

Good Morning [Nairalander]

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Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has advised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to stop sealing off assets belonging to suspects of financial crimes.

The lawyer gave the advice in Ikeja at the presentation of ‘Compendium of High-Profile Corruption and Financial Crimes Cases in Nigeria’.

Falana said sealing of properties while cases were still pending in courts does not do the public any good as the assets eventually lose economic value.

He said: “I do not subscribe to the locking up of assets or properties while a case is still pending in court. I do not think the EFCC or other anti-corruption agencies should be doing that.

“If somebody has stolen money to build a hospital, just like the one on Adeniyi Jones in Ikeja, somebody was alleged to have stolen to build the hospital worth about N2.5billion, which is sealed now.

“For me, you are not doing the public any good by just locking up the place and by putting your inscription: ‘Under Investigation’.

“Why don’t you allow it to function so that the place can benefit the people, because it is already acquired for public purpose.

“And this should go for all buildings too. People are looking for accommodation and you just lock up blocks of flat over cases still pending in court.

“And these cases may be in court for years. And by the time the cases are concluded, the premises you have sealed no longer have their value.

“The EFCC was set up to revive businesses not to liquidate them. You liquidate businesses by just getting some court orders. That to me, is not the way to fight corruption.”

Falana said the seized vehicles wasting away at EFCC offices is a cause for concern.

He suggested that the vehicles could be sold by the EFCC while the proceeds are kept in an account pending the determination of the cases involving their owners.

“If the case is finally resolved in favour of the suspects, they are given the money, if not, the money is forfeited to the government,” he said.

“That, I think, is better than allowing these vehicles to waste away while cases are being investigated or still pending in court.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/falana-to-efcc-sealing-assets-of-suspects-not-the-way-to-fight-corruption.html

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Yesterday, a Benue State man identified as Ajingir Tsa had his dying wish fulfiled as he was buried with bed instead of a coffin.

An eye witness who was present at the burial wrote, 'history was made today at Mbabu, Shangev-tiev in Konshisha local government area as late Ajingir Tsa goes home as he refused to be buried in a coffin'.

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https://all-gists..com/2018/12/photos-man-buried-with-bed-instead-of-a-coffin-in-benue-state.html

Cc Lalasticlala
Cc Fynestboi
Cc Seun
Cc mynd44
Cc puskin
Cc dragnet
Cc honsule

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The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Thursday compared the PDP governments with the present All Progressives Congress administration, saying Nigerians had the longest and consistent record of prosperity and peace under the PDP administration.

Atiku, who made the assertion at the Mapo hall, Ibadan at the South-West presidential rally of the PDP, also promised to begin the restructuring of the country within six months of assumption of office.

[url]all-gists..com[/url]

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A Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, on Thursday, nullified the election of Mr Emeka Ibe as the chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the state.

Chief Uzochukwu Onyekwere, a member of the APC in Anambra and chairmanship aspirant had gone to court to contest the May 19 state elective congress that brought in Ibe, over unlawful exclusion.

Defendants in the suit were Okey Ezea, Rep. Kingsley Chinda, Chairman of the APC Congress Committee in Anambra, Ibe, the acclaimed winner and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Onyekwere told the court that he was a bonafide member of the APC and was entitled to aspire for the office of the party’s chairman in Anambra.

He sought the declaration that the exercise was not conducted in accordance with the provisions of Section 223 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Article 20 of the APC constitution 2017 as amended.

He said the provisions were that all elections would be through democratic voting and that the exercise fell short of it.

Ibeh sought a declaration that he would not be punished after seeking justice through the court and that the May 19, 2018, Anambra APC congress be set aside.

In his over two hours ruling, Justice Bature Gafai dismissed the counter-affidavits of defendants which contended that the court did not have jurisdiction over the matter as it was an internal party affair.

Gafai said the plaintiff being a bonafide member of the party and having paid the mandatory nomination fee had the right to fair contest.

He nullified the election into the APC chairmanship position and ordered a re-run which INEC should supervise.



The judge who did not grant the damage of N100 million sought by the plaintiff, however, did not give that for the repeat of the election.

But in reaction, Chief Tagbo Ike, counsel for the petitioner applauded the court for the judgment and speedy dispensation of justice.

Ike, who described the election as a ‘sham’ said it was sad that a few people sat and produced their stooges as consensus and harmonised candidates and forced them on the people.

Ike said he would convey judgment to the party hierarchy for appropriate action.

The plaintiff, Onyekwere also lauded the court adding that he had been vindicated.

Onyekwere said he would go back and prepare for a congress election that would reflect the minds of the generality of party faithful.

“I thank God, if you must go to equity you have to go with clean hands, I have maintained that there was no congress in Anambra and the court has confirmed it.

“I will go and prepare, if I win, I win and if I lose I will be happy that justice has been served,” he said.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/breaking-court-sacks-apc-chairman-in-anambra.html

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The House of Representatives has approved that June 12 be marked as Democracy Day in Nigeria.

