₦airaland Forum

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Festus Keyamo, the Director of Strategic Communications, President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation (PMBCO) says Atiku Abubakar’s latest adventure seeking to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in matters of integrity with President Muhammadu Buhari is a political suicide mission.

Keyamo stated this while reacting to a statement credited to Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, disputing the assertion by President Muhammadu Buhari that “the system in Nigeria allows corruption to thrive because the system is slow in tackling corruption’’.

He said the handlers of the PDP presidential candidate would have tried to steer him away from embarking on political suicide mission, “but alas! They have decided to test the waters.”

According to Keyamo, locally and internationally; President Buhari stands several miles away from Atiku Abubakar in matters of integrity.

He said: “When the President used all his life in public office building a reputation and a name, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar used all his life in public office to build mansions and acquire personal wealth.

“Now Judgment Day has come when the credentials needed by the Nigerian people for the highest office are not the buildings and wealth but the simple quality of integrity.

“Alhaji Atiku Abubakar cannot eat his cake and have it.’’

Keyamo described Atiku Abubakar as one of the greatest beneficiaries of the failed system in tackling corruption that was in place before President Buhari took over in 2015.

“We know he is aware of this, hence, his latest diatribe against President Muhammadu Buhari amounts to nothing but disgusting grandstanding and an attempt to mock the system.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/atiku-about-to-commit-suicide-festus-keyamo.html

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The acting governor of Zamfara State, Sanusi Rikiji, has expressed concern over the resurgence of banditry in the state, saying the state governor, Abdulaziz Yari, would soon be in the country.

He made the remark when he separately received the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, and the Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar, at the Government House, Gusau on Wednesday.

NAN reports that Messrs Dambazau and Abubakar were in the state in connection with the fresh attack in the state by bandits.

He said, “my governor will soon be in the country and to the state because he has been terribly devastated by the resurgence of banditry when we were just feeling the hoodlums had been defeated and peace had been restored to the state.”

Mr Rikiji who is also the Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly said, the governor’s return would further boost the planned stakeholders meeting with security personnel and pave the way for new approaches against the bandits.

In their separate remarks, the federal government officials said they were in the state on the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to them, they would remain in the state to coordinate harsher confrontation against the bandits in Zamfara and all the neighbouring states, especially Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Kaduna and Niger.

They appealed to the people of the state to give security personnel the necessary support and cooperation so as to ensure the success of the various operations being carried out by security agents deployed to the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state governor, Abdulaziz Yari, had been away for a while now during which time the bandits returned with more severity, killing particularly villagers, burning houses and food staff.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/zamfara-killings-my-governor-will-soon-acting-governor.html

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The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has said given the extent of damage already inflicted on the economy by past administrations, no politician currently vying for the seat of power has what it takes to return the economy to the path of growth within a short period.

He said Nigerians should interrogate politicians who go on air promising wonders to make things work again under the current economic realities.

The minister said with the current interest and exchange rates regime, coupled with other social limitations, especially the sheer reluctance by the commercial banks to extend credit to the real sector to stimulate growth, politicians would be making empty promises should they think they can address the myriad economic problems facing the nation overnight.

Ogbeh, who spoke at a recent public function, decried a situation where the country relies on importation of almost everything, stressing that unless local production capacity is strengthened and economy diversified, “you can bring down an army of angels from heaven, they will not solve our problems”.

The minister said: ”When you hear politicians on television telling you what wonders they’ll do when they come into power, please, just laugh, ask them, how?

“With current interest rates, the current value of the naira and other social difficulties and the fact that banks don’t give long term loans, how do you build factories, infrastructure and create jobs for millions of our children and grandchildren because we do nothing here.

“You all know what happened to the textile industries here. It was one of the biggest employers of labour. Today, all the mills in Kaduna, Kano, Aba, Ikeja have disappeared.

“We are again, a nation of importers. Everytime you bring a container load of foreign goods, you transfer foreign exchange and you bring along with it unemployment and poverty.

“But the brilliant economists who foisted these things upon our heads have gone into silence. I have always challenged them to a debate- you ruined this country and you now blame successive governments.”

According to him, ”As it is today, unless we acquire capacity for local production, unless we diversify this economy, unless we give power to the rural people; you can bring down an army of angels from heaven, they will not solve our problems.

“People talk about it, how in three years we should have sorted out everything that went wrong- nobody can do it. And I am talking from a position of authority and I have been in this business for 40 years. I know what I am saying. We became a nation which stopped thinking where the problem began.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/no-politician-can-fix-nigerias-economic-problems-within-a-short-time-ogbeh.html

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The All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader, Bola Tinubu, on Monday urged Nigerians to rise above their differences and “treat one another with kindness and decency.”

Tinubu said though there were “things upon which Nigerians can disagree and differ, but they must rise over these differences.”

His appeal was contained in a Christmas message to Nigerians he personally signed and sent to DAILY POST.

According to the former Lagos State Governor both Christians and Muslims should strive for the betterment of Nigeria’s “growing” political structure.

Tinubu said: “There will always be things upon which we will disagree and differ. Such is the way of life. But we must always transcend these inevitable differences to treat one another with fundamental kindness and decency.

“This is the real spirit of Christmas and this must be the spirit of the Nigeria we seek to build.


“May each and every Nigerian enjoy a Merry Christmas. May you share good tidings with family and friends on this day of peace and joy.

“As we gather in our homes to celebrate the day, let us take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of the season. Jesus Christ came into the world not that we may use his birthday as an excuse for festivities. He came into this world to teach us how to show us the best aspects of our common humanity and to point the way to spiritual salvation.

