₦airaland Forum

The immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has given reasons he cannot congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari over his victory at the Presidential Election Tribunal on Wednesday.

The court ruled that Buhari was duly elected as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the presidential election held on 23rd February 2019.

The tribunal ruled that electronic transfer of results which was the crux of the opposition’s petition did not take place at any level.

Reacting, Fayose dissociated himself from any congratulatory message to President Buhari that might have been issued in his behalf.

According to him, he can’t author such statement because he is a believer in PDP and Atiku 2019 project

The former governor added that his PDP and Atiku will also appeal the judgment of the Presidential Election Tribunal.

On his Twitter page, Fayose wrote: “Nigerians should disregard any congratulatory message issued in my name on the outcome of the Presidential Election Judgment.

“My party has indicated its intention to appeal the judgment, and as a party man and believer in the PDP/ATIKU 2019 project, I can’t author such statement.”




Read more here https://thickmatch.com/presidential-tribunal-cannot-congratulate-buhari-fayose/

Some aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State led by Senator Magnus Abe have dared the National Working Committee of the APC over plans to hold congresses in the state.

In a 9-point communique read by former state Attorney General of the state, Wogu Boms said, “as critical stakeholders of the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who toiled and sweated under very difficult and dangerous circumstances to build the party in Rivers State, we are appalled and dismayed by the current situation of the party in the State.

“That Nigerians are aware that the crisis in Rivers APC was set off by the manner in which last congresses were deliberately mismanaged in 2018, resulting in catastrophic and unprecedented consequences for the party.

“That various efforts by different leaders of the party across the nation to find a solution to the challenges of Rivers APC before the 2019 elections were all rebuffed by the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, meaning that all well intended efforts came to nothing.

“We note with concern that the party is yet again threading the same route of exclusion and disdain for the rights and feelings of party members that plunged the Rivers chapter of the APC into needless crisis resulting in the party being denied participation in the last general elections in Rivers State.

“That as critical stakeholders, and bearing in mind the circumstances of Rivers APC, we were not consulted by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party in its decision to appoint a caretaker committee in Rivers State nor does the Committee reflect the diversity of the party in the state. The so called caretaker committee members are simply cronies of the Minister of Transportation, their objective and purpose is clear, they were parties and participants in the actions that brought the party to its knees in Rivers State. Apart from being unknown to the constitution, by all rules of justice and fairness they cannot provide a solution to our present challenges.

“We, therefore, reject the caretaker committee as it is clearly an orchestration to deepen the woes of the party, and we urge all members of the APC in Rivers State to remain steadfast in the pursuit of justice.

“Based on extant judicial pronouncements, and the report of the Governor Lalong Committee as adopted by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our great party which stated clearly that where congress could not hold, the existing executives were to manage the affairs of the party; Chief Peter Odike by the rules of the Party should have been consulted as Chairman of the APC in Rivers State.”

On his part, Senator Magnus Abe insisted that he would continue to support the fight against injustice and wrong doings in the Party.

“I want to thank each and everyone of you for the spirit you have exhibited. A party that has this kind of committed and dedicated cannot die. Nobody can kill it,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Peter Odike being referenced by the aggrieved members has called on Senator Magnus Abe and others to sheath their swords, toe the path of reconciliation and work towards a United APC.

Odike who led the Abe’s faction of APC in the famous Ibrahim Umar case in a statement circulated in the media said the constitution of a Caretaker Committee to spare head the Affairs of the party means there is an end in sight for the crisis rocking the APC.

According to him, “I, Prince Peter Odike, one of the Founding Father’s of APC in Rivers State, and the Acting Chairman of the Party in the State hereby congratulate the National Working Committee of our great Party on the decision to settle the crisis of the Party in our State once and for all.

“Let me also congratulate the Caretaker Committee as headed by Barr Isaac Abot Ogbogbula on their appointment.

“I wish therefore advise the Committee that the task before them demands that they be fair, democratic and firm in the discharge of their duty. The public may be reminded that our position has always been to open the democratic space for all eligible to participate in. Posterity will hold the committee responsible if they fail to do so.

