₦airaland Forum

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday arrived in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, to participate in the mega rally organised in support of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Gboyega Oyetola, ahead of Saturday’s election.


See the photographs as shared by the personal assistant to the President on New Media, Bashir Ahmad:


https://punchng.com/photos-buhari-arrives-in-osogbo/

The Kano State Assembly has confirmed Nasiru Gawuna as the new Kano Deputy Governor.

The new Deputy Governor is expected to be sworn in today.

Details later…


https://www.channelstv.com/2018/09/18/breaking-kano-assembly-confirms-gawuna-as-new-deputy-governor/

Babajide Sanwo-Olu has announced his bid to seek the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 Lagos governorship election.

Sanwo-Olu made his intention known on Sunday while addressing his supporters at City Hall, Lagos.

The governorship aspirant says he intends to make Lagos the “greatest, most vibrant city on the African continent, taking its rightful place in the comity of states around the globe”.

He said: “I have a vision for a Lagos with modern and affordable transport system, impeccable public health facilities, world class educational institutions, where we succeed in educating and skilling our youth, especially our children.

“A vision for a Lagos where our children are educated and our youth are highly-skilled, healthy, free of hunger, illiteracy, disease and destitution.

“There’s a lot of work to be done to achieve the Lagos of our dream.”

Sanwo-Olu said he “will be a good party man and run an inclusive government” while he also commended Babatunde Fashola, former Lagos governor, for his efforts while leading the state.

The former banker is believed to have the backing of Mandate Movement, a group loyal to Bola Tinubu, national leader of the party.

In 2003, Sanwo-Olu served as special adviser on corporate matters to Femi Pedro, former deputy governor of Lagos.

He will contest against Akinwunmi Ambode, Lagos governor, for the APC ticket.

https://www.thecable.ng/sanwo-olu-declares-bid-challenge-ambode-lagos-apc-guber-ticket/

NATIONAL Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Saturday said the party will rule the country 32 years unlike the now opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which ruled for just 16 years, declaring that the PDP was dead and buried in Lagos.

This was just as he declared that the APC would come next Saturday sweep the governorship poll in Osun State.

Asiwaju Tinubu made this prediction at the Agege Stadium while welcoming the Chairman, Lagos chapter of PDP, Hon. Moshood Olagoke Salvador, to APC, saying what the gathering, comprising a large number of former members of PDP, who also joined Salvador to move into APC, was a wake keep for the “dead” PDP.

Tinubu, who was represented by Senator Anthony Adefuye, while commending Salvador for taken the action to cross over to APC, describing him and his teeming supporters as genuine PDP members joining the APC camp of recent.

“I must commend you for leaving your former party for APC. We allowed the PDP to rule for 16 years, thus, APC will rule for 32 years. And next week, we will deliver Osun to APC. The train of defection started in Abuja and it was based on those that couldn’t get return ticket started making noise because they weren’t sure of returning and they defected to another party. We have the genuine PDP members that are defecting to our party,” he said.

According to the APC national leader, the first among the genuine PDP chieftains to cross over to APC in recent times was the former Governor Godswill Akpabio, who he attested to his near control of political machinery in Akwa-Ibom State, describing Salvador as the backbone of PDP in Lagos.

“We all know that Salvador is the backbone of PDP in Lagos. But he has left PDP for APC. So by tomorrow, the PDP would have disappeared from the state,” Tinubu declared.

Speaking after being handed over his new party, APC flag, Salvador, while expressing his appreciation to the party leadership, declared that with his moving over to APC, Lagos had now become a one-party state.

“I am here to let you know that Lagos is now a one-party state,” the former PDP chieftain declared, adding: “We have only two political parties in Lagos before now but with my defection and other members, it has shown that we now have one political party in the state.”

The former PDP chairman projected, come 2019 polls, APC would in Lagos State gather over 3million votes at the governorship while it scores over 5million at the presidential, saying this feat alone would part of his own contribution to the success of the party.

“The result of the 2015 election indicated that if scores of APC and PDP were added together, it would amount to over 98 per cent while the other parties scores were insignificant.

“My target is to ensure that APC clinch every post. We will ensure that over 3million votes are scored at the gubernatorial election and over 5million votes are for the president. And that will be my contribution for the party.

On the coming Osun governorship poll, Salvador said: “Lagos State is a pacesetter. Any state in the South-West that refuses to follow APC is only wasting their time. There is no other party in South-West than APC. And I expect that in Osun because next week Saturday, the governorship poll will be held, I am appealing to everyone in Osun not to be the backbencher, they should join the progressives.

“They should ensure that they come out en masse and vote for the APC. That is the party that can deliver the dividends of democracy in that state and South-West.”

Speaking at the event, the state chairman of APC, Alhaji Babatunde Balogun, described the reception as one for brothers and sisters, who had come to realise that, “we are all progressives and we have to work together.”

The APC chairman said people had come to trust and believe in the party, noting that was as a result of the party having made efforts to turn around the state through the leaders that were blessed with vision.

Balogun described Salvador as someone who had always been a progressive, declaring that the former PDP boss and others decided they wanted to swim with the tide.

He, therefore, assured them they would not work in vain for APC as they would reap their efforts.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described Hon. Moshood Salvador’s defection as face-saving, noting that the embattled former chairman had been technically expelled following a vote of no-confidence on him emanating from his presence at a PDP rally where a local government chairman, Niyi Aborishade, was assassinated.

Spokesperson of the party, Mr Taofik Gani, said this in a statement made available to newsmen.

According to the statement, Salvador has only moved out of PDP to APC proactively to avoid his imminent expulsion already concluded, saying he was not a figure that could pose any threat to PDP’s victory, come 2019 elections.

“He has only moved proactively to avoid the imminent expulsion already concluded. He is not a figure that can be any threat to our victory. He did not even emerge as the PDP chairman on merit or as a result of his political clout, rather he enjoyed the benevolence of some leaders of the party in the state, same persons he now malign as ‘undemocratic.’

