This development comes about one month after Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC Chairman, had claimed that no more voting points would be created by the commission.

In preparation for next Saturday’s elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has created 57,023 more voting points out of the pre-existing 119,973 polling units nationwide.

According to information obtained by The Punch newspaper, it was disclosed after a high-powered meeting involving INEC national commissioners and other stakeholders on Thursday.

Speaking on the need to establish more pilling stations, the commissioner said: “We have established 57,023 across the country because the number of voters has increased. We are creating more voting points and not more polling units.”

Shedding more light on the development, the commissioner explained that the voting points were carved out of polling units whose number of eligible voters exceeded 500.

He added: “A voting point is derived from a polling unit. When a polling unit has more than 500 registered voters, a voting point can be carved out of it and set aside but it is not completely independent. Ideally, a polling unit should not have more than 750 voters.”

This development comes about one month after Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC Chairman, had claimed that no more voting points would be created by the commission.

http://saharareporters.com/2019/02/08/inec-creates-57023-more-voting-points-2019-elections

Cc lalasticlala

Do you know that the role of Nigeria’s national electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), goes beyond just organizing elections into various political offices in the country?

INEC summarizes its mission this way: “to serve as an independent and effective Electoral Management Body (EMB) committed to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections for sustainable democracy in Nigeria”.

Below are eight major functions of INEC as contained in Section 15, Part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) and Section 2 of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended).

They paint a broader picture of the role INEC is to play.

1. Organise, undertake and supervise all elections to the offices of the President and Vice-President, the Governor and Deputy Governor of a State, and to the membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each state of the federation;

2. Register political parties in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and Act of the National Assembly;

3. Monitor the organisation and operation of the political parties, including their finances; conventions, congresses, and party primaries.

4. Arrange for the annual examination and auditing of the funds and accounts of political parties, and publish a report on such examination and audit for public information;

5. Arrange and conduct the registration of persons qualified to vote and prepare, maintain and revise the register of voters for the purpose of any election under this constitution;

6. Monitor political campaigns and provide rules and regulations which shall govern the political parties;

7. Conduct voter and civic education;

8. Promote knowledge of sound democratic election processes; and
Conduct any referendum required to be conducted pursuant to the provision of the 1999 Constitution or any other law or Act of the National Assembly.

The INEC is expected to carry out its functions independently and free from external influence.

INEC also expected to display openness and transparency in all its activities and in its relationship with all stakeholders.

Truthfulness and honesty are expected in all the dealings of the electoral umpire.

Also expected in the affairs of the INEC are credibility and impartiality.

With equity and excellence being part of its core values, the INEC is expected to deliver quality electoral services efficiently and effectively, guided by best international practice and standards.

https://www.channelstv.com/2019/02/07/eight-functions-of-inec-every-nigerian-should-know/?utm_source=TW&utm_medium=ChannelsTV-+AutoPoster&utm_campaign=SNAP%2Bfrom%2BChannels+Television

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has returned its President, Ayuba Wabba, unopposed for a second term of four years.

Wabba will head a 16-member National Administrative Council (NAC), of NLC, who were equally elected unopposed to administer the affairs of NLC for the next four years.

According to Vanguard, three persons elected unopposed as Deputy Presidents were Amaechi Asugwuni, Muhammad Nadir Idris, and Najim Usman Yasin, while Ibrahim Khaleel, was elected National Treasurer.

Four persons elected Vice-Presidents were Abdrafiu Adeniji, Peters Adeyemi, Lawrence Amaechi and Oyelakan Lateef who was returned unopposed. Other officials elected include Marven Adamu, National Financial Secretary and Adewale Adeyanju, National Trustee, among others.

In his acceptance speech, Wabba said the next level would be to ensure the implementation of the new minimum wage by federal and state governments.

He urged the state councils to be ready for the battle for the implementation without retrenchment.

Wabba promised that the Labour movement would continue to take instructions from the rank and files and would always speak truth to the powers to protect the interests of the working class.

He said: “We will dedicate ourselves to ensure that the challenges workers face are confronted headlong. Workers are treated as slaves while those that don’t even work hard take higher pay.”

“The new leadership of NLC will respect the will of members and consolidate on what we are doing. We will continue to conform to the tradition of the union and speak the truth to those in power. The daily challenges of workers at workplaces will be confronted. We have been able to work assiduously in the past four years and we will move forward to build workers poser. I assure our members of our commitment and dedication to the resolutions of the conference.

“We can hold election without rancour if the interest is truly to serve the people of the country,”

https://www.google.com/amp/dailypost.ng/2019/02/06/ayuba-wabba-wins-second-term-election-nlc-president/amp/

The suspected bandits, numbering about 100, were also said to have set the village ablaze after raiding it.