“He is known as the prince of peace but he came into the world not cloaked in temporal power or visible wealth. He came dressed in humility and in compassion for those whom society has tossed aside. Let us remember these things as we eat and drink on this day. Let us, on this day, resolve to help our fellow man a bit more than we have in the past.

“It is easy to be good to family and friends. However, we must do better than this. We must strive to be kind and generous even when hard to do so. We must exercise tolerance regarding those who even oppose us and must douse hatred and conflict where we find it.

“As a Muslim, I understand that Jesus knew the road to our better existence and that his life was dedicated so that we may walk this path as well. Whether or not one is a practicing Christian or not, Jesus holds something value for us. His teachings are of a most ethical and humanitarian existence. To follow them will make of each of us a better person and to make of Nigeria a better nation.

“We are a young and growing nation. We are still shaping our national identity and political culture. It would be easy for us to descend into the way of endless squabbling and mindless conflict, to seek power solely for the sake of holding power. But this is not how we build our nation. We must strive to serve the greater purpose. Whether Christian or Muslim, we must recognize each other as part of the same human family and must act as brothers not antagonists.

“There will always be things upon which we will disagree and differ. Such is the way of life. But we must always transcend these inevitable differences to treat one another with fundamental kindness and decency. This is the real spirit of Christmas and this must be the spirit of the Nigeria we seek to build.

“We extend to all Nigerians of all stripes our wishes for a peaceful and happy Christmas. May we join hands and make of this Nigeria a better land for all. May God continue to bless you and this home we call Nigeria”.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/christians-muslims-must-nigerias-growing-political-structure-tinubu.html

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary forfeiture of 46 properties allegedly belonging to Dr. Ngozi Olojeme, the Deputy Chairman, Finance Committee of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation in the 2015 election.

The court order, a copy of which was seen by our correspondent, showed that the properties were located in several locations in Abuja, Delta, Enugu and Bayelsa States.

The properties comprise 27 buildings, including a bank, office buildings and houses, at various stages of development and several pieces of undeveloped land.

Some of the properties include: a twin duplex office building – Plot R/151 (No. 30A) Kingsway Road, Old GRA, Enugu State; a parcel of land measuring 4833.241 sq. metres located at Uberi Bush along Mbiama Road, Akenta, Yenegoa, Bayelsa State; and a parcel of land located at Igbandaden Bush, Emeya 2 Town, Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa.

Others include: Properties located at 196, Melford Okilo Road, Amarata-Epie, Yenegoa, Bayelsa State (six units of one bedroom apartments, one unit of five bedroom bungalows, a block of six units of office space); a mansion at 24 Kainji Crescent, Maitama, Abuja and a bank building (former Intercontinental Bank) located at Plot No. 933 Cadastral Zone B01, Gudu District, Abuja

Olejeme, who was the Chairman of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, is wanted in a case of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds and money laundering.

The former chairman is alleged to have, along with Mr Umar Munir Abubakar, the former Managing Director of NSITF, mismanaged and diverted well over N69b in government funds into their personal accounts through the award of suspicious and bogus contracts to proxy companies.

The suspect, who served as the Chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund from 2009 to 2015, was in June declared wanted for allegedly diverting N69bn from the agency but turned herself in last Monday.

Olojeme is also the widow to Felix Obuah, the late Chief Security Officer to Jonathan, was said to have fled the country shortly after her sack by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

The suspect, who was also the convener of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme sub-committee on Public Works and Road Rehabilitation, finally reported at the EFCC on Monday after which she was detained.

The NSITF, which was headed by Olojeme, is a social insurance scheme designed to provide compensation to employees who suffer from occupational accidents or diseases in the line of duty. The organisation is funded by deducting 1 per cent from all government and private sector employees enrolled in the scheme.

However, according to documents made available to The PUNCH, Olojeme and some directors in the company allegedly diverted billions of naira including funds meant for the payment of allowances of its staff as well as compensation of contributors

Trouble started for Olojeme shortly after her sack by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

The EFCC subsequently received a petition alleging that over N50bn from the Employee Compensation Scheme fund paid by Ministries Department and Agencies and private companies as well as another N18bn being the contribution of the Federal Government as take-off grants to the NSITF were mismanaged and diverted into the personal accounts of Olojeme and Umar Abubakar, the Managing Director of the NSITF.

The EFCC immediately set up a team of detectives to look into the allegation. The commission looked into the bank account of the NSITF and discovered suspicious transactions and diversion of funds.

Some funds were said to have been traced to accounts of some consultants and contractors who were mainly fronts of Olojeme and other directors in the NSITF.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/efcc-seizes-46-properties-from-jonathans-campaign-director.html

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Former Senate President, David Mark, on Monday implored politicians to play responsible politics to ensure the emergence of credible leaders in 2019 general election.

Mark, in a goodwill message to Nigerians commemorating Christmas, signed by Mr Paul Mumeh, his Media Assistant, said this would only be possible if politicians play the game according the rules.

He urged Christian faithful to be guided by the lessons of the Christmas season which is anchored on love, forgiveness and peaceful coexistence.

The former senate president cautioned politicians against campaign of calumny, saying that only issue-based campaign would convince the electorate ahead of the polls.

He called for religious tolerance and understanding among Nigerians.
” We must, as a people, strive to imbibe the culture of mutual respect, trust and unity as the antidote to the myriads of problems facing the nation,” he said.