“His defection will not end with APC, he is ambitious to be a senator or even governor. He said this to many whilst in our party. Our counsel to Hon. Salvador is to get moderately ambitious and less arrogant in decision making. We wish him well,” the party said.

https://www.tribuneonlineng.com/164570/

Former senate president, David Mark, has visited Minna, capital of Niger state, where he held a private meeting with the former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida.


The meeting lasted two hours at the residence of Mr Babangida.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mr Mark arrived at about 1.30 p.m. in company of Zainab Kure, Tunde Ogbeha and Suleman Adokwe, current chairman of the senate committee on information and national orientation.

The 70-year-old Mr Mark, who has been in the senate since 1999, recently declared that he was running for president.

He is believed to have discussed his ambition with Mr Babangida, his former military boss.

Several other aspirants have also met with the former ruler.


Among them are the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former governors Attahiru Bafarawa, Sule Lamido and Ahmed Makarfi, all contesting under the People’s Democratic Party platform.

One of Mr Mark’s aides who did not want his name mentioned said, “Yes my boss is discussing with IBB. First to brief him and seek his prayers and support for the task ahead.”

Ms Kure, who is the director general for the David Mark Presidential Campaign Organisation, told NAN that Mr Mark is a good material needed to reposition the country for optimal growth.

“He was a former military governor, communications minister and senate president of the Federal Republic. So he possesses all the required political acumen to lead our country,” she said.

Ms Kure also hoped that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would conduct a free, fair and credible election.

“I am appealing to all eligible Nigerians to support the electoral processes to enable the commission discharge its constitutional mandate,” she said.

She said the task to ensure a peaceful conduct of the 2019 election is the joint responsibility of everyone, especially the politicians.

(NAN)

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/283838-david-mark-visits-ibrahim-babangida-in-minna.html

Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the All Progressives Congress would win the 2019 general elections on the basis of its performance, irrespective of the doomsday predictions by some international financial institutions and publications.

The minister made the boast in Lagos on Friday when he visited the corporate headquarters of Channels Television, in furtherance of the National Campaign Against Fake News, which was launched by the Federal Government in July.

In a statement, Mohammed said the negative predictions against the APC-led Federal Government by the British financial institution, HSBC, and the Intelligence Unit of the Economist, were based on fake premises, thus qualifying such predictions as fake news.

He said, “Talking about fake news, we expect that those who have been deeply affected by our policies will mount a sustained campaign against this administration in the weeks and months to come. In fact, they have already started.

“We have all read that the Intelligence Unit of the Economist said the Peoples Democratic Party would defeat the ruling APC in 2019. We have also read that HSBC said Nigeria’s economic development would be stunted if President Buhari gets a second term.

“Let me state clearly that these reports are based on fake premises and, therefore, qualify as fake news. It is a psychological warfare by those who have been badly hit by our policies.

“For example, our fight against corruption has meant that many financial institutions, especially banks, that fed fat on the proceeds of corruption are no longer able to do that.

“Also, international publications that used to feed fat on questionable supplements paid for by the Federal Government have seen a drastic reduction in such patronage, as the administration cuts down on frivolous spending that was the order of the day in the past.

https://punchng.com/apcll-win-2019-elections-despite-doomsday-predictions-minister/

The All Progressives Congress appears not to be losing sleep over the reported defection of Speaker Yakubu Dogara from its fold to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, where he came from.

On the contrary, the APC, which dismissed Dogara, as a ‘political paperweight’ said a “crushing and humiliating defeat”, awaits him in next February election in his Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa constituency.

APC acting publicity secretary, Yekini Nabena made the party’s position known in a statement Thursday, saying the party was not surprised about Dogara’s ill-advised move.

“It was only a matter of time judging by Dogara’s anti-party antics in the National Assembly where in connivance with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, he exploited all available avenues to sabotage and undermine the APC-led executive. Dogara’s anti-party activities which enabled one of the opposition Party’s sole victory in Bogoro Local Government Area (Dogara’s council) during the recent Bauchi South Senatorial bye-election won by the APC is another pointer, among several others”.

Here is the APC statement;

We have received several media requests for a reaction to the purported defection of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to one of the opposition political parties, as reported in the media.

In reacting, a recent comment by President Muhammadu Buhari, aptly sums Dogara’s reported defection: “The weakest people whose senses of expectation do not align with our vision have exited our Party”.

Dogara’s reported defection has not come to us as a surprise. It was only a matter of time judging by Dogara’s anti-party antics in the National Assembly where in connivance with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, he exploited all available avenues to sabotage and undermine the APC-led executive. Dogara’s anti-party activities which enabled one of the opposition Party’s sole victory in Bogoro Local Government Area (Dogara’s council) during the recent Bauchi South Senatorial bye-election won by the APC is another pointer, among several others.

Indeed, all politics is local. As a Party, we empathise with Dogara on his confusion and despair over his bleak political future given the fact that he is not on ground and a political paperweight in his home Bauchi state. In his emergence as Speaker, Dogara was merely used by his political master to achieve their selfish political ends at the time. They have since moved on to pursue their individual political aspirations and left Dogara in the cold.

We would advise Dogara against his ill-advised decision to recontest his House of Representatives seat under the opposition Party he is linked with because a crushing and humiliating defeat surely awaits him.

As a Party, we remain united and committed to our Progressives ideologies. We urge Party faithful to consolidate on our strengths and collectively go into the 2019 general elections as a united and strong political fighting force to sustain the Change Agenda we are implementing for the benefit of Nigerians.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/crushing-defeat-awaits-paperweight-dogara-in-reps-election-apc/

APC speaks on Dogara’s ‘defection’ to PDP


Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara addressing hundreds of constituents in his Abuja home on Tuesday where he accepted their request to recontest his Reps seat. Photo : Speaker's Media Office.
September 13, 2018Samuel Ogundipe
The All Progressives Congress said on Thursday that it was not disturbed by the effective defection of Speaker Yakubu Dogara to the Peoples Democratic Congress, saying the top lawmaker has no political value to be considered a loss.


“We have read your report online that he has picked up PDP nomination form,” APC spokesperson Yakubu Nabena told PREMIUM TIMES by telephone Thursday morning, hours after the newspaper broke the news that the speaker had quietly purchased form to run on the platform of the major opposition party. “It is not a surprise to us, we already know that he has been working with the PDP.”

