₦airaland Forum

Popular musician, Tekno at the weekend let his fans down when he put up an uninspiring performance at an event at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja where tickets sold for N1 million Naira for gold table, N2million for Platinum table and 7000 Naira for regular tickets.

Tekno, whose time to hit the stage came after Styl-Plus, Flavour N’abania had wowed the crowd numbering about 1,000, let them down, by murmuring into the mic and abruptly ending songs he performed at the event.

read more: https://newsworth.ng/tekno-disappoints-abuja-fans-says-finished-spending-money-paid-perform/

The federal government has issued a query to the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu over the corruption charges filed against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Mr. Danladi Umar.

In the query dated February 16, 2018 and with Reference No DPP/ADV:368/15 a copy of which was obtained by PRNigeria, Magu was ordered to make his response to the query available to the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice on or before Tuesday, February 20, 2018.

In the letter signed by Mr. Dayo Apata, the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Magu was asked to explain what informed the filing of corruption charges against the tribunal chairman having being cleared of corruption allegation two times by the commission.

Entitled “FR VS Danladi Umar (CR/109/18) request for Briefing,” the query read in part: “The attention of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation was drawn to news report that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed charges of corruption against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Hon. Justice Danladi Umar, before the FCT High Court.

“I am directed by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to seek clarification from you as to whether the charges were filed on your instruction or directive and if in the affirmative, what is the compelling basis for doing so. This clarification becomes imperative in view of the following background facts.

“The Commission’s investigation report dated 5th March 2015 addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation stated as follows: “The facts as they are now against Justice Umar raised a mere suspicion and will therefore not be sufficient to successfully prosecute for the defence.

“The Commission’s position in paragraph 2(a) above was also maintained and sustained by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation while appearing before the House of Representatives’ Investigative Committee sometimes in 2015 to the effect that report of investigations showed that the allegations against Hon. Justice Danladi Umar were based on mere suspicions.

read more: https://newsworth.ng/fg-queries-efcc-boss-magu-wants-response-tuesday/

The Lagos state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has approved the payment of N30,000 as monthly stipend to Ready.Set.Work, RSW, volunteers who have been placed on intenship in various organisations for six months.

He also gave nod to the setting apart of N8 million in seed funding for the top five winners of the RSW Business Pitch Competition, whose businesses will be placed in incubation.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Obafela Bank-Olemoh, in a statement issued on Sunday, said the beneficiaries will commence their internship and incubation, respectively, on March 1.

He explained that the interns were part of the 2,000 final year students from six tertiary institutions in the state who took part in the 2017 edition of the 13-week intensive entrepreneurship and employability training programme.

Bank-Olemoh disclosed that the Ready.Set.Work programme, which held its pilot in 2016, with 500 final year students from three tertiary institutions in the state, was scaled up in 2017 to 12,000 students from six institutions, including Lagos State University, University of Lagos, Lagos State Polytechnic, Lagos State College of Health Technology, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education and Michael Otedola College of Primary Education.

read more: https://newsworth.ng/lagos-rsw-volunteers-get-n30000-monthly-stipend/

Ex-military president, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, IBB, at the weekend received members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Working Committee led by  its national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, telling them that “your ‘Reposition, Rebrand and Regain’ agenda is working”.

While commending the conduct of the national convention of the PDP, he observed that not a few Nigerians believed that the elective event will hold adding however that the outcome of the convention was successful.

He was however particular about the move by the PDP to rebrand itself, lauding the efforts made by the party in that regard. “I am happy at your assurances that there will be no imposition in all your primary elections. It is all about choice and you have promised to provide the best choice,” the retired general said.

read more: https://newsworth.ng/2019-ibb-says-pdps-agenda-regain-power-working/

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has warned of the consequence of calling public officials elected into executive positions leaders of their political parties, pointing out that this practice prevents parties from being truly independent.

Speaking on Friday while receiving a delegation from the International Republican Institute, IRI, led by its president, Daniel Twinning, he harped on the need to strengthen political parties adding that recent development in South Africa demonstrated that political parties can be independent.

read more: https://newsworth.ng/president-governors-shouldnt-called-leaders-parties-dogara/

Following the attacks coming his way over the effigy of Jacob Zuma in Owerri now that the immediate past South African president has resigned, the Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha has insisted that the statute would remain as Zuma is not the first public office holder to resign from office.