“May I, therefore, urge all APC members to embrace this opportunity that has been provided in order for us to be the formidable Party that we all yearn for.

“In the coming days, I will once more, be meeting with the leader of the Party, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, as well as other leaders and stakeholders of our Party to ensure that we do not miss this golden opportunity to be a great force that we are.”

It will interest you to know that the crisis in the Rivers state chapter of the APC led to the inability of the party to Present candidates to contest the general elections in the state at all levels.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/dailypost.ng/2019/09/12/amaechi-vs-abe-apc-crisis-rivers-gets-messier/amp/

The Labour Party has withdrawn its election petition appeal against the victory of the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, at the Supreme Court.

The Labour Party and counsel to Abiodun have decided to settle for an alternative dispute resolution.

It was gathered the decision came following a peace deal brokered by Abiodun’s lead counsel at the tribunal, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, SAN.

Earlier, Was reported that the Labour Party and its governorship candidate, Mrs Modupe Sanyaolu, in a Supreme Court suit number SC/1088/2019, had dragged Abiodun before the apex court, asking it to invalidate his (Abiodun’s) election.

Our correspondent gathered that immediately the truce was brokered between the two parties, the Labour Party’s counsel filed a notice for withdrawal at the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

A copy of the Notice of Withdrawal dated September 10 and made available to Us reads, “Take notice that the appelants herein intend and doth hereby wholly withdraw their appeal against all respondents in the above mentioned appeal filed on the 23rd day of August, 2019.”

It was deposed to by Olusoji Oduntan Esq and N. A. Abass Esq, on behalf of the Labour Party.

Contacted, the state Labour Party Chairman, Com. Abayomi Arabambi confirmed that both parties had agreed to settle out of court after a peaceful meeting was conveyed by the lead counsel to the first respondent.

Arabambi, however, declined further comments, saying he would address the press later.

He said “We have resolved to settle out of court. This was made possible by the lead counsel to the first respondent, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, SAN on behalf of the Governor, Dapo Abiodun. I will address the press later.”




https://dailypost.ng/2019/09/11/election-petition-labour-party-withdraws-case-abiodun-supreme-court/amp/

At least 125 suspects have been arrested in connection to the looting on Shoprite outlets in Lagos State.

This was confirmed by the Area Commander of Shangotedo, Gbolahan Olugbemi.

The looting occurred when some irate youths attacked the outlets in Lagos as a reprisal for the xenophobic attacks suffered by Nigerians in South Africa.

The first to be attacked was the Shoprite at Circle Mall in Lekki, Lagos State. Angry protesters stormed the mall yesterday and vandalized the building, making away with valuable goods.

The mob action saw the death of a young man who was allegedly shot dead by policemen drafted to restore order at the location.

Shortly after, reports stated that the Shoprite at Ikeja City Mall was shut down due to a build-up of protesters trying to replicate what took place at Lekki.

The video seen below shows the damage done to the Surulere Mall in Lagos as protesters made their way in while attempting to reach the Shoprite retail outlet.



See more here https://thickmatch.com/police-parade-shoprite-looters-stolen-goods-recovered/

Barely one month after Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and his successor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole announced a ceasefire, it appears that all is still not well between the godfather and his political son.

The indication emerged weekend, when Oshiomhole, in his recent interview, said that he only nominated one commissioner in Obaseki’s Government, whom he said had been sacked by the Governor.

The National Chairman of the APC also said that it was disturbing to him that Obaseki has abandoned some of his ongoing projects.

Obaseki has, however, vowed that he would not join issues with his successor.

Rather, he urged actors within his government not to utter a word over comments​ credited to Oshiomhole.

He said he has chosen to pursue the path of peace and reconciliation in dealing with the rift between him and his successor, in the interest of APC and the State.

The Governor made this known Monday evening, in a statement jointly signed by the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paul Ohunbamu, and his Special Adviser on Media Strategy, Crusoe Osagie.

The statement which was made available to journalists in Benin noted that the State Government has received inquiries from various stakeholders, both within and outside the country, about its response to the onslaught against the governor.