Mark implored citizens to shun ethnicity and religious discrimination that tends to threaten the nation’s corporate existence.
” All hands should be on deck to preserve and protect the corporate existence of Nigeria, as we have no other country to call our home other than Nigeria,” he said.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/be-responsible-david-mark-advises-politician.html

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The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has urged Nigerians to use the Christmas season to reconcile with one another and show love to others.

Abubakar, in a Christmas message he issued in Abuja on Monday, said the essence of the birth of Jesus Christ was to reconcile man to God.

“Seeing that the essence of Christmas is that Christ came to earth to reconcile us to God, should we not, as beneficiaries of such divine reconciliation, reciprocate it by being reconciled with each other during this Yuletide period and beyond?

“There are too much divisions in our nation today and it is up to each and everyone of us to inject the healing and unifying serum of love for our neighbour into the nation’s consciousness this Christmas.

“We may be Muslim, Christian or traditional religion adherents, but we are all creatures of God deserving of the love of God and of our neighbours.

‘Let that be the attitude we embrace this Christmas and beyond,” he said.

The former Vice President also urged all Nigerians to remember the military and security forces who were on the frontlines defending the country, even as they celebrate Christmas.

Abubakar urged Nigerians to think about the heroes who made the relative peace we live in possible, saying they endure so that we all can enjoy.

He said: “So, when next you see a soldier, boost his or her morale by acknowledging their sacrifices and thanking them.

“Nigeria owes so much to the gallant officers and the men and women of our armed forces.

“They epitomise the spirit of Christmas, which is sacrificial giving. Let us also celebrate the sacrifice our armed forces make for Nigeria.

“On behalf of me and my entire family, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a safe, prosperous and happy New Year.’’

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/atiku-sends-christmas-message-to-nigerians.html

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Soldiers were spotted beating up a driver in Lagos in a video that has gone viral on social media. According to an Instagram user, the incident occurred at Victoria Island area of Lagos.

@Tyna_Iyeye further disclosed that the driver was beaten up by the soldiers over nothing and further threatened to kill him. She wrote as she shared the video;

This just happend rite now,the bus i entered from vi,5 soilders beating and harrasing 1 driver,after begging them they refused to listen,and said they would kill him ,I had to start videoing b4 they do @akinwunmiambode pls do something @channelstv_ent @cnn @cnnafrica@muhammadubuhari @profosinbajo pls help identify this boys as they just harrased this driver for nothing, this is so saad,no human rite anymore

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/soldiers-beat-up-driver-in-vi-lagos.html

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RIVERS State governor, Nyesom Wike, and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in the state, Pastor Tonye Cole, yesterday engaged in brickbats over the state government’s termination of the sale of the stateowned power plants to subsidiaries of Sahara Energy Limited co-founded Cole. Wike, through the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, yesterday in Port Harcourt, announced the termination by the Rivers government of the sale of the state-owned power plants to subsidiaries of Sahara Energy Limited. The commissioner, while briefing reporters at the end of the meeting, said: “The Rivers State government has approved the termination of the share sale contract for the sale of 70 per cent equity of the state government-owned power generation assets held by First Independent Power Limited in Omoku, Afam, Trans-Amadi and Eleme Gas Turbines to NG PowerHPS Limited.

“The Rivers State government also terminated the concession of the Rivers and Bayelsa States’ owned Olympia Hotel (in old Government Reservation Area, near Government House, Port Harcourt) to Cenpropsaroten Hotel Management Limited. “The Rivers State government further terminated the concession agreement between the government of Rivers State and Kild Concession Limited, in respect of the construction of a toll road and secondary developments in Abonnema Wharf, Port Harcourt. “The three companies that had their contracts/concessions terminated are subsidiaries of Sahara Energy Limited, used by the immediate past Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, to acquire state assets.”

Okah also stated that the Rivers government arrived at the resolutions, in line with the yet-to-be-implemented recommendations of the white paper on the report of the judicial commission of inquiry on the investigation of the administration of Amaechi, on the sale of valued assets of Rivers State and other related matters, under the chairmanship of Justice George Omereji. Cole, a billionaire businessman, who is a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), in his reaction, however, declared that Wike is frustrated and playing vindictive politics. The Rivers governorship candidate of the APC, who spoke through the Director, Strategic Communications of his campaign organisation, Prince Tonye Princewill, said: “This may be a surprise to some, but not me.

This is the vindictive nature of the politics we play today and the reason why many who can salvage our analog politics stay away. “We have said it before that politics is too important to be left to politicians. So, the Tonye Coles of this world should have no fear. The old way is going and the old style politicians know it. My surprise is it took this long. “I can only imagine that now Wike knows that Tonye Cole will be confirmed as his opponent, he can no longer hide his frustration. What he fails to appreciate is that no serious businessman will want to do business with Rivers State. All this from a state with the highest level of unemployment in Nigeria and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) untapped. Yet we wonder why insecurity remains.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/wike-tonye-cole-face-off-rivers-govt-terminates-apc-chieftains-firms-contract.html

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Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun on Friday warned the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Party against the dissolution of the executive body of the APC in the state.

The APC NWC had earlier in the day announced the setting up of a caretaker committee headed by Chief Yemi Sanusi to superintend the party in the state. Mr Ayobami Olubori is the Secretary and Mr Tunde Oladunjoye the Publicity Secretary of the committee.

The committee will report directly to the NWC led by the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole.

The ruling party had based its decision to dissolve state executives in Ogun and Imo states on the alleged anti-party activities involving Amosun and Rochas Okorocha (Imo State governor).

The duo are aggrieved that their preferred candidates were not given the party’s governorship tickets in their state.