Our report Wednesday night was based on insider details supplied by both the speaker’s associates and top officials at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja. Several media outlets started running follow-on stories that confirmed the development shortly thereafter.


The news came a day after Mr Dogara assured his constituents at a rally in Abuja that he would run for a fourth House term, but he did not disclose under which party and no political party’ logo was visible on the placards unfurled by his supporters at the gathering.

Mr Dogara did not formally announce his resignation from the APC or defection to the PDP before picking up the form, an arrangement that some political observers told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday morning was rather unusual for a high-profile politician of his status.

“We now have to be patient and see what exactly informed his decision to take such a high-profile move in such a low-profile manner,” said political analyst Shola Olubanjo.

Mr Dogara has long been expected to leave the APC like scores of federal lawmakers who were locked in bitter and prolonged political rivalry with their governors across the country. More than 50 senators and representatives defected to opposition parties at the height of the wave in July, an exercise that proportionately benefited the PDP.

Senate President Bukola Saraki also defected at the time, a decision that seriously angered the APC and exposed him to impeachment and removal threats.

Although both the party and President Muhammadu Buhari dismissed Mr Saraki’s defection as inconsequential — and that it was, in fact, a desirable result of a deliberate strategy aimed at driving out “corrupt elements” within its ranks — the party still threatened to sue the former Kwara State governor for a slew of anti-party offences.


Mr Nabena said the APC would not expend much energy on Mr Dogara because it might not be worth it.

“He is not a loss to us. Even if we give him the ticket he would lose on ground. He is not even on ground in the first place,” Mr Nabena said. “Those kinds of people we call them Abuja politicians.”

“He is not a problem as far as I am concerned. Yakubu Dogara has no electoral value in the APC,” the spokesperson emphasised.

A spokesperson for the speaker, Turaki Hassan, declined PREMIUM TIMES’ requests for a reaction to Mr Nabena’s charges Thursday morning.

Mr Dogara’s exit would be celebrated by supporters of Governor Mohammed Abubakar in Bauchi State, with whom the speaker has been having political confrontation for about two years.

Although Bauchi heavily leans towards the APC, the top lawmaker is expected to easily retain his seat, spurred by unique demography of his Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency, which has a high population of Christians in a Muslim-majority state.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/283413-apc-speaks-on-dogaras-defection-to-pdp.html

The Federal High Court has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to pay the sum of N10.5 million as compensation to journalist, Jones Abiri, over his illegal detention for two years by the security agency.

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba stated that the DSS did not deny arresting and detaining him since July 2016, denying him access to his doctors, family and friends.

He further stated that when Abiri was eventually charged to court earlier this year, he was not charged with the crimes for which he was arrested.

The judge then ruled that the DSS acted outside the provisions of the law regarding the Terrorism Prevention Act, and therefore, ordered the agency to pay the sum.

Mr Abiri, a Bayelsa-based journalist and publisher of the Weekly Source Magazine, was arrested at his office in Yenagoa, the state capital for his alleged link to armed militancy in the Niger Delta region, an allegation he denied.

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/09/13/court-orders-dss-to-pay-n10-5m-as-compensation-to-jones-abiri/

Soldiers and members of the Boko Haram sect are currently engaged in a gun battle at a military base in Damasak, Borno state.

The insurgents reportedly launched an attack on a military base in the area around 5pm on Wednesday.

The incident comes less than a week after Boko Haram fighters struck at a military location in Gudumbali, Guzamala local government area.

More to follow…

https://www.thecable.ng/breaking-boko-haram-attacks-another-military-base-borno/

Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja

The National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, and governors elected on the platform of the party met with those that had indicated interest to run for the Presidency in the party in Abuja on Tuesday night, The PUNCH has learnt.

The meeting, according to investigations by our correspondent, was held at the private residence of the Governor of Ekiti State, who is also the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Mr Ayodele Fayose.


Aspirants who were at the meeting were the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki; Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, and a former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark.

Also at the meeting were a former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Jona Jang; a former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi; a former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed.

The remaining four aspirants who were also present were a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; a former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido; a former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, and a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki (SAN).

The Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo, was said to be absent from the meeting.

The meeting was said to be at the instance of the governors.

Our correspondent gathered that the governors took the decision to invite the aspirants for discussions at their meeting which was held on Sunday night.

The Tuesday meeting, which was presided over by Fayose, also agreed that Secondus would be in attendance.

Sources at the meeting said that Fayose, who recently announced that he had dropped his presidential ambition because of the alleged robbing of the PDP candidate in the Ekiti State governorship election by the All Progressives Congress, started the discussion.

He was said to have told the aspirants on the need to work together and have a common front ahead of the primary, which had been fixed for October 5 and 6.

He was also said to have implored the aspirants to accept the outcome of the primary in good faith, and that whoever won would be supported by all, including those that lost.

Though it was said that Fayose said that it would have been better if the aspirants could work together and produce a consensus presidential candidate, he was, however, said that the governors would not impose that decision on them.

A source at the meeting said, “It was a family gathering where all those present voiced out their mind on the need to have a credible and acceptable presidential primary.

“Fayose, who with Secondus presided over the meeting, was very calm and told the aspirants that what should be paramount to them all is how to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari and not the individual ambition of the aspirants.”

“He also told them that the party would have preferred a consensus arrangement, but still informed them that such was not binding on them. He said it was the right of anyone who had picked forms to take part in the presidential primary.

“But he begged the aspirants to work together at the end of the primary.”

Secondus, it was gathered, assured the governors and the aspirants that the members of the National Working Committee of the party had no favourite aspirant among the aspirants.

Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that Lagos billionaire, Mr Femi Otedola had yet to pick the PDP form to run for governorship election in Lagos State.

Investigations carried out by our correspondent showed that only two aspirants had indicated interest to contest the PDP governorship primary in the state.

The aspirants are Mr Deji Doherty and Mr Jimi Agbaje.

Agbaje, a pharmacist, was the PDP candidate in the 2015 governorship election in the state.


National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, confirmed in an interview with our correspondent that Otedola had yet to pick a form.