The approval followed the adoption of a report on a bill seeking to amend the Public Holidays Act 2004.

Considering the report at the plenary on Thursday, the lawmakers approved the amendments to three clauses ‎in the Act, as recommended in the report.

One of the clauses deleted May 29 as Democracy Day and replaced the date with June 12.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/breaking-reps-approve-june-12-as-democracy-day.html

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The Imo State Governor, Mr. Rochas Okorocha has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to order.

Okorocha in a statement signed by Sam Onwuemeodo his Chief Press Secretary said ‘since Muhammadu Buhari became President he has never used any foul language on any Nigerian, low or high, and that is the best way to go. And Oshiomhole should borrow a leaf from Mr. President. One of the reasons the PDP lost in 2015 was the abuses the handlers of the Party then were heaping on the APC Presidential Candidate then, and the President today, Muhammadu Buhari. Oshiomhole should be advised not to tow the 2015 PDP line.’

Okorocha also said ‘that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is the former President of the country. And no matter the provocation or his political activities this time, Oshiomhole should have considered his status as the former President of the Country in talking about him, and should have exercised caution in addressing him. Saying that God would punish the former President was never advisable. This should not be the language of APC.’

Read full statement below

The most recent media attack on Governor Rochas Okorocha and some other governors of APC extraction by the National Chairman of the Party, Adams Oshiomhole refers.

We won’t take the pain to begin to talk about all the abuses, but to humbly plead with President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the leader of the party, to call Oshiomhole to order.

The Party’s National Chairman has, in less than six months, enthroned the culture of rascality into the Party and the development is not good for the Party. APC is not known for rascality and abuses. And the earlier he is called to order the better for the party.

Since Muhammadu Buhari became President he has never used any foul language on any Nigerian, low or high, and that is the best way to go. And Oshiomhole should borrow a leaf from Mr. President. One of the reasons the PDP lost in 2015 was the abuses the handlers of the Party then were heaping on the APC Presidential Candidate then, and the President today, Muhammadu Buhari. Oshiomhole should be advised not to tow the 2015 PDP line.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is the former President of the Country. And no matter the provocation or his political activities this time, Oshiomhole should have considered his status as the former President of the Country in talking about him, and should have exercised caution in addressing him. Saying that God would punish the former President was never advisable. This should not be the language of APC.

APC does not belong to Oshiomhole. He should therefore be advised to carefully select his words when he is talking about certain categories of Nigerians. And he should also find out why he is the only one talking about APC and no other member of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party is doing so.

Oshiomhole should help the party and its Candidates by making his points without abusing people. The way Oshiomhole is talking has become nauseating to most Nigerians and the earlier he is called to Order, the better. He should be talking about the achievements of President Buhari and APC as a party instead of using the opportunities he would have used to do that, to be insulting people.

To say the least, few weeks to the elections, APC and its Candidates do not need Oshiomhole’s abuses or insults but the reasons Nigerians should re-elect President Buhari and elect APC Candidates.ue:[/b]

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/call-oshiomhole-to-order-okorocha-begs-buhari.html

Thank God

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The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, has asked former President Olusegun Obasanjo to remember he swore that God should punish him if he ever supported Atiku Abubakar to be president.

Oshiomhole spoke after receiving APC women leaders from Edo State and Abuja, who paid him a solidarity visit in his office in Aso Drive, Abuja.
He said the country could not afford to return to the era where owners of private jets had business addresses but just because they had connections with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation or the likes.

“We know there are people across the divide who are fighting back. There is a gang up by those who are used to sucking the system without adding any value but Nigerians will not allow that,” he said.

Oshiomhole boasted that the 2019 election would be a smooth sail for President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC because ethnic and religious sentiments that characterised the 2015 election lost by former president Goodluck Jonathan would have no place this time around.

“The two candidates are from the North and they are both Muslims. People are now going to look at the character. Nobody has ever say Buhari is a thief. But who said the other person is a thief? it was his boss.

“When you are working with me and I said you are a thief, God will punish me if I support you. And when you are confused because your supply line has been chopped off, you now turned around to support the same person. That God that you called with your name to punish you if you supported the person is about to go to work. And HE will go to work in February and HE will punish him thoroughly and the person he is supporting, in favour of Nigeria.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/obasanjo-inviting-gods-punishment-for-supporting-atiku-oshiomhole.html

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The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has dismissed the presidential ambition of former vice president, Atiku Abubukar, declaring him unfit to lead the nation.
Atiku is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and considered to be the biggest obstacle to the second term ambition of President Muhammadu Buhari who's the APC's candidate.

While speaking at a forum organised by the National Committee of Buhari Support Groups in Abuja on Tuesday, December 4, 2018, Tinubu said the former vice president lacks focus so much that he has changed parties many times to push his personal interest.