Zuma had in a televised address on Wednesday, resigned as President of South Africa following calls on him to do so by the ruling African National Congress, ANC. Zuma, who survived half a dozen no-confidence votes has been under criminal investigations and allegations of corruption culminating in his stepping down.
But Okorocha insists that his government has no reason to pull down the statute of the man erected in Owerri, the state capital, reminding all who care to know that Zuma was still president when the statute was put up in his honour, and that the South African president was not impeached but voluntarily relinquished power.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sam Onwuemedo, in a telephone conversation with DAILY POST, said, “Opinions can be divided. There are those who are calling for it to be pulled down, there are those who are calling for it to stay. So, it depends on which one government listens to. We have no reason to remove what we have erected, simple. We have done it, we have done it.

read more: http://dailypost.ng/2018/02/16/zumas-resignation-okorocha-reacts-calls-demolition-statute/

Few days after revealing that Boko Haram factional leader, Abubakar Shekau now disguises as a woman in a bid to evade arrest, the Nigerian Army has placed a N3million bounty on the head of the fugitive terrorist kingpin.

Army spokesman, Sani Usman said in a statement on Thursday evening that the  N3,000,000 cash reward will go to anyone that provides credible information that would lead to the arrest of Shekau.

According to the statement, “Anybody with such credible information can either contact the Military Command and Control Centre, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, any military location, security agencies  or call the Nigerian Army Information and Call Centre 193.”

Newsworth recalls that Usman had earlier disclosed that information from arrested and surrendered insurgents indicated that Shekau could no longer bear the onslaught of troops as he has abandoned his followers and is running for dear life.

read more: https://newsworth.ng/boko-haram-army-pledges-n3m-reward-information-shekaus-whereabouts/

The Enugu state government has announced an increase in the allowance paid to National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members serving in primary healthcare facilities in rural areas in the state.

The Commissioner for Information in the state, Mr Ogbuagu Anikwe, made this known in Enugu on Wednesday while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting.

He said that medical doctors serving in hospitals in rural areas would henceforth receive N30, 000 monthly from the state government as against N3, 800 being given to them currently.

Similarly, Anikwe revealed that pharmacists, nurses, radiographers, laboratory scientists and statisticians would receive a monthly stipend of N20,000.

He announced that the government also planned to review the service condition and welfare of other set of corps members in the state.

read more: https://newsworth.ng/enugu-govt-increases-corps-members-allowance/

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of complicity in the widespread impunity recorded in last Saturday’s Kano local council elections, particularly the documented massive participation of underage voters in the exercise.
 
The party pointed out that it was INEC that registered the minors as voters in the first place and as such should not in any way attempt to exonerate itself of involvement in the electoral fraud, simply because it did not directly conduct the elections.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said the press release by INEC, wherein it tried to exonerate itself from culpability in the participation of minors in Kano election, clearly shows that INEC under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu is completely unreliable and cannot be trusted.

The statement reads, “We ask: Who is fooling who? Is it not INEC that registered the minors and issued them with Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC) to participate in elections as clearly documented in the Kano council election? Can INEC truly acquit itself as the original culprit who set the stage for the eventual participation of the minors and overall rigging of the elections?

read more: https://newsworth.ng/inec-caused-participation-underaged-voters-kano-council-elections-pdp/

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state at the weekend stated that murderous herdsmen should be treated as criminals, while advising against attaching herdsmen as suffix for Fulani tribe, which he noted, has men and women contributing to nation-building.

He categorically declared that it is morally wrong to stigmatize the Fulani tribe by associating them with killer herdsmen.

The governor stated this while receiving National leaders of the Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim led by its Supreme Head, the Prelate His Eminence Solomon Alao, at the Government House Owerri.

“We cannot be calling Igbos kidnappers or 419ers or Niger Delta people terrorists or militants or Hausa people Boko Harams or Fulani people killer herdsmen because of the activities of few criminals from their areas. That is the issue.

read more: https://newsworth.ng/calling-killer-herdsmen-fulani-morally-wrong-okorocha/

The All Progressive Congress (APC) candidates have cleared the 44 councils seats in Saturday’s Kano State Local Government polls.