“I’m not aware he had picked forms. But we have only two aspirants from Lagos State and he (Otedola ) is not among them, he said.

https://punchng.com/2019-pdp-presidential-aspirants-reject-consensus-insist-on-primary/

The federal government has accused Switzerland of “robbing” Nigeria in the course of recovering funds looted from the country.

Nigeria recently signed an agreement with Switzerland for the release of $322 million said to have been stolen by Sani Abacha, former military head of state.

This is just one of the previous recoveries made by both current and past administrations of the said loot as well as the others, usually through signed treaties.

But speaking at the second International conference on combating illicit financial Flows (IFF) and enhancing asset recovery for sustainable development in Abuja on Tuesday, Geoffrey Onyema, minister of foreign affairs, said the difficulty in recovering the loot is usually “mind-boggling.”

He said though developed countries have been able to put in measures to help identify their citizens who were transferring loot there, it is usually difficult for countries like Nigeria.

“For developing countries as ourselves, it’s so much more difficult – the kind of hurdles that we have to overcome,” he said.

“Large sums of money have been found in Jersey, for instance, and other countries are laying claim to it, because in getting to Jersey, it passed through different jurisdictions. We haven’t been able to get the money back.

“We got some money back from Switzerland, but my God! When you look at the details, I was shocked and extremely angry at the process of recovery. Percentages were paid out to all kinds of institutions.

“To me, this is daylight robbery that these countries are perpetrating, and of course playing on the fact that we’re not the United States. So, it’s something we keep harping on, that these countries have to do a lot more, because at the end of the day, they are condoning huge theft and are accessories after the fact in fact.”

He added that when a country is “making it difficult” for legitimate owners to recover looted funds, “then you’re just as guilty of theft as those that transferred the money in the first place. This is totally unacceptable and totally immoral.”

https://www.thecable.ng/fg-accuses-switzerland-daylight-robbery-recovery-looted-funds/

…Receives 2019 nomination form



President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said that a chain of weakest politicians have left the All Progressives Congress, (APC).

Buhari was referring to the series of defections that engulfed the party.


He spoke while receiving the Presidential nomination form bought for him by the Nigeria Consolidation Ambassador Network (NCAN).

According to him, those who left the party could not place national interest above their selfish interest in line with the objectives of the administration.

Details Later…

http://thenationonlineng.net/weakest-politicians-have-left-apc-says-buhari/

The Senate President and presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has appointed Dr. Doyin Okupe as chairman of the Media Council for his campaign Organisation.

Okupe, a medical doctor and politician, had served as the National Publicity Secretary of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) in the aborted Third Republic, Director of Communications of the Presidential campaigns of two former presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan and later served as senior special assistant on Media and Public Affairs to both Presidents.
Okupe will work with other top professionals in the team to effectively communicate the campaign messages of Dr. Saraki to the people of Nigeria and the international community.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/breaking-saraki-appoints-doyin-okupe-chair-of-campaign-media-council/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday declared that contrary to insinuations in certain quarters, his administration had no plans to Islamize Nigeria.

Buhari stressed that there was no credible fact to indicate that his administration was out to Islamise Nigeria.

The President spoke through the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF) Boss Mustapha while meeting the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in Sokoto.

He noted with dismay that such negative propaganda and innuendos were being promoted by outsiders and finds narrative in the churches across the country.

Mustapha blamed politicians for using religion as a tool to spread hate and division among the people.

He said, “It is pertinent to note that due to circumstances we found ourselves as a nation, suspicion on religious grounds has almost destroyed the fabrics of unity and love that binds us.

“There has been a lot of negative propaganda being instigated by outsiders and finds narrative in the church that there is a plan to Islamise Nigeria without any credible fact.

“The issue of membership of Nigeria to Organisation of Islamic Conference, Shariah and farmers/herdsmen clashes had created a lot of suspicion in the minds of the people despite the fact that the problems had existed in the country for several decades.”

The President said both Christian and Muslim religious leaders had been victims of killings in some parts of the country.

He said that the federal government was committed to securing the lives of the citizens.

“I assure all Nigerians that criminals would be fished out and dealt with. The federal government will continue to provide a safe society for everyone.

“The fight against the Boko Haram insurgency is achieving the desired goal while efforts are being made to tackle myriad of challenges in the polity,” he stressed.

The president expressed optimism that Nigeria would rise again, despite themyriad of challenges bedevilling it.

He stressed the need for the church, especially Catholic bishops to rise up to the occasion and educate the people on the negative propaganda being spread by politicians in order to achieve theirselfish aims.

“As you round off this conference, I urge you to go back to your various communities and preach a message of hope, reconciliation and peace,” he added.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/09/09/buhari-told-catholic-bishops-plot-islamize-nigeria/

The Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has declared that the state has the highest index of happiness and least unemployment rate in Nigeria.

According to him, this was as a result of his administration’s continuous engagement of youths through different schemes that made majority of the young people “productively engaged”.

The Governor made this known in Osogbo, the Osun State capital after a fitness walk organised for the newly absorbed 20,000 youths into the state Youths Empowerment Scheme (O-YES).

“What you are witnessing today, the O-YES scheme, started in 2010/11, 100 days after our inaguration and we are still running it.

“Because we are not just a conventional administration like the previous governments, we have designed and empowered our young ones to cater to all needs of the people.

“It is clear that no government have the capacity to employ all youths but we have, through the O-YES scheme, created opportunities that will engage and take the youths out of vices.

“Two-third of youths in the O-YES are either in one employment or the other or self-employed.

“This explains the results of all surveys, political, social, undertaken nationwide which brings about the fact that Osun has the highest index of happiness, lowest unemployment rate in Nigeria, as well as the 7th largest economy in the country.”

The Governor boasted that no family, regardless of party affiliation, have not benefited from Oyes programme, adding that he has set a pace for other states especially in the area of youths empowerment.

He further said that Oyes was the first in the African continent , adding that the success of the programme attracted the attention of the World Bank, which studied it and certified it to be a viable and sustainable solution to the problem of youth unemployment in Nigeria.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/09/08/osun-highest-index-happiness-lowest-unemployment-nigeria-gov-aregbesola/

An Abuja-Kaduna train with identification SP00003, which took off from Kaduna, heading to Abuja, has broken down on the outskirts of Jere Local Government Area of Kaduna State, an area notorious for kidnapping and armed robbery.