He further ripped into the PDP as a party that has greatly failed Nigerians in the past and, as punishment, isn't yet deserving of a return to power. He said Atiku's promises to transform the nation are unreliable because he and the PDP have failed to improve the country in the past.

He said, "Their candidate, who is supposed to beat Buhari, has been in our party and many other parties. He has more party membership cards to build a house.

"All you have to do is to go out there and tell him that a house built on cards will be collapsed with a single stroke of broom. He said they are reformed, but reformed what? Reformed PDP? No. Tell them as you go out that we accept the admission of guilt that they were vagabonds before and now being reformed.

"But they have not served enough probation. You can only be reformed if you are an ex-convict, a drug addict or a political prostitute. It is because Buhari has no temperament and no tolerance for corruption, he is vigorously ridding the nation of blemish and looting.

"They are busy changing parties and that is why they are confused. Atiku is now PDP Aladdin. He is going to create 14 million jobs and I say how?

"They will turn Atlantic into fuel to crash the prices without the refineries working and the population is expanding and people must move around. He just talked of crashing the prices of fuel. They are lying again because a leopard cannot change its skin."

Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor, further highlighted the achievements of President Buhari's administration and said it'll be impossible for Atiku and the PDP to remove him from the Presidential Villa.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/tinubu-rips-atikus-presidential-ambition-apart-dismisses-pdp.html

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The President and founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide popularly known as Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, has said Nigeria and the whole of Africa shall be delivered from the grip of economic hardship and all oppressions.

Oyedepo made this declaration on Tuesday night while delivering his message at the Faith Tabernacle during the opening session of the 20th Shiloh, an annual programme of the church.

Speaking on the topic, ‘Heralding the dominion era of the church,’ Oyedepo said God would give so much authority to the church to stop bad politicians and bad policies.

He said, “Africa shall be delivered: Nigeria shall be delivered! Every occult power that holds sway on the continent of Africa shall be messed up this year!”

He said there were too many deceptions in the world today, but said he was the pillar and ground of the truth while saying the authority which God would give to the church would be so renowned that it would attract envy.

“Authority shall be domiciled in the church in last day and if anybody is angry, it does not matter. Let all political gladiators hear this if the church says no, you are going nowhere.

“The time comes when the church says, you die, and you die; run mad and you will run mad.”

According to him, the church will begin to teach people in every sector to the best way to do things to get the desired results.

He said the Covenant University which was established by the church had left behind many public varsities that were established many years before it came on board. He stressed that that was how it would be in many areas because God had decided to decorate the church with wisdom to excel.

Oyedepo said despite the lingering problem in the power sector, the CannaLand, the international headquarters of the LFC, had never suffered power outage since 1999.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/nigeria-ll-be-delivered-from-oppressions-says-oyedepo-as-20th-shiloh-begins.html

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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday commenced door-to-door campaign at Nyanya and Karu suburbs of the FCT, prompting residents to troop out chanting “Sai Baba’’.

He took the campaign to door steps in support of the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 general election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osinbajo was given a rousing welcome as residents of the communities thronged the streets shouting “Sai Baba! Sai Baba!’’.

He went from one corner of the community to another campaigning from house to house while excited supporters surged to follow him around.

Addressing an enthusiastic crowd at Karu, the VP bellowed APC! APC! APC! while the crowd chorused Next Level! , as many times as Osinbajo mentioned APC.

He then started with a song “We are going higher, higher; we are going higher, higher…”

He said he was very excited to be in the midst of the people.

“ I am very happy to be here with you; I want to thank every one of you for the very warm welcome. All of us are going higher.

“I want you to believe that President Muhammadu Buhari is going to do even better.

“We have to create more jobs for all these young people; we have to give our market women credit so that they can do more business.

“We came to meet you where you are; to hear from you. This country will become better and better; by the grace of God. All of us who are here will prosper in this Nigeria.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/osinbajos-house-to-house-campaign-excites-residents.html

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The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, will on Wednesday (today) take his campaign to the North-Central.

Our correspondent learnt on Tuesday that the North-Central rally would hold in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Recall that Atiku started his campaign with the North- West rally which was held in Sokoto on Monday.

It was further learnt that the South-West rally would hold in Ibadan, Oyo State capital on Thursday after the North Central rally.

The Director, Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan; and the Kwara State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Tunde Ashaolu, confirmed the development to our correspondent.

Ashaolu said the Ilorin rally would hold at the Metropolitan Square.

He urged all PDP members and supporters to come out en masse to show support for the party and its candidate.

Meanwhile, Ashaolu in a statement made available to journalists welcomed Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to the state for the inauguration of one of the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programmes, TraderMoni.

He, however, claimed that the event slated for Friday is a vote-buying gimmick.

The statement read, “The party notes that the scheme was launched in 2015 and in the past three years, the Vice-President did not visit any state for ‘TraderMoni,’ but few months to the general election, he has been going round markets in different states of the country to distribute money to traders and artisans.

“We want to believe this is not a ploy by the APC to induce them ahead of the elections.