Prof. Garba Sheka, Chairman, Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), announced the election results while briefing newsmen in Kano on Sunday.

Sheka said APC also won all the 484 councillorship positions with a wide gap in an election participated by 25 political parties.


He added that the election which was conducted in a peaceful manner, had recorded success due to the large turnout of the electorate and the deployment of security personnel.

“The security agencies include Police, Customs, Immigration, NDLEA, Vigilante groups, NSCDC and other secret security personnel.

“I am proud that the election which was participated by 25 political parties was conducted peacefully without any violence, disruption by any person and no report of arrest,’’ he said.


The KANSIEC Chairman attributed the late commencement of the election to the late arrival of some of the voting materials which were brought from China.

“The commission had earlier received three consignments of the materials, but the last batch arrived Kano at about 12:45 a.m on the election day despite all efforts to ensure it arrived earlier.


“Immediately after we received the materials, we started the distribution about 4 a.m., and by 11 a.m., we have completed the distribution of all the voting materials.

“Therefore, we acknowledge our mistakes; we apologise for the inconveniences caused and we are going to make necessary corrections to avoid reoccurrence of such delay in the next elections,’’ he said.[quote]https://www.google.com.ng/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2018/02/apc-sweeps-kano-lg-polls-voting-materials-imported-china/amp/

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state has sacked his executive assistants, EAs, from Enugu North senatorial district for not doing enough to mobilise people for the continuous voter registration being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

He regretted that the EAs did not live up to their responsibilities in the wards in terms of sensitisation, mobilisation and promotion of government programmes, policies and interests at the grassroots.

Addressing the Enugu North committee meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Nsukka, Ugwuanyi pointed out that the voter registration was vital to the fortunes of the party and the state in the 2019 general elections.

He directed the sacked executive assistants to return to their various wards to revalidate their mandate and obtain fresh endorsement from the people before being reappointed.

read more: https://newsworth.ng/ugwuanyi-sacks-aides-failing-adequately-mobilise-enugu-voters-2019/

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who chaired the 2015 APC presidential campaign, disclosed on Saturday that he “could have been killed by same machinery of power when we were fighting to install President Muhammadu Buhari”.

Speaking during the inauguration of a pro-All Progressives Congress group, Free Rivers Development Initiative, FRDI, in Bori, Khana LGA of Rivers, he said his life was endangered at the time because he was up against the same power that killed foremost environmentalist, Ken Saro-Wiwa.

Noting that the late Ogoni-born environmentalist believed that the people of Ogoni, South-South and the Niger Delta were oppressed, Amaechi asserted that without meeting Ken Saro-Wiwa, he believes in his principles.

“Saro-Wiwa was killed by the then machinery of power because of his belief that Ogonis and the Niger Delta should be liberated,” he said.

read more: https://newsworth.ng/killed-like-ken-saro-wiwa-buhari-2015-amaechi/

Kenya-born French long distance runner, Abraham Kiprotich, has won the 3rd Access Bank Lagos City Marathon returning in 2 hours 15 minutes 04 seconds, while Ilya Pam  emerged winner of the indigenous race with 2hrs 27mins.

The winner smiles home the prize money which is a whopping $50,000. Meanwhile, Herpha Guta of Ethiopia has emerged winner of the women edition of Lagos City Marathon 42km race. She achieved this in 2hourrs 38mins.

The 3rd Access Bank Lagos City Marathon started on Saturday at 6.30 am with a former Super Eagles Captain, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, and former national basketball team Captain, D’Tigers, Olumide Oyedeji, participating.

read more: https://newsworth.ng/lagoscitymarathon-kenya-born-french-kiprotich-wins-2018-edition-2hrs-15mins/

Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello has declared that he believes in the wisdom and judgment of President Muhammadu Buhari, even as he expressed faith in the President’s appointment of Bola Tinubu to reconcile aggrieved members of the All Progessives Congress, APC.