Ade Marafa, elder sister to Kabir Marafa, the senator representing Zamfara Central at the National Assembly, has been killed bu bandits.

Her husband was also abducted.

Abubakar Tsafe, an aide to the senator, confirmed the incident to TheCable, stating that the bandits attacked the residence of the senator’s sister, at Ruwan Bore area of Gusau Local Government Area on Tuesday.

The suspected bandits, numbering about 100, were also said to have set the village ablaze after raiding it.

"More than half of Ruwan Bore village has been burnt by the bandits. The villagers are now seeking refuge at Mada, a neighbouring community," Tsafe, an aide to the senator, confirmed.

At the time of issuing the statement, the senator’s brother-in-law had not been found.

http://saharareporters.com/2019/02/05/breaking-%E2%80%98bandits-kill-senator-kabir-marafa%E2%80%99s-sister

Players of Saudi Arabian outfit, Al-Nassr Football Club have sent a condolence message to Super Eagles vice captain Ahmed Musa over the death of his mother.

The Nigeria international was thrown into mourning after his mother, Madam Sarah Moses, gave up the ghost at a hospital in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, after a brief illness last Thursday.

Al Nassr players joined millions of football fans worldwide to show solidarity with the 26 year old just before their Saudi Professional League fixture against Ohod, on Monday.

The players held a banner that reads, ‘Our condolences to Ahmed Musa’ before going ahead to beat their visitors 4-0 at the King Fahd Stadium

Musa who was moved by the guesture, then replied by tweeting the picture on his official Twitter handle with the message, “On behalf of my entire family and I, would like to say a very big thank you to my team mates, management and fans of @AlNassrFC_EN @AlNassrFC”.

https://www.today.ng/sport/football/nassr-players-send-condolence-message-ahmed-musa-191551/amp?__twitter_impression=true

Cc lalasticlala Mynd44

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cxRY-wZOpE

In 2011 they unveiled their first car, the Kiira EV Proof of Concept. Although the Kiira EV had some weaknesses it became a foundation to build on. Among participants in the exercise, headed by the famed US-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), were students from Uganda’s Makerere University. The experience inspired them to embark on a project to develop a ‘Made in Uganda’ hybrid car.

Uganda’s Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives took up the Kiira electric vehicle project and improved on the Kiira EV model. The government then set up the Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) which plans to actualise commercial production of the car. Earlier this year KMC was allocated 100 acres at the Jinja Industrial and Business Park.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiTWWk7hXiY

https://www.risingafrica.org/success-stories/business/made-in-uganda-electric-car/

Cc lalasticlala

An emergency meeting of the National Judicial Council (NJC) has commenced in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The meeting, which is ongoing, is convened as part of the moves to resolve the legal logjam arising from the suspension of Justice Water Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Channels Television gathered that neither the embattled Justice Onnoghen nor the acting CJN, Justice Ibrahim Mohammed, is expected to preside over the meeting.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Friday last week suspended Justice Onnoghen as CJN on the strength of an order by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

The order also required the President to swear in the next most senior justice of the Supreme Court as CJN, pending the determination of the suit against Justice Onnoghen.

The suspended CJN is facing charges of false assets declaration at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The suspension of Justice Onnoghen has triggered criticisms from various quarters, including the international community.

They raised concerns about the implication of the President’s action, especially coming close to the general elections.

More to follow…

https://www.channelstv.com/2019/01/29/breaking-njc-holds-emergency-meeting-over-onnoghens-suspension/

JUST IN: Lagos lawmakers move to impeach Gov Akinwunmi ambode , they Allege gross misconduct. Plenary session in progress.
Details later...

https://twitter.com/tvcnewsng/status/1089929772275257344?s=19

BREAKING!!!!
@NigBarAssoc has decided to embark on a two day warning boycott of all courts in Nigeria from tomorrow the 29th day of January, 2019 over the suspension of CJN Onnoghen!

https://twitter.com/NigBarAssoc/status/1089906224219521027?s=19

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Media Failing
The minister claimed that the Nigerian media, which should have led the discourse on the matter, has failed to do so.

“In fact, a section of the media has taken sides. Several newspapers have written editorials on this issue. Some newspapers have employed rather crude and obnoxious language to push forth their opinions, while others have been more tempered.


“But curiously, none has written from a perspective that shows that they understand the big picture,” he said.

The minister said the big picture he refers to is what was described by a renown British judge, Alfred Denning, who stated that “a judge should in his own character be beyond reproach, or at any rate, should have so disciplined himself that he is not himself a breaker of the law”.