“Nevertheless, the Kwara PDP warns against the partisanship of the initiative and advises that there should be no discrimination in the selection of beneficiaries in the state.

“The Vice-President and his team must ensure that beneficiaries are selected without recourse to political affiliations. Since this is a government scheme and not a party affair, beneficiaries must cut across political divides.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/2019-atiku-takes-campaign-to-north-central-south-west.html

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Founder of the Flying Drs Nigeria, Ola Brown, tweeted that she spotted the Vice Presidential candidate of PDP and former Anambra state governor, Peter Obi, boarding the economy class of a commercial flight today. Brown in her tweet said Obi was allocated a seat near the toilet and he sat beside a corper. Ola tweeted;

''Peter Obi just boarded my flight. He greeted all of us. Then proceeded to his seat..... in economy as usual. Not at the front of economy. At the back,near the toilet, next to a corper''

Ola however went further to state that she would not be casting her vote to a presidential candidate just because he flew economy class in a commercial plane. She argued that such acts do not determine who an effective leader is.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/nigerian-doctor-reacts-after-sporting-peter-obi-flying-in-economy-class-on-a-commercial-flight.html

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Israel Ajibola Famurewa, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Osun East senatorial district, has given a hint that Otunba Iyiola Omisore, candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2018 Osun governorship election is now in APC camp.

He said that legislative experience and zoning considerations between Ijesha land and Ife were responsible for his emergence as flag bearer for the 2019 polls.

The two-term member of the house of representatives from Atakumosa East/West and Ilesha federal constituency of the state also urged his constituents to support him, assuring that he would surpass their expectations.

He said this in an exclusive interview with DAILY INDEPENDENT correspondent.

He was asked: ‘How were you able to outdo other interests and opponents to emerge candidate for the senatorial seat, bearing in mind the rumoured agreement between your party and senator Omisore?’

He answered: “Thank you very much. Really before the coalition with the SDP, in our party the APC, I think we were about 5 aspirants. The incumbent senator, there’s one gentleman from the north, another person from Ife axis and my humble self – the four of us.

“Now after coalition, there was an arrangement between the party leadership at national level with a leader in the SDP camp. But unfortunately and fortunately, our party leadership at the state level wasn’t part of this arrangement.

“And looking at the history of this senatorial district in the last 20 years of this dispensation, the Ife axis has been occupying this seat for almost 16 years now, while Ijesha land did only 4 years. That was when senator Akinfeyinwa was there between 1999 and 2003.

“And looking at the district, in Ijesha axis, we have 6 local governments while Ife has 4 local governments. So our people have been clamouring that it’s time for the senatorial seat to come to Ijesha land. So by virtue of that understanding within my party, all other aspirants from Ife axis had their aspirations curtailed leaving the battle squarely on the lap of Ijesha people. And coming to Ijesha itself, they actually needed somebody with pedigree of institutional memory which makes me more suitable. So that gave me an advantage over other aspirants in the sense that I’ve been in the national assembly for almost 8 years.

“On the other hand, the issue regarding the arrangement between the SDP chieftain, Senator Iyiola Omisore and our party’s national leadership, we’ve been able to settle that one as well. That issue has been resolved. But on the whole, my experience in the parliament gave me edge over others from our side.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/breaking-omisore-now-in-apc-famurewa.html

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President Muhammadu Buhari has finally reacted to reports that he had been cloned.

The Personal Assistant to the President on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, said in a Twitter post that Buhari, while addressing Nigerians in Poland, said some people had wished him dead when he was sick for many months.

The tweet read, “A lot of people hoped that I died during my ill health. It is real me… I will soon celebrate my 76th birthday and I will still go strong. — President @MBuhari this evening in Kraków, Poland. His response to a question of him being cloned.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/buhari-finally-addresses-rumours-of-being-cloned-in-poland.html

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No fewer than twelve people who sustained various degree level of injuries in auto ghastly accident which occurred along Ibadan-Lagos Express Road were on Sunday rescued by Ogbeni Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola, Governor of Osun State.

Oyetola was on his way to Lagos when his convoy met the victims at the scene of the accident riddled in pains and he immediately ordered that the convoy be stopped to attend to the accident victims.

The accident occurred at Sagamu end of the Ibadan-Lagos Express Road in Ogun State at about 12.30pm.

Oyetola on arrival at the scene blighted from his car and join the rescue team who had been assisting to rescue the victims.

Oyetola also helped to call for an ambulance to take the victims to hospital.

The accident involved a Toyota corolla black and Commercial Mazda 12 seaters bus.
The commercial bus was said to have somersaulted several having lost control.

Details about the cause of accident was still sketchy as at the time of filling this report but it was gathered that it was due to lost of control by one of the vehicles involved.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/gov-oyetola-rescue-accident-victims-along-ibadan-lagos-express-road.html

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The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide George, on Sunday appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly ( NASS) to intervene in the crisis currently rocking the state assembly.
The speaker made the appeal at an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that members, staff and some journalists at the Ondo tate House of Assembly were attacked by thugs on Nov. 9.