Speaking with State House correspondents after observing Friday Islamic prayer at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he said, “Whatever Mr. President believes in, his judgement and his wisdom I believe in him. And I believe in his ability to bring all party members together”.

The governor went on to express support for the decision of the National Assembly to re-arrange the order of elections in 2019, stating that it would prevent a repeat of 2015 where the “Buhari Tsunami” helped many “bad ones” to be elected into office.

read more: https://newsworth.ng/believe-whatever-buhari-believes-kogi-governor/

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh on Friday disclosed that Nigeria currently has an estimated population of 19.5 million cattle, and needs 1,711 ranches in every state of the federation, totalling 633,333 in all.

Speaking while receiving an acceptance letter from the Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello on the setting up of cattle colony in the state, Ogbeh debunked claims that the federal government was out to take over lands from states and hand same to Fulani herdsmen for colonization.

He noted that mischievous persons have been misinterpreting the motive of the government on cattle colonies, reiterating that “we are not planning to take land from states for Fulanis to occupy”.

The minister, who disclosed that cattle contribute 6 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, said, “We have an estimated population of 19.5 million cattle now. If we have every individual keeping a ranch, it is an average population of 300 cows per herd.

“We need 1,711 ranches in every state, and 633,333 ranches in the country. The land belongs to states under the Land Use Act and we don’t have any intention to colonise them.

read more: https://newsworth.ng/cattle-colonies-need-1711-ranches-every-state-minister/

Former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has disclosed that many of the prominent politicians on the continent understood their idea of democracy from the military.

Speaking at a workshop in Abuja on Friday, he stated that some politicians learnt their “do-or-die mentality” towards elections from the military and have failed to understand that regular, free and fair elections are a key component of democracy.

Noting that the military bequeathed “a lot of dangerous legacies”, he said, “in Africa today, we notice that despite achieving democracy, we’ve not had complete freedom.

“We still experience struggles and challenges and difficulties. The struggle for democracy has been characterised by frustrations.

“One of the key components of democracy that every African should note is regularity in elections as well as integrity of elections.

read more: https://newsworth.ng/jega-reveals-politicians-learnt-die-mentality/

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Thursday stated that by appointing Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to lead the All Progressives Congress, APC, Reconciliation Committee, President Muhammadu Buhari is now “looking for those to use once again; to beguile Nigerians, ahead of the 2019 elections”.

It derided the choice of Tinubu for the assignment, who the party said has openly expressed concerns and disapprovals on the mismanagement of the economy and “whose large constituents are direct victims of the ineptitude, impunity, nepotism, dictatorial tendencies, corruption and insecurity that has characterised the Buhari presidency”.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, who made this assertion in a statement, said the presidency had become so panicky that it had effectively hijacked the functions of the leadership of its alleged “dysfunctional and ideologically-vacuous All Progressives Congress,” by appointing people into partisan offices, outside the much-desired responsibility of governance.

read more: https://newsworth.ng/2019-pdp-mocks-apc-reconciliatory-move-says-buhari-using-tinubu-deceive-nigerians/

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG, in charge of Zone 5, Mr Rasheed Akintunde, has stated that being a police personnel is the best job anyone could get, explaining that this is because “a policeman with only a whistle can stop anyone irrespective of the position”.

He stated this yesterday while addressing officers and men of the Bayelsa State Command of the force during a familiarization visit to the police headquarters in Yenagoa.

While charging officers to do their job well, Akintunde said: “There is no other job better than the police. If you move out, a policeman with only a whistle can stop anyone irrespective of the position. That is when you will know that this job is the best.

“Honourables want police security, unfortunately, even Reverend Fathers, Bishops nowadays want police security. That is why only 20 per cent of men of the Police Force,” he said.

The AIG however warned that the “Police force is not for lazy persons. A police personnel may be called at anytime and any hour of the day. Your uniform must be by your side. You must be professional and know what you are doing.”

read more: https://newsworth.ng/theres-no-job-better-police-aig-reveals/

President Muhammadu Buhari’s  sister in-law, Hajiya Aisha Mamman, has passed on.

The 75-year old Mamman died in the early hours of Thursday.

The Information Officer of Daura Local Government Council in Katsina state, Alhaji Salisu Haro, made the disclosure in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Daura.