“The Edo State Government observed over the weekend very hostile statements credited to our revered National Chairman of APC across various media platforms.

“Following the development, the State Governor has instructed that no actors​ within the state government should make any comment whatsoever, or join issues on the ensuing hostile comments and discussions,” the statement said.

Oshiomhole had while addressing journalists at his Iyamho country home on Sallah day, said there was no rift between him and Obaseki.

He blamed people who benefitted from a crisis for fueling the perceived face-off.



See more here https://thickmatch.com/edo-apc-crisis-ill-not-join-issues-oshiomhole-obaseki/

Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appealed the judgment of the Kogi State National and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal, which voided his election.

Recalls that the election of Melaye was nullified by the Kogi State National Assembly/State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal.

The tribunal also ordered a fresh election in Kogi West Senatorial District.

In the notice of appeal he filed on Monday, Melaye wants the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgment.

In the appeal dated September 5, 2019, Melaye raised 23 grounds of appeal, in which he faulted the majority decision of the tribunal, The Nation reports.

Melaye is also seeking an order of the Court of Appeal allowing his appeal and an order sustaining his objection to the petition or dismissing the petition and confirming his electoral victory.

The appeal, which was filed for Melaye by Rickey Tarfa (SAN) listed Senator Smart Adeyemi, All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as respondents.

Among the grounds of appeal include whether the person sued at the Tribunal being Senator Dino Melaye, is the same as the person who contested the poll and declared winner of the election as contained on Form CF001 – Melaye Daniel Dino.

“The provision of the law is that the name as used in Form CF001 is the only valid name that can be used to challenge the election of the Appellant.

“The principle of equity accepted and applied by the majority members of the Tribunal cannot override the provisions of the law in respect of the petition.

“The judgement of the Tribunal was perverse and against the weight of evidence before it,” he said.




https://dailypost.ng/2019/09/10/kogi-dino-melaye-appeals-tribunal-judgement/amp/

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on Monday, said that there was no case of inflation under him.

The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) had declared that saved more than N26.86 billion for the Federal Government in 2018 alone, by revising down inflated contract sums by government contractors.

BPP in its 2018 annual report listed affected ministries included Transport and Power, Works and Housing headed by Babatunde Fashola and Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Lagos and Rivers, respectively.

According to the report, the savings were from the review of contracts awarded to contractors by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) before being given a certificate of “No Objection’’ by the bureau.

“Of the savings made, the highest amount of N22.22 billion was recorded from the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing. The money was saved from an initial request of N877.40 billion”, it read.

In a statement on Monday by Hakeem Bello, Fashola’s spokesperson, the minister said that there has been “misleading” report of the issue in the media.

“Being a department of the same government, ordinarily this should not warrant a reply; however the misleading nature of the reporting in the media and the statements credited to BPP compel a response for the purposes of clarification and enlightenment of the public,” the statement said.

“Any person who takes time to read the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, which created the BPP will understand that no contract can be awarded until BPP certifies that it has no objection.

“Therefore there was no inflated contract because BPP clearly stated that it reduced the costs, and according to BPP she “… saved over N26 Billion…” And this is the heart of the matter because BPP’s “ savings” can only be a subjective assessment based on rates quoted by contractors, reviewed by the Ministry, and sent to BPP for certification.”

“Once rates are published and design is known, quantities can be ascertained and costs can be determined.

“This is the field of Quantity Surveyors and Construction Economists, and the Minister of Works and Housing has not made any secret about his call for a revision of the Public Procurement Act to resolve this and other gaps in the Law.

“Indeed, during the first term of this Administration, the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing had commissioned the compilation of a service-wide Rate of major items of procurement from the largest to the smallest for BPP to consider, adopt or amend and publish.”





https://dailypost.ng/2019/09/10/fashola-reacts-bpp-reveals-contracts-amaechi-inflated-n27bn/amp/

Kim Kardashian has tested positive for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

According to physicians, lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks sufferer’s own tissues and organs.

Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems, including the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.

Symptoms can occur in many parts of the body, doctors say.