Amosun, who addressed members of the APC at the party’s secretariat in Abeokuta, declared that nothing would happen to the state executive body.

The governor, who was with the embattled exco members led by Chief Derin Adebiyi, said the body was created by God through the efforts of the members of the party.

He insisted that the state executive members would spend four years in office despite the purported inauguration of a caretaker committee by the NWC.

Amosun said, “You know me by now. For me, I fear God and I respect people. So, it won’t be because we are afraid or we don’t want to talk. Where we are now, what we should concentrate on is to let them know that Ogun State is the home of President Buhari and we must vote massively for him.

“This is the home of the APC.

“We are human beings. We are no God and that is why we are telling them that in this coming election in Ogun State, it is whoever all of you (people) decide to back that will win the election.

“So, the best way to answer them is through our action. And what is the action? We will use our votes to let them know who owns Ogun State.

“So, if they are looking for a state to destroy, they should not think of Ogun State. We are ready for them.

“We don’t fear them. All of them put together, we don’t fear anybody. We fear God and we fear President Muhammadu Buhari.

“We have decided to let them be for the sake of President Buhari. If not for the President, we know what to do.

“Just ignore them. Don’t engage them for anything. Let us be focussed and redouble our efforts so that in the coming election, we are going to answer them with our votes.

“I want to assure you that this executive that God has used you to put together will be there for the next four years. They will serve their term.”

Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the Allied People’s Movement, Abdulkabir Akinlade, has announced the APM’s adoption of Buhari.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/amosun-talks-tough-as-ogun-apc-gets-caretaker-committee.html

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The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Thursday accused Imo state governor Rochas Okorocha, of anti party activity for preventing the APC governorship candidate in the state, Senator Hope Uzodimma, from using the stadium for the flagging off of his governorship campaign.

Oshiomhole alongside APC leaders spoke during the flagging off of the governorship campaign at Okigwe road.

Governor Rochas Okorocha, has however, said that the issue of locking of the stadium was a false claim that only Oshiomhole would believe.

Oshiomole said that the stadium was built with tax payers money and not Okorocha’s personal money, adding that he remembered that Okorocha cried out in 2011, that the governor then, Ikedi Ohakim, locked the stadium stopping him (Okorocha) during his own campaign.

He blasted Okorocha saying that he neglected the people of the state in his style of governance.

The APC, National chairman said that with Senator Hope Uzodimma, as the “next” governor of the state, he would address the problem of “family” kind of governance practised by the present government.

“Please Imo people cool temper. Today is a day to pass a message of Hope. Today, we desire to talk to the young people especially my fellow colleagues, the civil servants.

“Never again shall you govern Imo state. I bring to you the message that traditional rulers will govern without intimidation.”

“The Stadium is the property of Imo people and Chief Uzodinma would not have been denied the opportunity of using the facility for the flag-off of his campaign if he had asked or applied for it.

“He never applied to use the stadium especially when a press release had been issued days before the flag-off of his campaign that the governor had directed that the stadium should be released free to political parties and candidates who would like to use it for their rallies or for other Political activities.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/apc-campaign-in-imo-uzodinma-accuses-okorocha-of-denying-apc-use-of-stadium.html

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No fewer than 469 Atiku Support Groups have accused the Atiku Presidential Campaign Office (APCO) of neglect and threatened they would withdraw their support.

The groups which formed a coalition known as APCO support group warned the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against sabotaging the effort of the presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as they did to former President Goodluck Johnathan in 2015.

The convener of the group, Mr. Amb. Enobong Iyang, popularly known as Don P, threatened to withdraw their support for Atiku if urgent steps were not taken to address their grievances.

The leaders met in APCO office in Abuja on Tuesday and deliberated on many issues hindering the performance of support groups.

They said that the situation could affect Atiku’s outing in 2019 if not properly managed.

They accused APCO leadership of lackadaisical attitude and neglecting the effort of support groups despite all the resources spent and efforts made in promoting Atiku to the electorate in the last one year.

The groups claimed they had been using personal resources to mobilise support for Atiku across the 36 state.

They regretted that in spite of their efforts, no recognition was accorded to the groups.

They reported that prior to the Port Harcourt presidential primary election of the party, APCO had 860 support groups and the leadership set up a special committee of seventeen leaders known as L-17 to vet and trim the groups into a sizeable and manageable number.

The L-17 committee swung into action and eventually trimmed the number to 469 authenticated groups and submitted same to the leadership of APCO but nothing has been done.

Other prominent leaders of the groups include the National Coordinator of Atikudom 2019 , who is Ambassador Enobong Inyang.

Others are National Coordinator of Democracy Development Network, Mr Godwin Enemona; National Coordinator of Atiku Global Support Group (AGSG Alhaji Gambo Jagindi and Princess Kemi.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/just-in-469-support-groups-threaten-to-dump-atiku.html

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National Chairman, All Progressive Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, on Wednesday expressed hopes that the National Assembly won’t ‘distort the 2019 budget’ as presented.

He also described President Muhammadu Buhari’s presentation of the 2019 Budget as “a successful outing.”

Oshiomhole spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria shortly after Buhari presented the budget at the National Assembly in Abuja.

“I think it was done very well and analytically well presented. It covers all the issues.

“It gives account of the previous budget, how it was implemented and why we will have to consolidate, going forward. I think it was a successful outing.

“I’m impressed, I’m excited and I pray that the National Assembly will not distort it in a way that will distort the tenet, well-thought out outcome,” he said.