This was because of the impeachment of the former speaker and his deputy, Bamidele Oloyelogun and Ogundeji Iroju.

The impeachment led to fracas in the house and its subsequent invasion by thugs.

Consequently, the action led to the arrest of the Chairman of the Ondo State chapter of the NURTW, Jacob Adebo, a.k.a. Idajo.

The arrest was effected by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Force CID, Alagbon in Ikoyi, Lagos State on the orders of the IG.

He was arrested for allegedly masterminding the attack on the assembly which led to many of the lawmakers sustaining injuries of varying degrees.

The speaker said that the call for the intervention was to allow peace to reign and for democracy to be sustained in the state.

“We have met twice with the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State was present during one of the meetings which ended in a deadlock.

“We have also written to the NASS and the IG on this matter as our lives have continued to be threatened over this matter.

“The house met the constitutional requirement when 18 out of its 26 members signed the impeachment notice.

” This was passed against the former speaker and his deputy for gross misconduct and other offences.

“That same day, the house was invaded. Three of us are still in hospital while some of us that sustained minor injuries are still being threatened,” he said.

He urged the President and the National Assembly to save the state from sinking because of the crisis.

The speaker explained that the impeachment of the former speaker was not sponsored or motivated by any South West leader as being alleged by some people.

“We are not sponsored. We removed them because they were not competent in handling the affairs of the house and we had the required legal stipulation to do so.

“If they feel the house had erred, they should go to court to seek redress which is the proper thing to do rather than resorting to violence and threats,” he said.

Also speaking, the Majority Leader of the house, Hon. Araoyinbo Olugbenga, appealed to the IG to provide police protection for them.

“We need police protection for ourselves and iou family members as we have continued to receive death threats.

“We remain convinced that we are on the good side of history in this quest to bring sanity and independence to the legislative arm of government in our state.

“And we are reiterating our readiness and preparedness to resume our duties in this new week,” he said.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/ondo-speaker-seeks-buhari-nass-intervention-in-assembly.html

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The coast is now clear for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, to visit to the United States following the issuance of a visa to him.

It was learnt that Atiku had received the visa to enable him to travel the USA, which he last visited about 13 years ago.

Atiku on Tuesday appeared at the US Embassy in Abuja, where he was interviewed and his fingerprints taken.

Sources close to him told one of our correspondents in Abuja on Saturday night that Atiku was delighted with the issuance of the visa.

Atiku had stopped visiting the USA after the FBI investigated a bribery scandal that involved a former US congressman, William Jefferson.

The former Vice President was accused of demanding a kickback of $500,000 to facilitate the award of contracts to two American telecommunication firms in Nigeria.

During the investigation, the FBI had searched Atiku’s residence in Maryland, but it was gathered that no cash was found.

Despite Atiku’s claim to innocence, the controversy had continued unabated with his opponents daring him to visit the country and see if he would not be arrested.

Atiku’s former boss, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was said to have played “significant role” in the issuance of the visa.

The desire of Atiku to secure the visa had caught the attention of the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress and the Federal Government last week.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had called on the US not to grant the visa, saying doing so now could be interpreted as endorsement for Atiku’s presidential ambition.

In a swift reaction, the USA had replied, saying Atiku’s desire to secure the visa was private.

Meanwhile, Obasanjo and the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, have agreed to intervene in the crisis rocking the PDP Presidential Campaign Council.

SUNDAY PUNCH learnt on Saturday that the two men would engage different stakeholders who felt agreed following the composition of the party’s presidential campaign council.

Recall that the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, on Thursday in Abuja, inaugurated the party’s presidential campaign council.

The event was attended by different stakeholders in the party, including Atiku.

However, one of our correspondents gathered that some members of the party considered critical to its success in the February presidential election had expressed reservations about the running of the campaigns.

One of them was the Governor of Rivers, Chief Nyesom Wike, who is the party’s South-South zonal coordinator for the campaign.

Wike, who supported Tambuwal during the presidential primary, had claimed that he was being sidelined in the campaign council.

He was said to have threatened to resign his position as the zonal coordinator for the presidential campaign.

However, it was gathered that the national leadership of the party and Atiku had spoken with the governor to rescind the decision.

As a follow up, the party and Atiku were said to have asked Tambuwal to visit Wike and convince him on the need to work together with the party for the general elections.

The source said that Obasanjo would also speak with some other aggrieved members of the party, especially from the North.

Obasanjo, it was gathered, had agreed to meet with the aggrieved persons in Abuja this week.

When asked for comment on the matter, Secondus told one of our correspondents that the party remained united and that “all is well with us.”

He added, “We conducted the best transparent presidential and other primaries without acrimony. So, whatever is happening now will be resolved.”