He said the deceased died at 11:30 in the morning at the Federal Medical Center in Katsina after a brief illness.

Haro said that the deceased was the wife of the late Alhaji Mamman Danbaffale, the elder brother to Buhari.

He disclosed that Mamman was survived by eight children, including Fatihu Mamman, a staff of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, and Hajiya Rbiya Mamman, a nutrition officer with the Katsina State Government.

Haro said the deceased had since been buried in Daura in accordance with Islamic injunction.

Source: https://newsworth.ng/buharis-sister-law-aisha-mamman-dies/

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, were at the Aso Villa on Thursday where they told President Muhammadu Buhari that some “glaring failures” of his government is what is causing the fast depletion of the huge goodwill that heralded him into office in 2015.

The bishops, who bared their mind at a courtesy call to Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, regretted that there was too much suffering in the country, with poverty, hunger, insecurity, violence and fear, among others, pervading the nation’s landscape.

Their address at the visit, copies of which were made available to newsmen, was jointly signed by the CBCN President and Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev’d. Ignatius Kaigama; and the Secretary who is also the Bishop of Gboko, Most Rev’d. William Avenya.

Speaking to their host, the clerics said, “there is no doubt that when you came into office, you had an enormous amount of the goodwill of Nigerians, since many saw you as a person of integrity who would be able to bring sanity into a system that was nearly crippled by endemic corruption.

“Nearly three years later, however, one has the feeling that this goodwill is being fast depleted by some glaring failures of government, which we have the moral responsibility to bring to your notice, else we would be failing in our duty as spiritual fathers and leaders.”

read more: https://newsworth.ng/catholic-bishops-tell-buhari-depleting-enormous-goodwill/

Former military president, Ibrahim Babangida’s official spokesman, Prince Kassim Afegbua, yesterday disclosed that it was the former president who called to inform him that he has wanted by the police.

He however added that Babangida was surprised and wondered why the police declared him wanted when he is not a criminal.

Afegbua reported at the Force Headquarters, in Abuja at about 10:10am on Wednesday after the police declared him wanted for writing a disputed statement on behalf of Babangida.

He had on Sunday signed the statement for Babangida in which the former military ruler expressed misgivings about the President Muhammadu Buhari administration and called for a younger leader to emerge in 2019.

However, a counter statement purportedly signed by Babangida was released few hours after the earlier statement made it to the media, which adopted a conciliatory tone in its observations about the Buhari administration but maintained that it was time for a younger generation of leaders to emerge.

Following this development, the police declared Afegbua wanted “for making false statements, injurious falsehood, defamation of character and for act capable of inciting public disturbance throughout the country”.

He turned up at the Louis Edet House in Abuja, accompanied by his legal team, led by his lead counsel, Dr. Kayode Ajulo.

Speaking with newsmen shortly before entering the Louis Edet House, Afegbua maintained that Babangida was fully in support of the statement and is standing solidly behind him.

His words, “the former president is fully behind me and he has been in touch with me. There’s no need for him to say anything more than he has already said.

Read more: https://newsworth.ng/ibb-informed-police-declaration-afegbua/

General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye has broken down killings in parts of the country by suspected herdsmen to simultaneous equations in a bid to finding mathematical solution to the problem.

This happened on Friday night during the RCCG monthly Holy Ghost service at the Redemption Camp in Mowe, Ogun state, where the cleric also opened up on why he had not made personal comments about the killings.

Presenting the widespread destruction of lives as mathematical equations, Adeboye, who holds a Ph.D in mathematics, said, “There are certain problems beyond man

“There is no problem beyond God

“Man can hide from his fellow man

“No man can hide from God

“Security agents can be compromised

“God cannot be compromised. His holiness is not negotiable and cannot be compromised.

“Man can sponsor evil

“God cannot sponsor evil

While simultaneously solving the above problem, he said the equations just have one answer; which is that “a prayer warrior is more effective than an activist”.

Read more: https://newsworth.ng/pastor-adeboye-reduces-killings-nigeria-equations-solves-maths/

The lawmaker representing Bayelsa East senatorial district, Ben Murray-Bruce on Friday declared that he is embarrassed for President Muhammadu Buhari over the 2018 appropriation bill.