On claims that the suspension of Mr Onnoghen is a threat to Nigeria’s democracy or even the country’s existence, Mr Mohammed again quoted Mr Denning who was reported to have said that “nations fall when judges are unjust because there is nothing which the multitude think worth defending.”


According to the minister, had the section of the media that he referred to earlier understood the big picture, “they would have framed the debate differently, rather than work to inflame passion and help those seeking to muddy the waters”.

Role of NJC and CCT
The minister said in the ongoing debate generated by the suspension, the talk about the due process has overshadowed the substance.

He said the procedure cannot or should not trounce substance.

He also said many argued that Mr Onnoghen’s case should have been referred to the National Judicial Council (NJC) to handle.

He said that would have been ideal if Mr Onnoghen had been accused of professional misconduct, which is what is within the purview of the NJC.

He said the allegations against the CJN go beyond professional misconduct. He said it is the alleged breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, “and only one body is statutorily empowered to deal with it: The Code of Conduct Tribunal.”

The minister said even Mr Onnoghen himself elucidated on this in several judgments in which he upheld the provisions of the law concerning the CCT.

“In one particular judgment, he delivered on July 12, 2013, Justice Onnoghen held that the CCT had exclusive jurisdiction to deal with all violations contravening any of the provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau,” he said.

Explaining further, the minister said what Mr Onnoghen said was that all breaches of the Code of Conduct by public officers must be handled by the Code of Conduct Tribunal only.

He said Mr Onnoghen’s judgment held that the provisions “expressly ousted the powers of ordinary regular courts in respect of such violations.”

Contrary to the minister’s claims, however, several lawyers have argued that Mr Buhari has no powers whatsoever to suspend the CJN.

The lawyers make reference to relevat sections of the Nigerian constitution including Section 292 which expressly state how a CJN can be removed from office.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/308441-onnoghen-nigerian-media-fail-to-see-the-big-picture-lai-mohammed.html

Cc lalasticlala

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has accused the Nigerian media of failing to see “the big picture” in the ongoing controversy over the suspension of Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen.


President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday suspended Mr Onnoghen. He said it was in compliance with an order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), directing the suspension of Mr Onnoghen, pending the determination of the cases against him at the tribunal.

Mr Buhari also swore in an acting CJN, Tanko Mohammed, who is the next most senior judge at the Supreme Court.

The president’s action has since been condemned by many Nigerians and the international community. Many Newspapers have also written editorials describing the act as illegal.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Mr Mohammed said the action of the president has generated widespread reactions from within and outside the country.


He said the opposition parties even latched on to the issue by “threatening fire and brimstone and concocting all sorts of imaginary scenarios and generally muddying the waters”.

He said the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), even suspended its electioneering campaign for 72 hours.

The minister said he called the press conference to “set the records straight and redirect the discourse.”

He said contrary to what the opposition and “their ilk” have been saying, the suspension of Mr Onnoghen is not about the forthcoming elections, neither does it signal the beginning of dictatorship.


He said Mr Buhari is an “avowed democrat, and this he has proven time and time again.”

“This administration stands firm on the rule of law,” he said without commenting on the various court orders ignored by the administration. Some of these include about six court orders granting bail to ex-National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, and another granting bail to Shiite leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.

Accrding to Mr Mohammed, the real issue at play is about the country’s highest judicial officer being accused of a breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, and the legal and moral conundrum surrounding that.

“It is about the suspicious transactions running into

millions of dollars to the suspended CJN’s personal accounts, all undeclared or improperly declared as required by law.

“It is about the Hon. Justice Onnoghen himself admitting to the charges that he indeed failed to follow the spirit and letter of the law in declaring his assets, calling it a ‘mistake’.

“And it is about him refusing to take responsibility, instead opting to put the entire judiciary on trial,” he said.

Mr Mohammed said Mr Onnoghen has been given the opportunity of fair hearing, but has been abusing his position and the judicial process by filing “frivolous applications” and even dodging service of process.

NLC President Insists On N30,000 Minimum Wage As Reps Begin Public Hearing

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has insisted on a Minimum Wage of N30,000 for all workers.

At a House of Representatives Public hearing on Monday, Ayuba also called for the removal of the clause exempting organisations with less than 25 workers from paying the proposed minimum wage of N30,000.

President Muhammadu Buhari had last week sent a Minimum Wage Bill of N27,000 to both chambers of the National Assembly, following the approval of the National Council of State.

https://www.channelstv.com/2019/01/28/nlc-president-insists-on-n30000-minimum-wage-as-reps-begin-public-hearing/

Olufemi Atoyebi and Ademola Babalola

The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Sunday denied receiving the sum of N163bn from government in a bid to suspend the three-month old strike.