Before her diagnosis, Kim, who also suffers from psoriasis, an autoimmune condition, had complained of aches, swollen joints and fatigue.

“She began to fear the worst as she worked full steam ahead on her career and law studies, while at the time she was also expecting her fourth child, son Psalm,” Metro had reported.

“Lately, my wrists have started to hurt again, but it’s definitely a different feeling than before. I feel this, like, in my bones,’ she reportedly said.

Expressing fear for her life, 38-year-old Kim had said, “I just am, like, freaking out.

“I have a baby on the way, I have law school. It just really can scare you when you start really thinking about how much this is gonna really change my life.”

Metro reports that, after undergoing certain tests, it was confirmed that she had tested positive for lupus antibodies as well as rheumatoid arthritis – which affects the joints and causes pain, throbbing, swelling and stiffness.

Her physician, Dr. Daniel Wallace, confirmed to her, “Your antibodies are positive for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.”

However, he confirmed that the diagnosis didn’t mean that she conclusively had the disease, as he added, “Sometimes, you can get false positives in these screenings.”

Meanwhile, her mother Kris Jenner and sisters Khloe Kardashian, and Kylie Jenner have expressed support for her.

Meanwhile, Kim said she would be finding out the test results later.



See more here https://thickmatch.com/kim-kardashian-tests-positive-lupus-rheumatoid-arthritis/

A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has dismissed what he described as fake news being circulated by the APC to portray President Muhammadu Buhari as having a West African School Certificate (WASC).

Frank was reacting to a media report, which he alleged was aimed at deceiving Nigerians and also swaying the Presidential Election Petition Court to rule in favour of General Buhari.

He urged the APC to stop spreading falsehood as “the world knows that Buhari has no secondary school certificate anywhere.”

According to him, the report titled: “Buhari Cambridge certificate verification, PDP agent disappointed” is fake news from the pit of hell.

The report quoting an unnamed source as claiming among other things that ‘As the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal kicked off a few months ago, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sent a team of lawyers and other party agents to the University of Cambridge to confirm the authenticity of the West African School Certificate (WASC) of President Muhammadu Buhari.

‘A Cambridge source said that the opposition party not only sent a delegation but also made a request seeking potential evidence, citing doubts about the authenticity of the President’s WASC results.

‘The source said that the PDP representatives who visited Cambridge were stunned to discover that the President did write the examination, passed and were even dumbfounded when they cited the well kept records of the Cambridge University.

‘The source said even the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and associates requested Cambridge provide them with a confirmation of his certificate,’ the report said.

Frank, in a statement to Us on Sunday, wondered why the APC could descend so low in trying to fraudulently rewrite history by claiming that Cambridge University allegedly confirmed that a self-confessed certificate-less General Buhari now had a certificate.

He said: “It is a shame that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and his lackeys have become so shameless to the point where they churn out blatant lies to confuse Nigerians. The question is: does Gen. Buhari has a WAEC certificate?

“If yes, where is it? Lai Mohammed had admitted that Buhari does not have a WAEC certificate and asked Nigerians to forgive him for not knowing where his (Buhari) certificate was 53 years after leaving Secondary School.

“Nigerians can now see why the APC’s government is clueless. This so called cambridge source, who is he? What is his name? Nigerians will love to get in touch with him to ascertain the veracity of the information.

“But I can assure Nigerians that the source will forever remain anonymous, reason being that this so called source does not exist.

“This is pure garbage being churned out by the APC’s and Buhari’s propaganda machine but glory be to God, Nigerians are not buying and will not buy the lies this time around. Instead, Nigerians are asking that Buhari be sacked, #SACKBUHARI,” the Bayelsa-born activist said.

He said that of Justice Walter Onnoghen could be fraudulently hounded out of the Judiciary as Chief Justice of Nigeria because of his alleged lack of full asset declaration, why should General Buhari who has no record of having completed his school certificate remain as President in brazen violation of the nation’s Constitution?