He noted that the document is so dishonest and shameful that he would have called on Nigerians to give a stroke of the cane to all those involved in preparing the budget.

Bruce stated this in a post on his Twitter handle which reads, “The 2018 budget is so dishonest, so scandalous, so shameful that I am embarrassed for President Buhari. If I were President, I will make a broadcast asking concerned Nigerians to gather at National Stadium to line up to give everyone involved in that budget one stroke of the cane”.

Source: https://newsworth.ng/buhari-allow-nigerians-cane-behind-scandalous-2018-budget-murray-bruce/

A lecturer in the Faculty of Humanities, Maitama Sule University, Kano, Prof. Umar Muhammad Labdo has reiterated his earlier claim on Facebook that Benue state is a Fulani domain and not for Tivs, whose background he traced to Fulani and Jukun.

Speaking on the origin of the Tiv nation, he said their founding father was a Fulani named Mohammed Alla, who migrated from Katsina to that area and got married to a Jukun woman.

The academic maintained that Alla through the Jukun woman fathered the Tiv people, stressing that it was because the former came from Katsina to settle among his people already in that area that there is a town called Katsina Alla in Benue state today.

read more: https://newsworth.ng/benue-state-belongs-fulani-prof-labdo/

The Presidency on Friday decried what it called an upsurge in the promotion of hate speech by the media especially with regard to the farmers/herders crisis in Benue state. It lamented the use of derogatory words against President Muhammadu Buhari to the extent of insinuating that the President was a murderer.

Noting that a section of the media is sinking deep “into the mesh of hate speech”, Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the lack of adherence to journalism ethics and press laws in the Nigerian media is quite unfortunate.

He pointed out that the frequent expressions of hate speech published by newspapers, in news stories and even in columns have become a source of concern to all Nigerians.

Shehu, who stated this while interacting with newsmen, stressed that his principal is not a murderer, maintaining that Nigerians should be able express themselves without “resorting to gutter language”.

read more: https://newsworth.ng/presidency-bemoans-media-reportage-benue-killings-says-buhari-not-murderer/

National leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has accused former president Olusegun Obasanjo of playing politics with his toxic open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Newsworth recalls that Obasanjo had in a special press statement released last week accused Buhari of poor performance, nepotism and condonation of corruption as he told the incumbent to perish any thought of seeking second term in 2019.

Reacting to the statement, the former Lagos governor said Obasanjo could have taken advantage of his free access to Buhari in communicating his observations about administration, rather than upbraiding the present government in an open letter.

He spoke in a chat with journalists at the Imo State Government House, in Owerri, where he and APC former interim national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, made a stop over on their way to Anambra state for the burial ceremony of late former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme.

The former Lagos governor said, Obasanjo “has unrestricted access to the President, either through the Council of State or by any other means that he need to see the current President privately and he was his junior in the Army.

read more: https://newsworth.ng/tinubu-reveals-sees-obasanjos-letter-buhari/

The House of Representatives Committee on Security and National Intelligence has been called upon by concerned directors of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari to rescind the appointment of Ahmed Rufai Abubakar as the director-general of the agency.

Writing for and on behalf of Concerned Directors of the National Intelligence Agency, they used fictitious names such as E. O. Olanrewaju, Nelson Obiakor and Ahmed Sarki to protect their real identities.

The directors, in an advertisement published in THISDAY on Thursday and reported by the newspaper, described Abubakar as a misfit and unqualified for the post of DG of the NIA having failed to merit elevation to the rank of director and had retired from NIA.

They regretted that he has now been appointed to come and preside over people who are not only his seniors in rank, but who fit into the order of precedence.

Newsworth recalls that while deflating allegations of Abubakar’s nationality and competence to head the NIA, the presidency had said, “The new NIA DG retired from Foreign Service as Deputy Director (not Assistant Director) and three times during his career, had won Merit Award for competence and meritorious service. Failing promotion examination can only exist in the fecund minds of fiction writers.

“His last position before the new appointment was as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs/International Affairs where again he quietly proved himself.