In a statement titled, ‘Re: N163bn released to ASUU: Putting the record straight,’ signed by the Ibadan zonal coordinator of the union, Dr Ade Adejumo, the union, said, “Once again, the attention of our union has been drawn to another piece of misinformation which gives the impression that ASUU collects money from government.

“For umpteenth time, let it be known that our union is a patriotic organisation whose activities are driven by principled conviction that the resources of the country can better be managed for the ultimate benefit of the Nigerian society, especially the education sector which is our immediate constituency.

“The government and all civilised individuals are aware of how the university is managed, so also the resources available to it. The government knows that it is the council and the university administration that receive and spend all the money coming into the university. ASUU doesn’t receive money from government and doesn’t spend it.”

It added, “Even money meant for our salaries and other allowances come directly to the university administration which prepares the budget and manages it. ASUU members collect only their salaries as paid by the university. Contracts and all the capital projects are awarded by the councils that are appointed by the government, not ASUU.

“It is in the context of the above that our union calls on the vice-chancellors and council chairmen to stop behaving like vultures that wait silently by the sidelines, waiting for the game to fall only to descend on the carcass.

“They should join forces with ASUU in its struggles to attract requisite funding into our public universities rather than working at cross purposes with us. Part of the least expected from them is to come out openly to put the record straight each time the government comes out with the deliberate falsehood that money has been released to ASUU.”

The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, had earlier on Saturday, similarly said that the Federal Government claim that it released N163bn to settle part of the demands of the union was misleading.

Ogunyemi, who spoke on the sidelines of the Nigeria Labour Congress meeting in Abuja, said, “The minister referred to the release of N163bn but that was not released by the Ministry of Education to revitalisation. That fund he alluded to was from TETFUND. TETFUND was there when we carried out the NEEDS Assessment in 2012. What we called Revitalisation Fund today is a product of that exercise of 2012. We have always drawn a line of distinction between what TETFUND gives and what we should access from the NEEDS Assessment Fund.

“They are different terms of intervention that should not be equated to one. TETFUND as an intervention agent is ASUU’s brainchild which became a reality. The funds from NEEDS Assessment is to fix specific items of deficiency in our system. Both Federal and state governments have now relinquished their responsibilities to TETFUND, they now hold on to it.”

https://punchng.com/strike-ASUU-denies-receiving-n163bn-from-fg/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

The Minster of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has described the endorsement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, by the Ohaneze Ndigbo as partisan.

Ngige said what played out was mere congregation of party men, that hurriedly took a decision without due consultation of the real Ime-Obi Ohaneze Ndigbo.

The Labour and Employment minister made his feeling known in a telephone chat with journalists on Sunday in Awka.

The minister said the meeting was constituted by the President-General of the union with members of the PDP and passed the resolution in favour of Abubakar.

“The purported decision of Ohaneze endorsing Atiku Abubakar of the PDP as the Ndigbo choice was a distraction and should be disregarded by well meaning Igbo sons and daughters.

“The decision was ill-conceived and should be ignored by Ndigbo as it’s a decision propelled by PDP members in Ohaneze Ndigbo, hurriedly taken to drum support for their party members in the coming election,” he said.

Ngige expressed disappointment that the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation would degenerate into meddling in partisan politics.

He said that the people of the South East have spoken in the rallies attended by hundreds of thousands of Igbo citizens in Enugu and Onitsha as to their political choice.

https://www.today.ng/news/politics/minister-ngige-describes-ohanezes-endorsement-atiku-abubakar-partisan-190792/amp?__twitter_impression=true

Cc lalasticlala

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted that Ladi Adebutu remains its governorship candidate in the Ogun governorship election.

The party asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare Adebutu as its authentic candidate and delist Buruji Kashamu who had been named as the candidate.

Adebutu and Kashamu had been at loggerheads over the governorship ticket of the PDP in the state.

INEC recently recognised Kashamu’s camp to participate in the upcoming elections, after an FCT high court had struck out a suit against his candidature.

In a statement on Thursday, the PDP asked INEC to recognise the court of appeal ruling which nullified the earlier judgement that recognised Kashamu’s candidature.

“The PDP cautions the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to insulate the commission from unnecessary controversies by immediately obeying the judgment of the Court of Appeal of December 18, 2018, and without further delay reflect Hon. Ladi Adebutu’s name on the ballot, in the interest of a hitch free and peaceful election in Ogun state,” the statement issued by Kola Ologbondiyan read.

“The PDP states that Hon. Ladi Adebutu’s name was duly and statutorily submitted to INEC after he won the governorship primary conducted by the National Working Committee (NWC), the only body empowered by law to conduct such primaries. The PDP has not substituted his nomination with anybody and such is not in our contemplation.