Reacting to the rowdiness amidst the budget presentation, Oshiomhole said: “I think the lawmakers generally agreed that the budget was good.

“All the requirements of the law have been met, namely, to lay the budget. How the senators behaved thereafter is their privilege.”

On his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, simply described the budget presentation as “excellent.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/i-hope-national-assembly-wont-distort-2019-budget-as-presented-oshiomhole.html

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Amidst the pandemonium that greeted the just concluded 2019 budget presentation at the National Assembly, Senator Godswill Akpabio (APC, Akwa Ibom) has called on the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and House of Reps. Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, to resign.

Briefing newsmen at the National Assembly complex shortly after the rowdy budget presentation, Akpabio described the presiding officers as minority leaders who should do the needful and resign.

“Yes, they couldn’t talk because they are minority leaders. They are not even supposed to talk in the first place. They should therefore do the needful and resign honourably or face being booted out of office,” Akpabio told journalists.

Akpabio, a former Senate Minority Leader, who some months back defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the presiding officers are undeserving of their positions.

Recall that Buhari a while ago presented the N8.8 trillion 2019 budget proposal before a joint session of the National Assembly amidst tensions.
The rowdy session saw APC and PDP lawmakers locked in shouting match at the House of Representatives venue of the presentation.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/2019-budget-youre-minority-resign-now-akpabio-tells-saraki-dogara.html

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The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday said the type of leadership that he and his running mate, Mr. Peter Obi, offer Nigerians has not been seen in the country since Independence.

Atiku, who spoke during a town hall meeting with representatives of the business community in Aba, Abia State, blamed the ruling All Progressives Congress for allegedly instigating economic regression in the country.

According to the PDP candidate, Nigerians cannot afford to have 50 million unemployed men and women.

He said, “That is why there is insecurity. To be able to do business, you must have a secure environment. Otherwise, you will not even be able to come out of your house and go to your factory.

“We have two very experienced men, both in governance and business: Peter Obi and myself. I don’t think Nigeria has ever produced this type of leadership since Independence. If you are doubting us, you know what you should do? Try the two of us.

“If you’re producing juice, I’m a manufacturer of beverages. If you’re producing plastics, I’m a manufacturer of plastics. If you have poultry, I’m a manufacturer of livestock.

“If you’re selling food in the market, I own fast food (restaurants). If you are in printing, I have a printing industry. If you are into broadcasting, I own television stations.

“So, what are you going to tell me?”

Abubakar stated that his various companies had been spending N600m to pay for trucks haulage until he decided to start his own haulage business.

“I sat down with them and said, ‘No, we must go into road haulage. Let’s have our own trucks. I can’t spend N600m on mere road haulage.’ And today, we’re in a successful haulage industry.

“So, my brothers and sisters, the government that has tried to solve most of the challenges that the business community are facing in this country is the PDP government and here is another opportunity, so you don’t repeat the mistake of bringing back this government,” he said.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/nigeria-hasnt-produced-leaders-like-obi-and-i-since-1960-atiku.html

They are both from North...

Lovely Comment

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Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says if he emerges victorious at the polls, 40 percent of his cabinet will go to women and youth.

Atiku said this at a town hall meeting in Lagos state on Monday.

He promised to appoint a minister of youth who would be less than 30 years.

“Forty percent of my government will be youth. It is a promise. I will not break it. My minister of youth will be less than 30 years,” he said.

“If you are less than 30 years, you can bring your CV. This is simply because the youth are the future of this country. We will build a good future for the country.

“We are here because of your future. I have four children but only one is working for the government while the rest are working for me in my various companies.”

Atiku said he intends to create jobs for the youth by lowering tax rates and industrial tariffs for the private sector.

“In most industrialised countries, it is the private sector that creates jobs. How do they do that? They lower the tax rate,” he said.

“If you issue lower tax rates to most companies, they will create jobs. These are the types of incentives you offer the private sector so that they will be able to create jobs.

“Lower industrial tariff rates, they will create the jobs for your country and the youth will be liberated. That is why I got a first class VP.

“I know about creating jobs. Our president said the economy has ‘pafuka’. Do you know that in this government, there is no economist? They don’t even know how to manage the economy. If the economy is good, we will all prosper. If the economy is bad, we all perish.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/atiku-women-youth-will-constitute-40-percent-of-my-cabinet.html

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President Muhammadu Buhari said on Monday that he would guarantee free and fair polls in 2019 by ensuring a level-playing field.

He alleged that in past elections when he contested before he won eventually in 2015, votes were “awarded” to the winners to deny him victory.

Buhari spoke at the Presidential Villa in Abuja when he received a delegation from the International Republican and National Democratic Institute, United States of America.

The delegation was led by Ambassador Linda-Thomas Greenfield.

Buhari stated, “I am glad you are here to assess our pre-election preparations. It reminds me of the visit by the then Secretary of State, John Kerry, before the 2015 polls. We appreciate the concern of America for stability in developing countries.

“Having run for President three times, ending up at the Supreme Court all three times, before God and technology made a way for me the fourth time, I know what it is to be cheated at the polls.

“What they used to do was just to award votes and tell anyone who was dissatisfied to go to court. But we won’t do that. I am prepared to give the opposition the opportunities I was not given in the past.”

He informed the visitors that he had directed the heads of all security agencies to be professional in their work.

He also said the focus of the All Progressives Congress government that he led, remained to fight corruption, insecurity and put the economy on the path of full recovery.

The President added, “We have done fairly well in the areas we focussed on. We know how many local government areas in the North-East were under Boko Haram occupation before we came. That does not happen again, save for cowardly attacks, using young girls as suicide bombers.