“Abubakar’s parents hailed from Katsina State, and had settled in Chad at a point in their lifetime. The new DG did his primary school in Ndjamena (then Fort-Lamy), but returned to Nigeria for his secondary and University education. He never at any time held Chadian nationality.”

But the concerned directors stated that since the inception of the agency 32 years ago, nobody below the rank of director had been appointed as head of the NIA.

They warned that Abubakar’s appointment as DG would certainly set a dangerous precedent, with equally dangerous implications.

Read more: https://newsworth.ng/nia-directors-write-reps-decrying-abubakars-appointment-dg-threaten-leaks-hostile-countries/

United States President, Mr. Donald Trump gave his first State of the Union, SOTU, address on Tuesday. Below is a full text of what he said, as prepared for delivery and released by the White House:

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, the First Lady of the United States, and my fellow Americans:

Less than 1 year has passed since I first stood at this podium, in this majestic chamber, to speak on behalf of the American People — and to address their concerns, their hopes, and their dreams. That night, our new Administration had already taken swift action. A new tide of optimism was already sweeping across our land.

Each day since, we have gone forward with a clear vision and a righteous mission — to make America great again for all Americans.

Over the last year, we have made incredible progress and achieved extraordinary success. We have faced challenges we expected, and others we could never have imagined. We have shared in the heights of victory and the pains of hardship. We endured floods and fires and storms. But through it all, we have seen the beauty of America’s soul, and the steel in America’s spine.

Each test has forged new American heroes to remind us who we are, and show us what we can be.

We saw the volunteers of the “Cajun Navy,” racing to the rescue with their fishing boats to save people in the aftermath of a devastating hurricane.

We saw strangers shielding strangers from a hail of gunfire on the Las Vegas strip.

Read full text here: https://newsworth.ng/president-trump-delivers-first-state-union-address-full-text/

A former Senate President, Ameh Ebute, yesterday lamented that the kind of letter written to successive Nigerian presidents by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo are such that can instigate the people against government of the day.

This was as he insisted that Obasanjo is the one causing trouble in the country in view of his recent special press statement to President Muhammadu Buhari and other letters he had written to former Nigerian leaders.

While describing Obasanjo’s latest outburst as a case of corruption fighting back, he pointed out that the ex-president is pushing corruption back in the country at a time the current administration is pushing the scourge away.

The Third Republic Senate President, who spoke while briefing journalists in Abuja, said Nigerians would recall that he had always been the one replying Obasanjo’s letters to leaders, insisting that the latest letter was not written in good faith.


Read more: https://newsworth.ng/obasanjo-causes-trouble-letters-ex-senate-president/

The Nigerian Army is following up its ongoing clearance operations of Sambisa forest by constructing road connecting heartland of the forest with adjoining towns.

This, the Army spokesman, Sani Usman said is as a result of the Force’s determined efforts to make the reclaimed stronghold of Boko Haram terrorists a habitable and also training ground.

“Already, work has commenced in earnest along Gwoza-Yamteke-Bitta road, as well as the reconstruction of the road from Gwoza-Yamteke-Bitta-Tokumbere, leading into Sambisa forest,” read a statement issued on Wednesday morning.

See photos here: https://newsworth.ng/army-constructs-road-sambisa-forest-photos/

Troops of 707 Special Forces Brigade, Nigerian Army, on Monday raided the shrine and suspected hideout of a notorious witch doctor, Mr. Tordue Gber (Tiv Swem), who acts as spiritual adviser to wanted armed criminal militias at Tor-Dunga town, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state.

During the operation, the soldiers succeeded in arresting the occupant, Gber (Tiv Swem), who is an ally of the wanted notorious criminal, Akwazar Terwase (alias Gana), who was declared wanted by the security agencies and has been at large since 2016.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday bythe Army spokesman, Sani Usman, preliminary investigation shows that “Tiv Swem acts as spiritual counselor that provides Gana with “diabolical” powers and the shrine serves as hideout for wanted armed militia, meeting and planning point for operations and logistics base for the criminal armed militias that operate in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States”.

Read more: https://newsworth.ng/troops-raid-militias-shrine-benue-arrest-chief-priest/