“The PDP charges the INEC Chairman to note that since the ruling of the Court of Appeal validating Hon. Ladi Adebutu as the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun state, no other court, not even the Supreme Court has over turned that extant ruling.

“INEC is therefore compelled to obey the law. It cannot choose for itself which judgment to obey and cannot operate in waiting, anticipation or contemplation of a non-existent consideration in the conduct of the Ogun governorship election.”

https://www.thecable.ng/pdp-insists-on-adebutu-as-ogun-gov-candidate-asks-inec-to-obey-court-order/amp

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, has revealed plans to solve disunity among Nigerians if elected as president in February.

Atiku in a question and answer section on Twitter said he would restore unity by introducing peace initiatives in different states across Nigeria.

When asked on how he intends to treat Non-muslims in the north, the former vice president said he would, ‘focus more on the state of residence, rather than origin,.

Atiku said: “In conflict areas, we will ensure interfaith/community-based conflict resolution groups are strengthened, just like we did in Adamawa through the Adamawa Peace Initiative.

“Every Nigerian should feel at home wherever they are and part of my recommendations to the CONFAB was to focus more on state of residence, rather than origin. Let our states attract the best people.

“Young Nigerians aren’t just leaving Nigeria because of bad pay and working conditions, they are leaving because there is no hope.”

http://dailypost.ng/2019/01/24/will-treat-non-muslims-north-atiku-reveals-plan-unite-nigerians/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

By Daud Olatunji

ABEOKUTA—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ogun State, yesterday, expressed worry over attacks on its political train by unknown gunmen, leaving three persons injured including a Police officer.

The mayhem took place in Odogbolu Local government during a ward -to -ward campaign of its governorship candidate, Dapo Abiodun on Saturday.

The Publicity Secretary of the Caretaker Committee of the party, Tunde Oladunjoye, called on the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to set up an independent panel to probe political violence that has recently engulfed the state.

It would be recalled, that Abiodun had last week raised the alarm of perceived attacks on him. The statement reads: “Having previously and publicly raised an alarm last week over planned attack on our candidate and supporters, we hereby call on the Inspector General of Police to quickly set up an independent panel, that will report to the Police headquarters directly, to investigate not only the attack on the supporters of Prince Dapo Abiodun, but also the recently escalating political violence in the once peaceful state.

“The APC in Ogun State, condemns in the strongest possible terms, the devilish attack on our party members and supporters in Odogbolu town on Saturday evening as they awaited the arrival of our governorship candidate for the 2019 general elections, Prince Dapo Abiodun, who was on ward-to-ward tour of Odogbolu local government area.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/probe-political-violence-in-ogun-apc-urges-igp/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Cc lalasticlala

THE 2019 presidential reelection bid of President Muhammadu Buhari got a boost as one of the prominent politicians in Gombe state, Dr Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna who was one of the aspirants of the Governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State donated a Marcopolo bus for the campaign activities of President Muhammadu Buhari and APC Governorship aspirant, Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya.

While fielding questions from newsmen in Gombe on Sunday, Dr Isiyaku Gwamna, who immediately pitched loyalty to the opposition APC after describing the PDP Primaries held in October 2018 as a sham, said the donation of the bus was triggered by his vow to ensure that President Buhari and Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya win in the forthcoming polls.

Dr Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna had on Oct 2, 2018, while officially leaving the PDP, pledged his support for the re-election of President Buhari and victory for Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya in Gombe State.

He explained that the fight against corruption, prudent management of the resources of Nigeria and the repositioning of Nigeria on the diplomatic map in good light are what endear the APC presidential candidate to anyone that loves Nigeria.

According to him, “I am donating this bus not because I want anything back but because I have a special interest in the wellbeing of Nigerians and to also show to the world that I am a man of my word. I promised to work for President Buhari and Alhaji Inuwa; this is the fulfilment of that promise and there is no going back”.

He said, “APC is our party and victory must be collectively sought. I am only contributing my quota for a cause I strongly believe is in the interest of Nigerians and Gombe State”.

“The present APC administration has taken the fight against corruption to the looters, saved over $43 billion as foreign reserve and that is being projected to hit $60 billion in 2019 because the President is honest. In the face of the forthcoming elections, one would have expected the reserve to drop as usual, but there is a change in that regard.

“Today, our rating at the international level in terms of diplomatic relationship has tremendously improved because of the transparency of the president and the APC led-administration. This is why I am supporting the President and there is no going back,’’ he said.

Asked if he is expecting a ministerial appointment from President Buhari after the elections, the chieftain said, “Timing is key in politics and the time at hand is to work for President Buhari and Alhaji Inuwa’s victory. I am very much focused on that for now”.