The incident prompted anger and disappointment from the passengers on board the train.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the train, which took off at about 10:35 am on Friday, stopped in Jere at about 12:20pm.

After a few minutes, an announcement was issued to the passengers apologising for the stoppage, which was blamed on a mechanical fault.

The apology, however, did little to douse the anger of some of the passengers.

Usman Bala, a passenger, said he regretted taking the train, and that despite the high cost of tickets, the locomotive coaches were not being well maintained to avoid breakdown.

“This is typical of Nigeria. Nice idea, but no maintenance culture. I took this train hoping to meet a 1pm marriage ceremony. Now it is too late.

“I regret not taking a car. I would have been in Abuja now,” he said.

Another passenger Aisha Bature, also blamed the authorities in charge of the train, accusing them of diverting proceeds meant for servicing the coaches.

“Despite the high transport fare, look at what we’ve got for showing faith. Is this what I am paying N1, 300 to Abuja for?

“Look at it, no maintenance. Honestly, I am disappointed,” she lamented.

Olukunmi Williams, also a passenger, said he was angry and uncomfortable because of the location where the train broke down which according to him was not safe and no alternative means of transport was available nearby.

“We are in the middle of a bush. We are not safe. Anything can happen. That is why I am very uncomfortable with this development. All I want now is to be where we are safe.

“It is not a crime if there is a breakdown, but our safety should not be compromised in the process. I am very disappointed. The train authorities have failed us,” he said.

NAN also reports that he management of the train service promptly sent another locomotive to the location to convey the passengers to their destinations.

The management apologised to the passengers and promised that such development would be avoided in future.


http://dailypost.ng/2018/09/07/panic-abuja-kaduna-train-breaks-kidnapping-hotspot/

Ade Adesomoju, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday secured the support of the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, for the building of the 3,050 megawatts Mambila hydroelectric power project.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said this in a statement from Beijing, China, where Buhari met with Jinping on Wednesday on the sidelines of the China-Africa Cooperation summit.

The summit was attended by other African leaders and entrepreneurs.

Shehu stated that during the meeting between Buhari and Jinping, the Nigerian leader also sought additional Chinese funding for four airport terminals as well as the Abuja light rail project.

Buhari was said to have noted that the Mambilla project remained a key priority to Nigeria.

The President, while celebrating the brotherly relationship between China and Nigeria since his visit to the Asian country in 2016, sought the support of the Chinese government for the Mambilla power project.


He said, “In the past 24 months, the Chinese government has provided humanitarian aid to our conflict-affected areas, scholarship to Nigerian youths, military training and security support to our personnel and agricultural modernisation training.

“Mr President, as we celebrate these successes, I would like to once again solicit your support for the Mambilla hydropower project, which remains a key priority for my government. Our hope is to fund the project with concessionary loans from China as any alternative funding arrangement will adversely impact the project’s viability.

“We have been informed that our submission on this project is undergoing assessment by the relevant Chinese agencies. We hope that with your kind intervention, this assessment will be expedited. Your Excellency, Mambilla is Nigeria’s equivalent of the Three Gorges Dam. My wish is that you join me for the ground-breaking ceremony of this project in the not too distant future.”

Buhari also thanked China for accepting to support the international efforts to recharge the Lake Chand Basin.


“The inclusion of this project in the FOCAC Action Plan 2019 to 2021 will go a long way in supporting our efforts to rehabilitate and resettle the conflict-impacted North-East region,” he said.

Similarly, the President advocated easy movement of citizens of both countries, which he said would complement the currency swap agreements recently signed by the central banks of both nations.

He stated, “Since our last meeting two years ago, Nigeria has relaxed its visa requirements for Chinese citizens. Today, I am pleased to inform your Excellency that Chinese citizens receive Nigerian visas in less than 48 hours.

“Another measure that will improve our trade volumes will be to introduce import duty waivers on Nigeria’s commodity exports to China. Today, our commodities such as sesame seeds, hibiscus and cassava, among others, attract import duty in China.”

The Nigerian leader also lauded China’s support for two permanent seats for Africa at the United Nations, noting that the reform of the security council would ensure equitable representation for the continent.

In his remarks, President Jinping, who commended Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and the progress that had been made so far, promised China’s support in capacity building and intelligence sharing.

He also pledged 50 million yuan support to Nigeria’s military, noting, “Buhari is as decisive in dealing with terrorism as China.”

Jinping said China would import more agricultural products from Nigeria and expressed gratitude to Buhari for Nigeria’s interest to participate in the forthcoming Chinese Import Fair.

On the Mambilla hydropower project, the Chinese leader told Buhari, “We understand how critical the project is to your country and we will take a serious look at it and ensure that it succeeds, because of its social and economic benefits.”

Shehu stated that Nigeria and China also signed a $328m agreement for the Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone Phase II project.

He said the concessional loan agreement between Galaxy Backbone Limited and Huawei Technologies Limited was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Kemi Adesoun, and the Director General, International Development Agency, Wang Xiaotoa.

Buhari and Jinping were said to be present during the signing.

The presidential media aide said Nigeria and China also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the One Belt One Road Initiative.

https://punchng.com/buhari-gets-chinas-support-for-3050mw-mambila-hydropower-project/

The police have dismissed the three inspectors involved in the unauthorised search of the home of elder statesman, Edwin Clark.

Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Jimoh Moshood, revealed this in a statement on Thursday.

More to follow…

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/09/06/breaking-police-dismiss-three-inspectors-involved-in-raid-of-clarks-home/

The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has formally declared his intention to run for Senate in the 2019 general elections.

He made the declaration on Wednesday during a meeting with the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

During the declaration, the governor opted for a consensus governorship candidate for the 2019 election.

He advised the party members to accept the consensus result in good faith without which the next option would be direct primary.


https://www.channelstv.com/2018/09/05/breaking-governor-amosun-declares-intention-to-run-for-senate-in-2019/

Thugs suspected to be working for Governor Jibirilla Bindow of Adamawa State were said to have resorted to violence in protest against the decision of the National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to choose its candidates for the 2019 elections by direct primary.