Meanwhile, the Director-General, PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Dr Bukola Saraki, has said that the current challenges of Nigeria are beyond partisan consideration.

He noted that all Nigerians, regardless of their political persuasion, were affected by the challenges, adding that it was needful to get Nigeria working again.

He spoke in an interactive session with journalists in Abuja on Friday.

Saraki who is also the Senate President stated that the PDP presidential campaign would be issue-based, adding that they would not descend to hate speech or derogatory remarks.

Atiku would begin his campaign from Sokoto State on Monday, it was learnt on Saturday.

Tagged North-West zonal rally, the Director, Contact and Mobilisation Presidential Campaign Organisation, Col. Austin Akobundu (retd), said the rally would be attended by all members of the National Assembly, National Executive Committee and Board of Trustees from the zone.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/atiku-secures-us-visa-obasanjo-tambuwal-intervene-in-campaign-crisis.html

Naaa God know the best

Up Nigeria

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President Muhammadu Buhari has cancelled his planned five-day “casual leave’’ as a mark of respect for victims of Boko Haram attacks across the battlefields in the Northeast zone of the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the President had planned to spend the casual leave at his home country, Daura, Katsina State from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2.

The president, according to NAN, had earlier cancelled his official trip to Benin City, Edo, where he was initially billed to inaugurate the Edo-Azura Power Plant and grace the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference.

NAN reports that already the advanced teams of the president, who left Abuja for Katsina and Benin on Sunday, had been asked to return.

NAN gathered that the cancellation of the trips would also enable the president to continue his ongoing meetings and consultations with relevant security and intelligent community aimed at addressing the nation’s security challenges.

President Buhari’s aide on New Media, Alhaji Bashir Ahmad, had on Sunday confirmed this development on his tweeter handle.

He said: “President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to declare the COAS Annual Conference on Nov. 28, 2018 at the Conference Hall CGH in Maiduguri, Borno state.

“The conference was earlier scheduled to take place from 26 -28 November 2018 in Benin, Edo state.

NAN also gathered that the shifting of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference from Benin City to Maiduguri might not be unconnected with the killing of Nigerian soldiers at Metele, a remote village bordering Nigeria and Chad.

https://all-gists..com/2018/11/buhari-cancels-casual-leave-as-mark-of-respect-for-boko-haram-victims.html

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FORMER Ghana president, Mr John Kufuor, has said that Africa must be in search of enlightened and creative leaders in all spheres of life and in respective African countries to surmount present challenges and ensure exciting future in the continent.

Speaking after he bagged honorary doctorate degree in Public Administration by the Kwara State University (KWASU) Malete on Tuesday, the former Ghana president said that poor governance in African continent came about through poor leadership and poor allocation of resources.

The former President, who called for true servant leadership among future African leaders, said that such leaders must have grasp of geopolitics around them and resolve to render peaceful and prosperous service to ensure sustainable development in the continent.

“Future leaders in the continent must be made to know that true governance will be brought about with respect for the country and the people, respect for individuals and general humanity, which will make it possible for sustainable development to be achieved while keeping corruption to the barest minimum. Such leaders do not happen by chance”, he said.

He also said that African leaders should be guided by the challenge of climate change to prevent against possible clashes, disruption of peace and ethnoreligious wars etc, adding that they should tackle such other challenges of globalization, youth unemployment and low infrastructural development.

As Nigeria goes into election early next year, President John Kufuor advised that people must accept that democracy has come to stay in the country, saying that government should encourage participation by majority of the people.

“You’re the most populous country in the continent. Whatever you do here reflects on life and everything else on the African continent. So, my prayer is that the people of Nigeria will exercise their rights of choice in accordance with the federal constitution to give themselves a sort of leader they desire. When they get such leader, they should ensure checks and balances system of government is respected by government and the media should be the watchdog when things go awry. And that should be done according to law. Everything should be as decided or determined by the constitution”, he said.

https://all-gists..com/2018/11/2019-nigeria-needs-enlightened-leaders-ex-ghana-president-john-kufor.html

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A former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has said that Nigerians need to worry about the country’s changing demography driven by rapid growth in population coupled with a stagnant and in some cases retrogressing agricultural productivity.

Obasanjo stated this at the just-concluded Nigeria Zero Hunger Forum (NZHF) in Sokoto State.

He noted that “by 2050, the country’s population would be over 400 million, and the increase in population would put pressure on food systems as more people would require food to eat for survival.”

According to him, “Nigeria should begin to think and proffer solutions to this coming challenge that the country would be faced with in no distant future.”

The former president’s position was reechoed by the former governor of Adamawa State, Alh. Murtala Nyako, who canvassed greater youth involvement in agriculture.

Nyako underscored the importance of nutrition to the peace and security of the nation, stressing that a well-nourished population is calmer than one that is not.