He stated also that, “Like we do say in politics, when the time comes for that, we will cross the bridge, but for now, campaign for APC at all levels is my agenda”, adding that he was not only donating the bus, but he had also donated his teeming supporters to the APC. He noted that PDP’s defeat would be announced after Feb. 16 and March 2 respectively.

https://www.tribuneonlineng.com/183565/

Reports have it that Dangote refinery has taken delivery of a gigantic distillation component.

It is learnt that the component is one of the biggest in the world as the refinery is billed to start producing PMS and allied products later this year.

The engineers received the distillation component, which has attracted attention from Lagosians in Ibeju-Lekki area.

The completion of Dangote Refinery this year will mark another milestone in the Nigerian oil and gas industry as the $11 billion refinery hold the prospect of stopping of refined petroleum products by Nigeria.

The Dangote Refinery will produce 650,000 barrels per day of refined petroleum products to meet all the country’s refined petroleum products needs as well as export to other countries.

Dangote, the promoter, said that the refinery projects were primarily meant to diversify the resource base of Nigeria.

Watch the video here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEaXOkLeFCg

https://www.gltrends.com.ng/2019/01/wow-dangote-refinery-takes-delivery-of-gigantic-distillation-component-in-lagos-photos-video/

Cc lalasticlala

Six governors of Nigeria’s South-South region have called an emergency meeting to discuss the planned arraignment of Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen.

The governors said they felt duty-bound to prevent the development from escalating in a country with jarring ethnic and tribal fault lines.

“It is a grave and dangerous escalation, coming a few weeks to the general elections,” said Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State in a statement Saturday night.

The meeting is scheduled for Sunday in Abuja, Mr Dickson’s spokesperson Fidelis Soriwei added in an e-mail announcing the planned caucus.

The five remaining governors of the South-South are Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Ben Ayade of Cross River, Nyesom Wike of Edo and Obaseki. Only Mr Obaseki is of the ruling All Progressives Congress, the rest belong to the Peoples Democratic Party, Nigeria’s main opposition entity.

Mr Onnoghen, from Cross River, has been accused of improper declaration of assets, with the Nigerian government filing six charges that it said violated the code of conduct law for public officers.

Mr Onnoghen denied all allegations against him. The top jurist is expected to be arraigned on Monday in Abuja.

Although Mr Dickson said he was yet to learn full derails of the corruption charges against Mr Onnoghen, the governor nonetheless warned that that “all efforts must be on deck to prevent the subversion and desecration of the ethos of democracy in Nigeria as nation moves nearer to the election.”

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/305427-south-south-governors-hold-emergency-meeting-over-chief-justice-onnoghen-corruption-trial.html

The Director General, President Muhammadu Buhari/Osinbajo 2019 Campaign, Mr Rotimi Amaechi on Saturday said that the opposition Peoples Democratic party (PDP), is broke and hungry.

Amaechi, who is also the Minister of Works and Transport, said this in Bauchi at a political rally organised to receive 18 prominent PDP members in the state who had defected to APC.

According to him, “they are broke, they are hungry and want to come back to steal.

“Because they are broke, they are looking for cheap means of fund and we look at them when they say you are hungry.

” They have easily forgotten that they stole $2 billion US Dollars to prosecute 2015 election but we won,” he asserted.

Amaechi further asserted that ” we listen to our colleagues at the other divide and say that you are hungry because they stole all the money meant for you.

“We want to assure you that we will not fail you and will never fail you. Bauchi is our traditional state we come to rest not to campaign.

” I was here in 2015 and saw what politicians called mammoth crowd, that is crowd that cannot be counted,” he stressed.

Senator Ali Ndume, had earlier described PDP administration in the last 16 years as Kleptocracy who abused their leadership positions to acquire wealth to extend their power.

Ndume, who is also the Campaign Director General Buhari/Osinbajo for North East, said that Buhari has fulfilled the promises he made in 2015 on security, economic diversification and war against corruption.

“Nigerians are today left with two options to either choose those who have the country at heart or those who will destroy the country,” he asserted.

Gov. Muhammadu Badaru of Jigawa in a goodwill message called on the people of Bauchi to cast 2.5 million votes for Buhari as against the over 1 millions votes during 2015 polls.

Badaru recalled that Buhari took over the administration when 27 states of the 36 states in the country could not pay workers salaries when crude oil was selling at over $100 US dollars per barrel.

He enumerated series of projects and programmes executed by the present administration in the country and called on the people not to be deceived by disgruntled politicians.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/pdp-is-broke-hungry-amaechi-laughs/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

The National chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday berated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for allegedly betraying the Southeast zone in spite of the massive support it enjoyed in the zone for the 16 years it was in power.