He said: “Onnoghen was embarrased and forced to resign from office as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) for omitting to declare all his assets, yet Lai Mohammed is asking Nigerians to forgive Buhari who has no WAEC Certificate and once lied that his certificate is with the military.

“General Buhari is now the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, yet he cannot fish out his certificate from the military authorities.

“Notwithstanding, APC wants Nigerians to depend on an unknown and unnamed source from Cambridge to believe General Buhari has a certificate. Why go to Sokoto when you can get what you lack inside your ‘Sokoto?’

“The Constitution is clear. A minimum of school certificate is required to contest for the office of President. The law is also clear on the penalty for perjury.

“I want to use this opportunity to remind the presidential electoral petition judges that Nigerians are watching and waiting to read what their judgement will be.

“Give the right judgement by sacking Gen. Buhari because he does not have a WAEC certificate which amounts to a gross violation of the constitution and writes your names in GOLD on the annals of Nigeria’s history for being men of courage and integrity who stood by the truth at a critical moment.

“Initially Gen. Buhari said the certificate was with the military. None of his course mates in the military could testify under oath that they did submit their certificates to the military.

“Besides, even the military itself has come out boldly to say that they are not in possession of General Buhari’s WAEC certificate. Is this a ‘Yahoo-Yahoo’ certificate that people cannot see?”



Read more here https://thickmatch.com/presidential-tribunal-timi-frank-makes-fresh-claims-president-buharis-waec-certificate/

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oyo State chapter, has accused the state’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of being desperate to blackmail what it described as “the laudable achievements” of Governor Seyi Makinde and the ruling party in the state in the last 100 days of his administration.

The PDP, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Engineer Akeem Olatunji, accused the APC of sponsoring all manners of falsehood against the PDP and the Makinde government all in an effort aimed at belittling the successful clearing of the rot left behind by the APC in the state and the positive turnaround the state has begun to experience since Makinde assumed office.

The statement reads in parts, “We are greatly appalled at the desperation of the APC to publicise all manners of lies and falsehood against our government.

“There is a permissible level of decency in politics and we expect all Omoluabis to follow that cause.

“Rather than wish our state well after the eight years of disastrous rule and bad governance the APC foisted on Oyo State, that party is standing alone as a rotten apple in the basket, seeking to negatively affect others.

“Let us assure the lie merchants in the APC that our party, the PDP stands firm with Governor Seyi Makinde, and the laudable achievements he has recorded in 100 days.

“No member of the PDP is angry with the Governor and no one is expressing any such frustration as contained in the lies being marketed by the APC.”

The statement indicated that the PDP is solidly behind Governor Makinde on every step all the way, as he continues in his giant strides of laying the foundation for the accelerated development of Oyo State.

The PDP Publicity Secretary added that the umbrella party is more than ever before united as a family, saying: “we are impressed at the globally acclaimed good works of our Governor, the GSM. No one abandons a good product, not even the blind.

“We are making particular reference to a story from the frustrated camps of the APC with the headline “PDP Leaders Dump Oyo Gov. We affirm that this is another of their classic lies, as such write-up is not only laughable but comical.

“It can only come from agents of darkness who do not wish Oyo State well.

“Let us place on record that purveyors of such stories are either deluded, suffering from acute amnesia, or just trying to make a nuisance of themselves.

“It is not only unfounded, frivolous and malicious but also a great lie that stands no reason. Governor Makinde is no longer about Oyo State, he is already a nationally acclaimed deliverer of good dividends of democracy and good governance.

“When God begins a special project, only a fool will refuse to join the train. We as a party are more than ever before, proud of our God-sent ‘Mr. Talk and Do Governor,’ who works more and talks less, and this willpower of Governor Makinde has rekindled our hope and faith in the actualisation of the Oyo project embarked upon by our governor.

“We are 100 percent satisfied with his every move and decision, because he treats every member of PDP as members of the family. We, therefore, enjoin all members of the public to disregard in totality the distractive publications, falsehood and unbridled lies being peddled against the service-delivering Governor Makinde.”