He added that the restiveness being experienced across the nation is correlated to poor nutrition among children who end up stunted with low intelligence quotient.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Mahammadu Sa’ad Abubakar commended the Nigeria Zero Hunger initiative, and lauded Obasanjo for taking the driver seat to move the initiative forward.

The Sultan, who is the spiritual head of Muslims in Nigeria, called on the Federal and State governments to fund agricultural research and extensions services.

Dr Kenton Dashiell, Deputy Director General for Partnerships and Delivery at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) said the task of ending hunger requires partnerships and collaboration among all actors in the agriculture value chain.

Dashiell, while reading the communique which was released on Monday, disclosed that the participating states: Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Ogun, Sokoto and Kebbi, of the zero hunger forum were on track, and have made progress towards the attainment of zero hunger.

While commending the efforts of Sokoto state, especially in agriculture financing, Dashiell said Sokoto and Kebbi were among the few states in Nigeria that had met the Maputo Declaration of allocating 10 percent of annual budgets to agriculture.

Efforts by Sokoto state to tackle malnutrition were also appreciated especially the investment in the Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) towards addressing malnutrition in children.

The communique noted that addressing malnutrition is key for Sokoto state. In this context, the government was advised to partner with the private sector in the establishment of food manufacturing industries that would produce Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) using local materials and targeting children.

It was also agreed that awareness on breast feeding should be intensified and that women should be supported in nutrition-enhancing enterprises that would provide nutritious food options to the population and at the same time serve as income generating activities for women.

https://all-gists..com/2018/11/obasanjo-reveals-what-nigerians-should-be-worried-about.html

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The All Progressives Congress has accused the Peoples Democratic Party of being insensitive and playing desperate politics with the blood of soldiers killed in the Melete attacks.

The ruling party also said the allegations by the opposition PDP that military funds had been diverted to finance its 2019 election campaigns was a sad reminder of the evil and retrogressive practices the PDP was notorious for during its reign.

It stated these in a press statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The statement read, “God forbid that the APC inherits and apply such morbid practice as brazenly displayed during the immediate-past PDP administration where funds allocated to fight the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast were shared among PDP leaders and their cronies.
“It is clear that the PDP and its Presidential candidate, Alh. Atiku Abubakar, have decided to dance on the graves of our valiant and patriotic soldiers by politicising their deaths in the recent Boko Haram attack on the Nigerian Army Metele base.

“The PDP and Atiku are playing desperate politics where even the blood of our fallen heroes is fair game. Their actions are callous and insensitive to the families and dependants of the late soldiers and indeed our military which battles daily to ensure our territorial integrity.”

APC said the insensitive nature of the PDP to national issues in order to always score cheap political points would backfire for the opposition during the election.

The statement added, “Nigerians see through PDP’s ploy to score political points as elections approach and it will surely backfire.

“While the APC mourns the death of our military and other security personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty, we urge them (soldiers) to remain focussed on the brave task of securing the nation.

“The President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration remains solidly committed to bringing lasting peace and security to all parts of the country and ensuring that previously displaced persons are rehabilitated to resume their normal and productive lives.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/11/metele-attack-you-are-insensitive-apc-tells-atiku-pdp.html

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his party, are dancing on the graves of fallen soldiers.

Atiku had commented on the death of soldiers to Boko Haram attacks, while his party (the PDP) alleged that the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, diverted funds for the military to the APC campaign.

But in a statement on Tuesday, APC’s spokesman, Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the comment of the PDP is “callous and insensitive to the families and dependants” of the late soldiers.

“The allegations by the PDP that military funds have been diverted to finance the 2019 election campaigns of the APC is a sad reminder of the evil and retrogressive practices the PDP was notorious for during its defunct rule.

“God forbid that the APC inherits and apply such morbid practice as brazenly displayed during the immediate past PDP administration where funds allocated to fight the Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east were shared among PDP leaders and their cronies.

“It is clear that the PDP and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar have decided to dance on the graves of our valiant and patriotic soldiers by politicising their deaths in the recent Boko Haram attack on the Nigerian army Metele base.

“The PDP and Atiku are playing desperate politics where even the blood of our fallen heroes is fair game. Their actions are callous and insensitive to the families and dependants of the late soldiers and indeed our military which battles daily to ensure our territorial integrity.

“Nigerians see through PDP’s ploy to score political points as elections approach and it will surely backfire. While the APC mourns the death of our military and other security personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty, we urge them to remain focussed on the brave task of securing the nation.

“The President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration remains solidly committed to bringing lasting peace and security to all parts of the country and ensuring that previously displaced persons are rehabilitated to resume their normal and productive lives,” Issa-Onilu said.

Last week, the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) faction of Boko Haram attacked 157 task force battalion of the Nigerian army in Metele, Borno, killing about 100 soldiers.

https://all-gists..com/2018/11/atiku-pdp-dancing-graves-soldiers-killed-boko-haram-apc.html

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The outgoing governor of Osun state, Rauf Aregbesola, has disclosed that his administration spent the sum of N10bn to feed 252,000 students in primary 1-4 under the Osun school feeding programme known as OMEALS.