“Other areas of security challenge like farmers/herdsmen clashes are receiving attention, and will be sorted out as much as possible.”\

He also gave the reason he refused to sign the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill 2018, blaming it on time factor.

“Time is against us. We are extremely vulnerable, and need to be careful that messages are not hijacked and figures tampered with, while being transmitted electronically, he said.

Earlier, Greenfield told Buhari that the delegation had met with various groups in the country, including the media, civil society and political parties.

The delegation noted that the concerns raised by the groups were the partisan role of the security agencies during polls, the non-signing of the Electoral Bill and compromise by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/2019-polls-i-wont-cheat-like-i-was-cheated-says-buhari.html

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The court of appeal sitting in Ibadan, Oyo state, has reserved judgement in the case between two factions battling for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidacy in Ogun state, till Tuesday.

In the suit filed by the Ladi Adebutu faction of the party and heard on Monday, the group asked the appeal court to set aside the orders of the federal high court, Abeokuta, which ruled in favour of the Kashamu faction.

On October 2, the federal high court in Abeokuta had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept and process the list of candidates and delegates submitted to it by the faction of Kashamu.

The commission had written Uche Secondus, national chairman of the PDP, that it was only going to accept list of candidates from Kashamu group.

Secondus had handed over the party’s governorship ticket to Adebutu but the Kashamu faction also unveiled the senator as their candidate.

At the court on Monday, Emeka Etiaba, counsel to Adebutu, demanded that the case be assigned to another judge at the federal high court.

But Alex Izinyon, counsel to Buruji, vehemently opposed the granting of the prayers sought by the appellants.

Etiaba said a party in perpetual violation of positive and subsisting orders of court cannot justifiably seek favour from the same court it had treated with contempt.

He contended that the appellants had the opportunity to state their case at the federal high court, Abeokuta, after they were served and chose to stay away from the court on October 2.

After two hours of deliberations, the three-man panel of justices of the court of appeal presided by Olukayode Bada adjourned the case till Tuesday.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/ogun-pdp-crisis-court-decides-kashamus-fate-on-today.html

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All Progressives Congress (APC) members, supporters, bigwigs and enthusiasts from across the nine LGAs of Kogi East senatorial district gathered at the weekend in the ancient town of Anyigba, Dekina LGA for official flag off of campaign for the zone.

Speaking during the event, Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign in Kogi State, Edward Onoja, urged the gathering and people of Kogi East district to vote massively for President Muhammadu Buhari as well as all candidates of the APC contesting for various elective positions in the 2019 election to enjoy more dividends of democracy.

Onoja asked the people to be wiser and support a candidate like Buhari whom he noted runs a pro-masses government with several social interventions such as the N-Power, TraderMoni, MarketMoni, School Feeding, Conditional Cash Transfer, among other interventions aimed at assisting the poor across the country.

He said, Governor Yahaya Bello APC-led administration in the state has brought tremendous infrastructural development to all parts of the state, particularly Igalaland.

Also speaking, candidates of the party for National and State Assembly seats from the area all called on the electorate to give the party maximum support and promised not to disappoint them if given the mandate.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/apc-flags-off-campaign-in-kogi-east-senatorial-district.html

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Abdulrrafiu Baruwa, a lawyer, has filed a suit seeking the disqualification of Dapo Abiodun, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun state, from the 2019 general election.

In a suit filed at a federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Abuja, Baruwa, also a member of APC, asked the court to disqualify Abiodun from the race over “false information” contained in the academic qualification he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Among Baruwa’s prayers are:

1. Abiodun’s refusal to disclose all his educational qualifications as demanded by INEC in FORM CF 001 amounts to false information
2. APC is not at liberty to apply double standards in clearing or disqualifying persons aspiring for elective offices
3. A proper construction of the Forms CF 001 filled and Abiodun submitted to INEC for the 2015 senatorial election and 2019 governorship election
4. Disqualifying Abiodun as candidate of the APC having regard to the false information contained in his Form CF 001 submitted to INEC.
5. Declaring Jimi Lawal, the aspirant with the second highest votes in the APC primary as the candidate of the APC in the governorship poll.

Abiodun declared only his West African School Certificate (1978) in the Form CF001 submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on October 23, 2018.

However, when he ran as the APC senatorial candidate for Ogun east in 2015, he claimed to have attended the University of Ife, Ile-Ife (graduating in 1986) and Kennesaw State University, Atlanta Georgia, US (1989) in his INEC form CF001, backed by an affidavit he swore to at the high court, Abeokuta, Ogun state.

Abiodun’s decision not to include the two degrees in the form CF001 submitted for the 2019 election fuelled suspicion that he did not undergo the compulsory national youth service – which is punishable under the law – even though he finished his first degree in 1986.

While some are in doubt that Abiodun attended those higher institutions, Baruwa said he knows that the APC candidate graduated from University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) before 30 but neither participated in the mandatory national youth service nor obtained any exemption certificate.

Abiodun was born on May 29, 1960 and was 26 in 1986 when he claimed to have finished his first degree. The age limit for national service is 30.

The lawyer said Abiodun, who had earlier swore an oath on his university qualification, cannot be permitted in law to willfully conceal his qualifications for the sole purpose of evading the consequences of such educational qualifications.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/court-asked-to-disqualify-dapo-abiodun-apc-guber-candidate-over-certificate-scandal.html

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The secretary of the National Peace Committee and bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has spoken on the recent peace deal signed by presidential candidates for the 2019 elections.