The thugs allegedly vandalised vehicles and other property at the political office of the sacked Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, in Yola.

Mustapha Atiku Ribadu, brother of Nuhu Ribadu, former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), told SaharaReporters that "some youth working on the instruction of Governor Bindow have attempted to break into the office complex of former SGF Babachir where we were having our meeting".

"They came in their droves chanting 'Away with Direct Primaries, Adamawa Sai Bindow', but could not access where we were meeting.

"The next thing we heard was the sound of a smashed car windscreen, and three vehicles of Babachir's political associates were vandalised."

However, Ahmad Sajoh, Commissioner of Information and Strategy, distanced his principal from the attack.

According to Sajoh, his principal does not believe in politics of thuggery. He, however, blamed "desperate politicians for heating up the polity in the state".

Yekini Nabena, acting National Publicity Secretary of the APC, had released a press statement during the weekend, updating the party’s NEC’s decision on the mode of primaries.

Nabena’s statement read in part: "The 30th August, 2018 resolution of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Executive Committee (NEC) on the mode of primary election has been subject to inferences and misleading interpretations.

"As an update to the earlier released statement, the party wishes to make the following clarifications on NEC’s resolutions on Mode of Primary Election:

“1. Primary elections into all elective offices shall be by Direct Primaries; 2. NEC resolved to adopt direct primaries for the nomination of the presidential candidate and all other primaries.”

SaharaReporters understabds that direct primary may not favour Bindow, because many stakeholders who control large segments of the party membership seem to have deserted him.

http://saharareporters.com/2018/09/04/unhappy-apcs-direct-primary-decision-governor-bindows-thugs-attack-babachir-lawals-office

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced an official site for its membership registration.

The publicity secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena, named www.apcregistration.com as the official site for the registration on Monday to PREMIUM TIMES over a telephone interview.

He said the site “had to be disowned as the necessary measures had not been put in place” as at then.

“We are doing an online registration and the ones that are also sent to the states to register. Then there were no security measures in place. The official site is www.apcregistration.com,” he said.

The party in a statement on Sunday said it had over 13 million members. Mr Nabena told PREMIUM TIMES those were the party’s members before commencement of the present registration. He said the party is yet to collate the number of members from the new registration.


The party, which announced its registration and re-registration of members nationwide, a few weeks back disowned the same site which was said to be registering members in the name of the APC.

The party, in a statement by Mr Nabena, then said the site www.apcregistration.com is unauthorised and a scam.

“We alert our supporters, members and indeed the general public to a purported membership registration website of the All Progressives Congress (APC)– apcregistration.com.

“The website which is trending on social media is unauthorised and a scam.”

When asked where and how the register of the party’s existing members can be gotten he said, “it’s in our datatbase. Our database is on our cloud maybe you will have to write to the party officialy.”

However, as reflected in the recent Osun governorship primary of the party, many APC state chapters have no database of members; a factor that also motivated the new membership registration.

The issue of membership registration and party register become vital as the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party decided to use direct primaries in all its elective positions. This mechanism will involve party members as against the indirect one that depends on delegates.

The party after its NEC meeting had announced direct primaries was going to be just for the presidential election but following several controversial claims regarding the decision, the party in a follow up statement said direct primaries will be adopted for all elective positions


“Primary elections into all elective offices shall be by direct primaries. NEC resolved to adopt direct primaries for the nomination of the presidential candidate and all other primaries,” it said.

The party, which said its constitution provides for indirect election and consensus, however said the use of indirect primaries “is conditional and dependent on logistic impediments; peculiarities and need of a given state.”

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/282360-apc-announces-same-website-it-disowned-for-membership-registration.html

St. Paul Catholic church, Ugolo, Adagbrasa in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State on Sunday morning collapsed.

Scores of church members are still trapped in the building as at press time.

According to Vanguard, the incident happened during the morning mass.

Number of casualties cannot be ascertained at the moment.

Details later…

http://dailypost.ng/2018/09/02/many-trapped-catholic-church-collapses/

Lauretta Onochie, President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide on Socail Media, has said that all that Nigerians need to do is follow that man that knows the way.

Onochie referreing to her principal further said that world leaders said : ‘We can’t have enough of Nigeria’s Leader. We must learn from him, how he has managed to keep Nigeria afloat after such deathly heist by a gang of PDP looters….’

She made this known on her FaceBook page

WE HAVE THE BEST.
World Leaders: We can’t have enough of Nigeria’s Leader. We must learn from him, how he has managed to keep Nigeria afloat after such deathly heist by a gang of PDP looters….

PDP: He’s not good he’s not good. He won’t loot and he’s won’t let us loot. We can’t even openly spend our looted funds. He’s also empowering the poor and the vulnerable.

Imagine how we would have share the recovered Abacha loot! We will use a CUPP to scoop up falsehood and hate campaign to stop him.

ME: In your dreams will you smell having control over our nation again. Never again.
God has blessed our nation with a leader who loves our nation. All we need to do is follow the man wey sabi road to prosperity.

WE HAVE THE BEST.
World Leaders: We can’t have enough of Nigeria’s Leader. We must learn from him, how he has managed to keep Nigeria afloat after such deathly heist by a gang of PDP looters

PDP: He’s not good…
He won’t loot, he won’t let us loot….https:///3gyhN1Rvrz pic.twitter.com/tobj4s9eol

— Lauretta Onochie (@Laurestar) August 31, 2018

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/all-we-need-to-do-is-follow-the-man-wey-sabi-lauretta-onochie/

…insists it won’t respond to Trump

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

The Presidency on Saturday boasted that world leaders are on a queue to meet President Muhammadu Buhari.

This, it said, was contrary to what happened in the past when world leaders did not want anything to do with Nigerian leaders.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said this in an interview shortly after Buhari and members of his entourage arrived Beijing, China for the 7th Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation scheduled to hold between September 3 and 4.

Shehu said world leaders’ good disposition towards Buhari was an indication that there was something about the President and about the country he leads that the world likes.