He said that the former ruling party failed to reciprocate Ndigbo’s support as it did not fix the decayed infrastructure in the Southeast by the time it was pushed out of power in 2015, saying that the people of Southeast would no longer make the mistake of trusting PDP again.

Oshiomhole stated this at the flag off of the APC governorship campaign for the 2019 general election where the party’s flags were presented to the candidates that emerged from a faction of the party, including Mr. Uche Ogah, whose candidature had been quashed by an Abuja high court.

He said that all that the Southeast got from PDP was empty promises that were never fulfilled while the few people that were given appointments did not use their positions for the welfare of the people and only came home to invoke ethnic sentiments at election periods.

“The PDP was doing earmark with projects in Southeast but APC is doing eye work,” he said, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts at rehabilitating abandoned infrastructure in the zone was visible for all to see.

Citing the second Niger Bridge which he said PDP government was only content in ground breaking ceremonies without actually embarking on actual construction of the bridge while the existing one was getting weaker and weaker.

The absence of Mr. President took the shine off the rally as the organisers had prior to the event, maintained that he would grace the event, and the party faithful were in high expectation to see him come to Umuahia and address them.

Turning to Abia State, the APC national chairman said that the state was ripe for APC takeover due to the abysmal performance of the state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.

Aside from Oshiomhole other high ranking leaders of APC came to give support to the party in Abia. They included former Abia governor and minister of science and technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu and his labour and employment counterpart, Dr Chris Ngige.

In his acceptance speech after receiving the party flag, Ogah promised the people of Abia that within two years, “I will restore what PDP destroyed in 16 years”.

https://www.today.ng/news/politics/adams-oshiomhole-south-east-trust-pdp-16-years-betrayal-186328/amp?__twitter_impression=true

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The All Progressives Congress (APC), has raised alarm over the hacking of its official website, apc.com.ng, adding that it found unauthorized content on the site.

Though the party did not finger anyone or organisation in particular, it however stated that the party will not allow desperate people to succeed in their evil plots.

In a statement signed by the party’s national publicity secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the has been taken down as measures are being taken to strengthen its security features.

“Our attention has just been drawn to the fact that the APC’s official website, apc.com.ng has been hacked with unauthorised content posted on our pages.


“I have instructed that the site be taken down. Steps are underway to clean it up, strengthen the security, and restore it as soon as possible.

“We won’t allow the desperate people to succeed in their evil plots,” the statement said.

https://www.today.ng/news/politics/apc-alleges-official-website-hacked-186473/amp?__twitter_impression=true

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Godswill Akpabio, a former minority leader of the senate, has advised Nigerians to stop viewing appointment and contracts as the dividends of democracy.

Akpabio, who is also a former governor of Akwa Ibom, gave the advice in an interview with NAN on Sunday.

“Nigerians should ensure that they elect good and committed leaders at all elections, and stop expecting patronage in terms of appointments or contracts,” he said.

“Good governance and delivery of critical infrastructure are the best reward system that any leadership can give the citizenry, and any leader that does these deserves mass support.”

Akpabio urged politicians to run decent campaigns and stop politicising tragedies as the elections approach.

He said Nigeria’s unity is more important than politics and urged that “Nigerian politicians should learn to run decent campaigns and try to shy away from issues that can generate violence or further polarise our country as we approach the elections.

“They should stop jubilation whenever we experience set back in the war against insurgency, it is a collective responsibility to ensure that Nigeria is safe and we should all show commitment to that cause.

“The reason why we are contesting for political leadership in the first place is because there is a country called Nigeria; if Nigeria stops to exist today, our politics will become useless.”

Akpabio advised politicians to see the advantage in the size and diversity of the country.

“The reason why we are respected across the world is because of our population and our diverse ethnic configuration,” he said.

“Politicians are supposed to use these factors to further engender peace and unity in the country, instead of creating hatred and enmity amongst their followers.”

The senator defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in August 2018.

https://www.today.ng/news/politics/senator-akpabio-expecting-appointments-contracts-reward-voting-185041/amp?__twitter_impression=true

Senator Shehu Sani has advised Senator Dino Melaye to submit himself to police with his legal team.

The Police on Friday stormed the Maitama residence of Senator Dino Melaye, seeking to arrest him.

This is happening two days after the Senator representing Kogi West raised the alarm that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, had plans to arrest and poison him to death.

Reacting, Shehu Sani in a tweet said,”The police should end the siege on Senator Dino’s House and the Senator should voluntarily present himself to the police with his legal team.The Gaza treatment is unhelpful to the image of the Police,the Government and the nation”.

https://twitter.com/ShehuSani/status/1079432769850302465?s=19

Shehu Sani, the Senator representing Kaduna Central, has criticized the northern political elites over their silence on frequent killings and kidnappings in the region.