Speaking at a public presentation of some documents on the social protection policies of his administration, Aregbesola stated that more than 250 million plates of food were served to 252,000 pupils daily at the cost of N70 per plate and that this cost the state government the sum of N10 billion, Daily Trust reports.

The governor said about 3,007 community caterers who were contracted to prepare the food for the pupils were empowered through the scheme.

In his contribution, Mohamed Malick Fall, the UNICEF representative in Nigeria, said the Osun state has a long-standing record of social development.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) disclosed that it has put three of its members in osun state under investigations for possible sanction for suing the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the recently conducted election in the state, Senator Ademola Adeleke, over alleged fake certificate.

https://all-gists..com/2018/11/aregbesola-says-he-fed-252000-students.html

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Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was on Sunday, formally turbaned as the seventh Waziri of Adamawa Emirate.

The position of Waziri makes the former vice-president next to the Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Barkindo, in the hierarchy of the emirate.

Speaking at the ceremony, former president Olusegun Obasanjo commended Lamido for upgrading Atiku from Turaki to Waziri.

“I assure you that he will carry out his tasks with dignity, respect, honour and you will be proud of him,” Obasanjo said.

In his acceptance speech, Atiku assured the emirate council and traditional institution of his commitment to continue to work for peace and unity of the emirate and the nation in general.

The ceremony was attended by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, former president Goodluck Jonathan, his former Vice, Namadi Sambo as well as governors of Gombe, Taraba, Sokoto and Bayelsa states.

https://all-gists..com/2018/11/obasanjo-said-atikus-official-emergence-wazirin-adamawa.html

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President Muhammadu Buhari warned on Sunday that Nigerians should desist from politicising the deaths of soldiers killed after Boko Haram overran their base in Borno State last Sunday.

At least 118 soldiers were killed and 153 missing in the attack on 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele, Borno State.

After initial silence from both the presidency and the Nigerian military, Mr Buhari condemned the killing on Saturday, six days after the attack, promising to wipe out the insurgency and prioritise the plight of Nigerian troops involved in the counter-insurgency operations.

The president’s comments came a day after the military finally confirmed the attack on Friday night, five days after the attack on November 18. The Nigerian Army said reports of over 100 losses recorded in the media were untrue but failed to provide its internal casualty estimates.

In reiterating his administration’s commitment to defeating the insurgency on Sunday, Mr Buhari emphasised the need for Nigerians to see the insurgents as common enemies, and shun the urge to seek political advantage from their evil campaign.

“We must resist the temptation to play politics with the tragedy of the deaths of our soldiers,” Mr Buhari said on Twitter Sunday afternoon. “They are heroes on the frontlines, fighting to make Nigeria a safer place for us all.”

“Rest assured that the circumstances that have led to these deaths will be comprehensively addressed,” the president added.

He did not specifically mention any political parties or individuals whom he had seen as politicising the killings.

Widespread mourning has gripped the country since PREMIUM TIMES first broke the news on Tuesday morning that dozens of soldiers, including their commander, had been killed in the attack, which occurred at about 6:00 p.m. in Melete.

The base had previously been attacked on October 8, but it seemed the military did not fortify it to withstand future aggression from Boko Haram thugs.

Atiku Abubakar, the main opposition presidential candidate, has condemned the attack and offered what he saw as solutions to the ten-year campaign by the jihadists. Mr Abubakar said there should be increased and prioritised focus on both the military expenditures and the timeframe required to approve them.

He also approved scholarships for five selected families of the fallen soldiers and urged the government to set up a trust for the care of fallen heroes’ families.

His suggestions came on the same day the Nigerian Senate suspended plenary over the killings, one of many that have occured since mid-July when Boko Haram elements raided multiple bases in Borno and Yobe.

The Senate urged the president to investigate to direct service chiefs on proper fortification of military bases to forestal future attacks.

https://all-gists..com/2018/11/boko-haram-buhari-warns-nigerians-against-politicising-soldiers-deaths.html

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Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), has called on All Progressives Congress (APC) members to bury their differences and work for the success of the party in the 2019 general election.

Mustapha made the appeal at the end of the two days APC north-east zonal meeting in Bauchi on Sunday.

He said grievance is a enemy of progress that does not allow achievements and development within the party and the nation.

“We have to work towards successful outing in forthcoming general election, so we have to forgive and forget,” he said.

The SGF noted that the reconciliation committee set up by the national body of the APC would be the best solution to solve all the crisis bedevilling the party.

Represented by Garba Abare, the director-general, National Orientation Agency (NOA), he said the setting up of the committee came at a right time when the 2019 general election is approaching.

Mustapha underscored the need for all members of the party to leave their differences and unite under one umbrella for the success of APC in the elections.

https://all-gists..com/2018/11/forgive-and-forget-sgf-tells-apc-members-ahead-of-2019-polls.html