He also reiterated the Presidency’s position that it would not respond to a statement credited to United States President Donald Trump that Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari was “lifeless.”


The presidential spokesman said, “You know that as a policy, we said that we are not going to answer the American President, however, the fact that the entire world and world leaders are queuing up to meet President Muhammadu Buhari, is an indication that there is something about President Buhari, there is something about Nigeria he now leads, that the world likes.

“I think that Nigerians themselves should better look at this from this positive point of view, is a major development.

“We had situations in the country in the past where key world leaders didn’t want to meet our own leaders, all of that has changed in the last three years.”

https://punchng.com/world-leaders-on-queue-to-meet-buhari-presidency-boasts/

.Insists, Party remains Majority in NASS
.Saraki, others are Migrant Politicians without Political Address -Oshiomhole

By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA- President Muhammadu Buhari has insisted that the ruling All progressives Congress APC remained the majority in the Senate, saying the wave of defections recently witnessed in the National Assembly merely made a dent on the party as it did not affect its super-structure.

Speaking at the sixth National Executive Committee NEC meeting of the party Thursday in Abuja, Buhari also promised that the ruling party would set the pace in the conduct of its primaries by adhering strictly to all constitutional provisions.

“The new National Executive Committee members assumed duty at a very critical time. With the general elections coming very early next year, 2019, any political party worth its salt must get its internal dynamics right and match as a team towards a major election in the country. Today, we are meeting to look at some major decisions that will ensure an excellent performance at the polls next year. Starting with party primaries at various levels, I urge you all to ensure that decisions taken here are those that be for the good of the party and meet the yearnings and expectations of our teeming members and supporters nation wide. They look up to us for guidance and we must not disappoint or fail them.

“Let me congratulate the current leadership of our party led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. The team emerged at a turbulent time when there were rumours and speculations of massive defections in such a way that could rock the very foundation of the party. Despite reconciliatory attempts to keep the house together, some members were hell-bent on bringing down the roof. They left, threatening to go along with scores of people, thus upsetting the system, but due to the work of the new party leadership their exit barely made a dent on our super structure as they could not muster the figure they had envisaged to cause an upset, particularly in the two chambers of the National Assembly. APC remains in control and is increasing by the day with quality people joining the party”, he said.

The president also pledged to continue to work in the interest of Nigerians by providing purposeful leadership at all times.

“Hope is rekindled in our heart that we will give our country purposeful leadership and improve the quality of life of the people. We will continue to secure the country, fight graft and reposition the economy in such a way that jobs can be provided for our youth and give them a future and a hope. We will fulfill all the promises we made to Nigerians. We are fulfilling them and will continue to serve with heart and might to build a nation where peace and justice and prosperity shall reign.

“As we match to party primaries, I ask all and sundry to ensure that we play the game according to the rules. Let us come out with free, fair and credible primaries which will be a precursor to free, fair and credible elections next year. Let us shine the light through our primaries and the rest of the country will find the way. Our primaries must be in complete compliance with the provisions of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, the electoral act and above all, the constitution of the party. This is the time we must work for unity, harmony and togetherness. Let us all join hands to move the party forward. We must take our party to the next level and I urge all and sundry to give support to9 our National Working Committee”, he added.

‘Migrant Politicians’

Earlier, in his welcome address, National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole described those who recently left the ruling party as migrant politicians without any known political address.

He said; “After our elections, we worked hard to meet with people from the states who had issues arising from the congresses and we reassured them that we would treat every case on its merit and I believe that we have done a lot of that and will continue to do what we have to do to ensure that there is peace and unity in the state chapters.

“We also had meetings with the APC caucus in the senate and thereafter we had a meeting with the APC caucus in the House of Representatives. At those meetings, we reassured everyone that as a party that is democratic, there will be issues and contestations but that the most important thing is for us to be able to see through the issues.

“I am happy to report that as a result of those engagements, many senators and members of the House of Representatives renewed confidence in our party, but those who were determined to leave, not on account of what anybody has done wrong against them, but on account of an ambition they believe they cannot realize on our platform, even though they were not denied the opportunity to try out that ambition, but perhaps because they could read like an Oracle what the future would be particularly as people have contested before when we didn’t have any incumbent. Some who had dollars gave, those had nails gave and Mr. President said I don’t have, But even if I have, I won’t give, but will offer honest leadership.

At the end, the President won, but the victory did not purge those with that ambition and they were determined that they must contest and they were free to do that. I had thought that by the provisions of our party constitution, they had the right to contest and that right was not going to be denied them. But reflecting on what has happened in the past and reading the minds of party members and leaders, they came to the conclusion that the only way they can realize their ambition was to relocate and they relocated. Of course, for distant observers, they think that this is a huge blow to our party. I made a comment which seems to have been misunderstood in some quarters, when I said that if some individuals of no particular fixed political address decide to leave, I will not lose my sleep.

I speak of no particular fixed address because if you have a history of moving every season from one political party to the other with one constant thing in mind, to contest, now what is your political address? So, for people like that who are migrant politicians, rolling stone politicians, I am not able to identify their political address and therefore, I refuse to miss my sleep. But some people said this was arrogant, but we also need to be blunt. What can you do about someone who feel that in every election, he must contest and if he cannot win he must decamp? Some have decamped as many times as the many elections that have taken place.

“I also made commitment on behalf of the leadership of the party that every one of persons who have grievances, no matter the nature of those grievances, arising from genuine misunderstanding, arising from communication gap, arising from conflict of interest, our responsibility is to help this party to find common ground and do genuine reconciliation, play up what unite us, down play what divide us so that together, we can continue to work together within the party and address issues that affect our Vision. I am proud that most of the people who have such issues have confidence that the party will listen and we have listened and have resolved a lot of the issues. Today, I am sure that many of our senators, House of Representatives members and leaders across the country who have issues have seen that the issues are being resolved and now have greater confidence in the activities of our party. I will continue to assure them that we will not pretend that there will be no conflict tomorrow. What we promise is that as they arise, God will give us the wisdom, patience and courage to do justice and make them feel comfortable within the family of the APC.