Read more here https://thickmatch.com/100-days-pdp-accuses-apc-publicising-falsehood-makinde/

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, with the Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa and his Osun State counterpart, Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye during a courtesy visit by Speakers of Southwest States Legislatures at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja



See more pictures here https://thickmatch.com/photos-sanwo-olu-receives-speakers-south-west-assemblies-lagos/

The latest National Aids Indicator Impact Survey (NAIIS) has revealed that out of 178,051 persons living with HIV/AIDS in Akwa Ibom state, only 52,780 are on sustained antiretroviral treatment while 125,271 are yet to access it.

The survey further indicated that though the state has recorded a significant drop in HIV prevalence to 5.5 per cent from 10.8 per cent in

2013, about 5.5 per cent of the people between the ages of 15 and 64 are not all on regular treatment.

These were contained in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mr Patrick Essiet and sent to journalists in Uyo, the state capital on Friday.

According to the statement, “The recent National AIDS Indicator Impact Survey (NAIIS) has revealed that Akwa Ibom State has witnessed a significant drop in the prevalence of HIV from 10.8% (ANC Survey 2013) to 5.5% (NAIIS 2018) i.e. 5.5% of people aged 15-64 years are estimated to be infected with the virus.

“This puts the number of persons living with HIV in Akwa Ibom State at 178,051 out of which 52,780 persons are currently on sustained antiretroviral treatment.

“A significant number of persons in the state are yet to know their HIV status and 125,271 persons infected with HIV will need to be

diagnosed and placed on lifelong therapy.”



Essiet said the state government has reiterated its determination and commitment to removing user fees for all HIV-related services.

He said removal would address all barriers to treatment by People Living with HIV and AIDs in the State.

He warned health workers to be properly guided by the removal adding that “there will be consequences for non compliance to the directive”

The statement added that the measure was announced when a team from Office of the Global AIDs Coordinator, Washington DC, paid a courtesy call to the commissioner for health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong.

The team according to the statement was led by Bill Paul – Nigerian Chair, Deputy Coordinator for Program Quality; Lisa Baldwin – Division Chief, Health Team Leader, Africa Bureau, United State Agency on International Development Headquarters; Tedd Ellerbrock – Global Care and Treatment Lead, Centre for Disease Control Headquarters Atlanta, USA; Emilo Dirlikov of CDC Nigeria; Dr. Chris Obanubi of USAID Nigeria and Dr Hadiza Khamofu – SIDHAS DCOPT among others.




See more here https://thickmatch.com/staggering-number-people-living-hiv-aids-akwa-ibom-revealed/

https://www.nairaland.com/5403524/ebonyi-state-varsity-student-hospitalized

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved the removal of the age limit for the position of IMF managing director, paving the way for Kristalina Georgieva to head the multilateral lender.

Since 1951, the IMF’s bylaws had prohibited the appointment of a candidate aged 65 or over as managing director.

It had also prohibited the managing director from serving past his/her 70th birthday, the IMF executive board said in a statement.

The board of governors has approved the proposal by the executive board to remove the age limit for the position of IMF managing director, it said.

The amendment, effective immediately, brings the managing director’s terms of appointment into line with those of members of the IMF executive board, which the managing director chairs, and those of the president of the World Bank, who are not subject to an age limit, the executive board said.

The 66-year-old Georgieva, a Bulgarian national, served on the European Commission and has been the Chief Executive Officer of the World Bank since January 2017.

So far, the only candidate, Georgieva, was selected by the European Union to lead the IMF after narrowly defeating former Dutch Finance Minister, Jeroen Dijsselbloem.

The position of IMF chief has always been held by Europeans while the head of the World Bank has traditionally been American, an informal arrangement that has stayed in place for over seven decades.

In July, Christine Lagarde announced her resignation from the IMF position with effect from September 12, shortly after she was nominated for the presidency of the European Central Bank (ECB), triggering a selection process for the global lender’s next managing director.

Nominations to the position closed on September 6 and the IMF executive board intend to complete the selection.




See more here https://thickmatch.com/imf-removes-age-limit-position-managing-director/

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila says the House will authorise legal funding for Nigerians who are victims of the fresh xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

The Speaker said this on Friday during a press briefing on the xenophobic attacks in the country.