In an interview with Daily Trust, the bishop disclosed that initiatives like this are necessary, especially in African and developing countries where the trust of the state is severely weakened.

Kukah said: "First of all, these kinds of initiatives have been formal and informal, especially in Africa and developing economies, where the trust of the state is severely weakened and the trust on institutions and their capacity is under question. So you require a bit of supporting efforts, so to say.

"For the peace committee, the best metaphor I use is that of marriage, where two people come together, exchange vows and make promises to each other. But despite making the promises, you require others to continue to encourage them.

"In this case, it could be family members or friends. That is really the idea behind the peace committee.

" The bishop added that the idea for the peace committee was not original to Nigeria.

He said: "It was not original to us. Kofi Anan and other people involved in democracies in developing countries – Myanmar, Peru, Tunisia, Kenya, Ghana other countries – had these kinds of experiences.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/2019-reason-why-buhari-atiku-others-sign-peace-deal-bishop-hassan-kukah.html

kkkkk

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The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), National Assembly chapter, has issued a four-day warning strike notice which will commence on Monday, December 17.

According to the Chairman of the association, Bature Mohammed, in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, the decision was reached in an emergency congress held on December 14.

Though President Buhari is due to present the 2019 Appropriation bill to the joint National Assembly on Wednesday, December 19, Mohammed said that the warning strike which would run till December 20, was to press home the demands of the association.

The chairman advised that all members of the association should stay away from their duty posts during the period as members of PASAN had on December 4 shut down operations at the National Assembly when they prevented lawmakers from sitting.

The grievances of PASAN include a new condition of service for members, promotion and payment of 28 per cent increment in salary captured as contained in the 2018 budget.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/national-assembly-workers-to-begin-4-days-warning-strike-on-monday.html

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The Vice Presidential debates put together by Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) is about to get underway.

An independently administered multi-stage process led to the selection of five political parties partaking in tonight’s Vice Presidential debate.

Expected to be on the podium are the running mates for the Presidential candidates of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), the Alliance For New Nigeria (ANN), All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Young Progressives Party (YPP).

The debate is expected to be intriguing as the VP candidates explain their plans and battle to outdo each other in answering critical questions about the state of the nation and its future.

Channelstv.com is on the ground at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja where the debate is taking place.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/2019-election-vice-presidential-debate-start.html

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Hameed Ali, comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), says any officer who fails staff college course thrice, will be sacked.

Ali said this at the 2018 course two (senior and junior courses) graduation ceremony of officers in the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College in Abuja on Friday.

He said the new rule was part of a reform being undertaken in the area of capacity building.

The customs CG said attendance at the staff college was now mandatory, adding that officers who failed to attend would face severe sanctions.

“The era of scoring 99.9 percent in APPER form to determine officers’ promotion is over, because henceforth, the promotion will be based on performance,” he said.

“If you attempt this training courses three times and you fail, it will bring you to the end of your career in the service.

“We are already implementing strictly the standing operational procedures to guide regular staff movements, as well as to determine the promotion of deserving officers from one rank to the other.

“Henceforth, promotion to the next rank and the nature of postings of an officer will depend to a large extent on participation and performance during the staff college courses.

“The implications of this include the fact that attendance of the college is now mandatory for all officers due or nominated.”

Ali said directives would be issued to demonstrate seriousness and importance of his commitment to training.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/customs-cg-threatens-to-sack-any-officer-who-fails-college-course-thrice.html

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Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano state, says he and some of his colleagues were marginalised during the tenure of John Odigie-Oyegun, former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ganduje said this while receiving Emma Ibediro, national organising secretary of the APC, in his office on Friday.

He said they pushed for a change in the national leadership of the APC because of the bitter experience they had under Odigie-Oyegun.

The governor said the experience provoked some of his colleagues so “we decided to take active part to ensure that a change was effected: a change for the better”.

“During the previous administration, we were marginalised and our opponents within the party were used officially against us. That was very painful,” he said.

“We decided to effect a change and luckily, Mr. President, who is the national leader of the party, gave his consent to what we wanted to do.

“We are now benefitting from the change in the leadership of the party and we are witnessing full participation of stakeholders in the scheme of things.”

Ibediro said he came to Kano to thank the governor for the role he played in his emergence as a national officer of the party.

“My emergence as national organizing secretary was largely made possible by you. Kano state gave me over 500 votes and with that kind of result, it was nearly impossible for me to be defeated,” he said.

“I went round with you in the bus and I saw genuine love for you from the people: you have done well. You were able to connect with the people genuinely and God will reward you.

“I assure you that whatever has to do with Kano state as long as it has to do with me, I will give it the attention it requires.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/ganduje-i-supported-oyeguns-removal-because-he-marginalised-us.html

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President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, told state governors that the Nigerian economy is in a bad shape.

The Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Abdulaziz Yari, disclosed this to State House correspondents in Abuja.

Yari, who is the Governor of Zamfara State, and his colleagues, met with Buhari at the Presidential Villa after the National Economic Council meeting, which took place on Friday.

According to him, the President informed the governors that “the economy is in bad shape and that we have to come together, think and rethink on the way forward.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/breaking-buhari-has-informed-us-economy-is-in-bad-shape-abdulaziz-yari.html

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The house of representatives members in the All Progressives Congress (APC) have defended President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to withhold assent to the electoral act amendment bill.

The federal lawmakers also vowed to stop any attempt by the lower legislative chamber to override Buhari’s veto on the bill.

Buhari had rejected the reform bill for the fourth time, citing disruption to the 2019 elections as his reason.