The lawmaker, in a series of tweets, highlighted three reasons why the northern elites are silent over the killings.

According to him, the fear of being against the President Muhammadu Buhari government is among the reasons for northern leaders’ silence.

Sani, on his Twitter page, wrote: “Northern political elites are silent on the frequent killings and kidnappings in the north out of any of these three reasons; FEAR not to be seen opposing the Government; BELIEF that the President is doing his best; INDIFFERENCE because it’s the poor that are dying.”

Recently, no fewer than 17 people were on Saturday killed by bandits in Magami Village, Faru District of Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

https://twitter.com/ShehuSani/status/1077139430392115200?s=19

THE Nigerian Army has restated its determination to remain non-partisan ahead of the 2019 general election.

The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Major-General Jamil Sarham, made this remark while inaugurating a 200hp gunboat for troops of Sector 3, Operation Delta Safe, in Ogoloma, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Sarham, who also launched a 25-bed space transit accommodation for soldiers, cautioned operatives of the security outfit to continue to be professional in carrying out their duties and remain neutral.

He promised that the Nigerian Army would ensure the existence of a peaceful environment conducive for the conduct of the forthcoming general election.

“Let me say here that as the election year of 2019 approaches, Nigerian Army must be apolitical and non-partisan, but will provide a peaceful environment for the election. Soldiers must be non-partisan at all times,” the GOC stressed.

Sarham hailed the contribution of the Sector 3 Commander of OPDS, Colonel Ismail Oloyede, towards the welfare of troops by ensuring the building and completion of the 25-bed space transit accommodation.

He said, “If you want troops to operate optimally, welfare is important. If you are not selfish, you must always have the wellbeing and welfare of your troops in mind and I think Oloyede understood this. I congratulate you, commend you and as well spur you to do more.

“To the troops, it is often said that to whom much is given, much is expected. There is a need to pay back by performing more and be more dedicated in order to meet up with our mandate.”

In his remarks, the Sector 3 Commander of Operation Delta Safe, Colonel Ismail Oloyede, said he was determined to add value and improve extant structures handed over to him.

Oloyede explained that such commitment was aimed at boosting the morale of soldiers and leaving an enduring legacy that could inspire his successors.

“The purpose of our gathering here today is to launch a 25-beds pace accommodation for personnel of OPDS on transit to or from their various locations, additional to existing 4-bedroom accommodation I took over from my predecessor.

“It is pertinent to mention that the structure was conceptualised and completed in the space of eight months without any external financial support.

“I have also single-handedly sponsored the fabrication and building of 200 horsepower gunboat to enhance the capacity of the Sector and OPDS as a whole,” Sector 3 Commander of Operation Delta Safe added.

https://punchng.com/2019-election-well-remain-non-partisan-army/amp/#click=https:///kxEoHNgheA

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Nkechi Blessing Sunday, a controversial Nollywood movie producer and actor seems to be making an indirect call to interested men with her new photos.

Upcoming actress, Nkechi Blessing shows off her massive bare cleveage in sleeveless dress.

The pictures have got her flirty commenters submitting their resumes for a place in her heart. It’s been a big year for Nkechi who acquired a Toyota Venza car, made more films, and also achieved Instagram fame.

http://naijatopgist.info/nollywood-actress-nkechi-blessing-wows-in-cleavage-baring-outfit-photos/

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Starboy Wizkid reacted on Twitter with the caption "Mourinho go dey eko hotel tmrw"

See fans reactions

https://twitter.com/wizkidayo/status/1074968864075800581?s=19

Nine more political parties, yesterday, announced their adoption of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, as their consensus candidate for the 2019 general elections under the umbrella of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP).

The CUPP had adopted Atiku two weeks ago as consensus candidate for the 2019 polls.

Nine parties, yesterday, signed a memorandum of understanding with the existing 44 parties in the CUPP, bringing the number of parties in the pro-Atiku coalition to 53.

The new parties which were received into the coalition by the chairman of the CUPP Steering Committee, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, are the United Patriots (UP), Save Nigeria Congress (SNC), Peoples Coalition Party (PCP) and Reform and Advancement Party (RAP).

Others are the Alliance of Social Democrats (ASD), We The People of Nigeria (WTPN), Change Party (CP), New Generation Party (NGP) and Alliance National Party (ANP).

Oyinlola announced that another set of six political parties had already submitted applications to be part of the coalition.

He asked President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC to get ready to handover, saying the ruling government would suffer “excruciating defeat in 2019.”

Oyinlola, a former governor of Osun State, said the pulling out of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) from the CUPP was basically because it was not able to realize its political agenda within the CUPP.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nine-more-parties-adopt-atiku-as-consensus-candidate.html

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