“The house will also authorise legal funding for victims of the attack who wish to take legal action against the perpetrators.”

Mr Gbajabiamilia appealed to Nigerians not to attack South African businesses in the country, adding that the House of Reps is with President Muhammadu Buhari on his decisions concerning the matter.

He noted also that the Minister of Foreign affairs, the Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa and the Chairman of the Diaspora Commission will be invited by the House.

He also advised the South African government to conduct a thorough investigation and make public their findings.




See more here https://thickmatch.com/xenophobia-reps-will-authorise-legal-funding-victims-attacks-gbajabiamila/

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, has said the 36 Nigerians arrested for allegedly vandalising businesses belonging to South Africans in reaction to the xenophobic attacks will be prosecuted.

Adamu said Nigeria is a country being governed by laws, describing those displaying such anti-xenophobic destruction as criminals and unpatriotic citizens.

He said the arrest was lawful and justifiable and was done to portray Nigerians as law abiding citizens before the global community.

The Inspector General of Police spoke in Ado Ekiti on Thursday during a security Stakeholders’ meeting held in Ado Ekiti capital city.

Defending the arrest, Adamu said: “the arrest showed that Nigeria is a country that has laws and it shows that we can never behave the way others behaved.

“No individual is allowed to take law into his hands. The Federal government is dealing with the issue of killings and attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

“The fact that Nigerians are being attacked over there shouldn’t be a reason for anybody to attack the businesses of South African nationals.

“Those who did that are unpatriotic and they are criminals and that was why we arested some of them and we will prosecute them”, he said.

Adamu added that the country’s policing system had been redesigned and rejigged to be community-based so that all Nigerians can see the issue of security as their responsibilities.

“Our strategy for policing has changed. The community is now working with us and we are going to ensure that all the communities are represented whether you are traditional rulers or you belong to any socio cultural group.

“We are going to train people from each community who will have the power of the police and power to arrest. They will be deployed to help the police in fighting crimes. When it comes to recruitment, we will come to your communities,” he said.

On why the police decided to interact with the stakeholders, Adamu said: “there are isolated cases of robbery, kidnapping and cultism in the souuthwest of recent and we believe the traditional rulers and the state governors must show commitment and we are ready to do anything to mitigate the security problems.

“We believe that if we all work together by way of robbing minds and share ideas,our society will be free of crimes.”

The IGP added that the government was seriously concerned about the welfare of the officers, saying “We have bought patrol vehicles and with the state of the earth technology that can checkmate crimes.

“We believe no officer should die in the course of fighting crimes . To this end, body armour have been procured to protect us while confronting the evil doers. If you kill one police officer, the government has lost the money spent to train such man”.

The Ekiti State police Commissioner, Asuquo Amba, said the police have been able to reduce crimes in Ekiti due to hardwork displayed by his men.

He said his command had also maintained robust and smooth collaborations with other sister agencies to maintain security of lives and property.

Speaking, the Chairman of the Ekiti State Traditional Rulers and the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, said the commended the IGP and promised that the body will continually support the police to make Ekiti safe.




See more here https://thickmatch.com/xenophobia-arrested-vandalsll-prosecuted-igp/

Adamawa State Governor, Alhaji Ahmad Fintiri escaped death in the early hours of Wednesday when unknown gunmen invaded the venue of the People’s Democratic Party primary.

Fintiri was the Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party primary held on Tuesday at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja.

Delegates voting and counting had extended into early hours of Wednesday.

Our correspondent who witnessed the incident reports that counting of votes which started at exactly 11pm on Tuesday was in progress when gunmen stormed the venue shooting sporadically while Fintiri was counting the votes.

There were ten ballot boxes being sorted and counted and Fintiri was on box number 8 at around 1.15am when the shooting started.

The Governor was immediately whisked away by his security details and was later driven out of the stadium at about 3 am.

Although the number of gunmen could not be immediately ascertained, a security operative who also took cover under an SUV belonging to one of the aspirants said that they were up to twenty.



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