In a letter sent to the national assembly, Buhari said he is “concerned that passing a new electoral bill this far into the electoral process for the 2019 general election which commenced under the 2015 Electoral Act, could create some uncertainty about the applicable legislation to govern the process”.

The president’s decision has generated controversy at the national assembly, with some of the lawmakers hinting at a possibility of overriding the president’s veto and going ahead to pass the bill.

But addressing journalists at the national assembly on Wednesday, Femi Gbajabiamila, chairman of the APC representatives caucus, said Buhari was right to have withheld his assent to the bill.

“A punctuation can change the meaning of a provision of the law. The national assembly should perfect the document, send it back; the president will sign it,” he said.

“And it makes no sense to override in the case of an important document. We don’t have to use a fire brigade approach; it is too close to the elections, and that is the reason for the ECOWAS protocol. It is too late in the game to begin to tinker with the rules.

“If they are able to muster two-thirds and push it forward, there is nothing we can do. But as a party, we are not going to be part of it. And we have more than the numbers to stop that.”

Part of the issues in contention regarding the bill is the mandatory use of card readers, which Gbajabiamila said will disenfranchise many Nigerians.

“We have seen instances where the card readers have failed,” he said. “What Mr. President has done is to protect everybody in Nigeria. Millions could be disenfranchised and we don’t want that.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/apc-reps-back-buhari-on-electoral-bill-vow-to-block-attempt-to-override-him.html

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The Social Democratic Party has rejected the choice of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, as the consensus presidential candidate of the Coalition of United Political Parties.

It said Atiku’s emergence did not measure up to the established standard which was assented to by the political parties that formed the alliance.

The National Publicity Secretary of the SDP, Mr Alfa Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday at the end of the party’s expanded caucus meeting.

But the CUPP has described the SDP’s decision to pull out of the coalition as “a failed attempt to help the dwindling electoral fortunes of President Buhari.”

Mohammed said the SDP had resolved to stick to its presidential candidate, Donald Duke, and his running mate, Shehu Gabam.

He said the SDP believed that the process that led to Atiku’s emergence was circumvented to achieve a predetermined end.

He said, “The SDP resolved that the emergence of a consensus candidate as reported is unacceptable to it because it did not follow due process and did not measure up to the established standard set out and which was assented to by the member political parties of the alliance.

“The MoU clearly provides for agreement of all the political parties before any public endorsement. As it turned out eventually, it is obvious that the process was circumvented to achieve a predetermined end.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the SDP will never collapse into any party as it is the choice of Nigerians in the 2019 elections.

“The SDP has, as a principled and self-respecting party with a clear vision and sense of mission, resolved to move on with its campaigns to commence the presentation of its presidential candidate, Donald Duke, and his running mate, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, to Nigerians across the length and breadth of the country as well as its other candidates for the governorship, National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly for the 2019 general elections. “

Mohammed said the party would commence its campaign from the South-East.

He however said details of the rally would be made public later.

He alleged that the PDP truncated the success of the CUPP as a working coalition at the presidential level while the leadership of the steering committee set up aborted it through disregard for the spirit of inclusiveness, unity and the shared vision that propelled the coalition.

He said the SDP, in the beginning, contributed significantly to the engendering of the concept, believing that the country needed and still needs concerned parties to go into the 2019 election with a united front.

This, he said, was needed to be able to dislodge what he described as the non-performing ruling party and enthrone a competent and patriotic leadership that would unite the country and restore the greatness of the nation.

He disclosed that some political parties were already discussing with the SDP in other for them to collaborate.

He added, “The SDP will certainly welcome all those who believe in our philosophy, vision, mission and programmes for the Nigerian people.

“Based on the popularity and acceptability of the SDP and its candidates, the party has indeed become the generally accepted credible alternative for Nigerians and we are determined to rescue our country from widespread disillusionment and grief, restructure and restore its lost glory.”

But CUPP’s first national spokesperson, Imo Ugochinyere, in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, explained that before its withdrawal, the SDP was a member of the Steering and Selection Committees and was represented by Dr Olu Agunloye where the final decision was taken.

He said the party also fully participated in all the selection processes.

He said, “It is on record that SDP was in the coalition when the CUPP template was drafted. It is therefore surprising for SDP to pull out of the coalition at this point.

“Let it also be known that the SDP’s anger over the loss of the vice-presidential slot of the coalition is not attainable. This is because Section 142 of the 1999 constitution says the President and Vice-President must be from the same political party.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/sdp-rejects-atiku-for-president-backs-duke.html

Good Morning......[My Fellow Nairalander]

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Nigerian Elections Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) have named five political party to participate in 2019 vice presidential and presidential debates.

According to the statement signed by Eddi Emesiri, executive Secretary of the NEDG, the parties are Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Young Progressives Party (YPP).

This means the presidential aspirants expected at the debate are Atiku Abubakar, Muhammadu Buhari, Oby Ezekwesili, Fela Durotoye and Kingsley Moghalu.

BON and NEDG have excluded Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress; Donald Duke of the Social Democratic Party; Tope Fasua of the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP) and a host of others.

This is in line with global practices, and the American presidential system being practised in Nigeria.

The Vice Presidential debate will hold from 7 pm at the congress hall of the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja on Friday, December 14, 2018.

The presidential debate, on the other hand, will hold just over a month later, on Saturday, January 19, 2019.

The debates is expected to be transmitted live on all BON member stations and its affiliates and across major social media platforms.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/breaking-sowore-donald-duke-excluded-from-bon-nedg-presidential-debate.html

Good morning.....[Nairalander]