“But as I reflect, I stumbled on a quote which may interest the President and it summarizes what has happened. I don’t know on what occasion and what date this statement was made by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. In one of his works, he said “for the progressives to be in power, they need the support and collaboration of some conservatives (the only thing I will add is even reactionaries). After attaining power, the conservatives will on their own move away.’ Mr. president, the conservatives have moved away. He said further, and for me, I think this is the most appropriate part of the quote ‘once the conservatives have moved away on their own, the progressives will now build a great party that will move the nation forward.’

“So, Mr. President, this was bound to happen because when we promised change, we all sang it, but it meant different things to different people. To some, it was to bring change that will lead to more of the same, but for the Nigerian people, they knew that change meant change from a political order that services only the political elites at the expense of the poor and the masses. They did not realize that the change meant that there must be a relationship between efforts and reward.

They did not appreciate that change meant regardless of your position in the system, if you commit a criminal offence or you are involved in serious criminal allegations to the extent that the Nigerian people whose will is reflected in our constitution did not shield you from investigation, we shall provide the political leadership to ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of the status is under the law.

When it became clear that this change cannot allow business as usual, the conservatives left on their own. Our party is stronger, smarter, more cohesive and there is no better evidence than the fact we have won almost all the major elections after their departure. That is not the only thing that confirms this. We have seen those going back to their community to decamp and we see uncommon defectors. But the others sat in their chambers and guest house to prepare their defection notes.

Some are known to have remained in Abuja, detained by their own consciences and unable to visit their constituencies. So, I want to assure you that we have purged ourselves of excess fat that would have possibly interfered in the flow of blood in our vein. We are stronger, more determined and we are much certain of our future. We asked the President to continue to provide leadership to deal with the vices that has detained Nigeria in the last few years and which seem to explain the paradox that has detained Nigeria, a country that is so rich and its people so poor.

“Those who submit to change, in spite of their past still have a chance to play a role in the commitment to rebuild the nation and ensure it offers hope to every citizen.
Mr. president, you are the only one who has had the courage to look at western leaders eye-ball to eye-ball and ask them to return the stolen money. If you have stolen money in their vault, you would not have the courage to say so. None of your predecessors have had the courage to say so in the manner that you did. Those are things we are proud of and they give us courage and confidence that Nigerians will not be fooled come 2019”, he added.

Oshiomhole also commend the president for his contributions to the victory of the party in Ekiti state

“We are very proud to say that upon our assumption of office, we have won nearly all the elections that have taken place particularly the ones at the states, senatorial and House of Representatives. The first task before us was the election in Ekiti state and under your leadership, as they say when the righteous rules, the people rejoice, the party won the election in Ekiti state and your own former Minister who your excellency graciously relieved of his appointment to enable him go back to his state to serve his people, was elected. Mr President, you played a huge role in the electioneering campaign leading to that election. It is also worthy of note that we received enormous contributions from a number of governors led by the Kebbi state Governor who virtually ‘decamped’ from Kebbi to Ekiti state.

“That these happened even after the defections make it all the more interesting”, he added.

Ado-Ekiti-The Governor-Elect of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has filed his defence to the petition by the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and outgoing Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Professor Kolapo Olusola Eleka. In the 2,558-page defence with over 3,000 documents as exhibits, Dr. Fayemi averred that he won the gubernatorial election of July 14, 2018 and urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition of Prof. Eleka for lacking in merit.


Olusola had asked the Tribunal to declare him winner of the election, having polled the highest number of lawful votes in the election. The PDP Candidate accused the APC of using the federal might to muzzle opposition , while also accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) of falsifying results in Fayemi’s favour.

The team of lawyers armed with 3,500 exhibits and 1,009 witnesses were led to the tribunal by three Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Mr Hakeem AfoIabi (SAN), Mr. Yomi Aliyu (SAN) and Dr. Kayode Olatoke (SAN). Addressing the press after filing the petition, Dr. Kayode Olatoke (SAN), who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said Eleka’s petition was a waste of time as it lacked substance and was sure that the case would be dismissed by the tribunal. He explained further that Fayemi won fair and square in 12 out of the 16 local governments areas of the state, while Eleka won in four. In his response to Eleka’s petition bordering on alleged over voting in some polling units, Olatoke dismissed this claim as frivolous and baseless.

He said Eleka’s first ground in his petition is based on Fayose’s phantom indictment, which had been nullified and set aside by a competent court, Olatoke said.

“The second ground of Eleka’s petition is alleged over voting, which is another false claim. In any case, the petition in itself is self-defeating. “The third ground is on deliberate voiding of votes as alleged by Eleka but in actual fact, majority of the voided ballots were votes meant for Fayemi, while the fourth ground is on vote buying which is baseless as it was, Eleka’s sponsor, Fayose that was guilty of this. “Fayemi won convincingly based on his popularity,” Olatoke said. Other senior lawyers in the team representing Dr Fayemi and the APC are: Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Dr. Kayode Olatoke,(SAN ), Hakeem Afolabi (SAN), John Baiyeshea (SAN), Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), Jelili Owonikoko (SAN), Yomi Aliyu (SAN) and Segun Ajibola (SAN). No date has been fixed for hearing.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/08/tribunal-fayemi-hires-35-lawyers-for-defence/

Just as the Leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and a former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso flag off his Presidential Campaign in far away Abuja, some of his ardent supporters have defected to APC and burnt to ashes their Red Caps in Kano with a strong Promised to ensure the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Umar Abdullahi Ganduje.

The defectors who are Tricycles Riders and have been in support of Kwankwaso while some of 3500 of them are purely PDP members said they are taking the decision on the fact that both President Buhari and Ganduje means well for the growth and development of his people’s.

The Leader of the Kwankwasiyya members, Usama Haruna Dala said they have no option rather than defecting to Ganduje/Buhari APC after seen true governance aims at making both Kano and Nigeria great by the duo of the Umar Abdullahi Ganduje and President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said, “from the bottom of our hearts we are defecting to Ganduje and Buhari side to help them in the crusade of a better Nigeria and Kano State where peace and development is the cardinal principles of their missions.”

State Commissioner for Information Mallam Muhammad Garba said, “this is a historic and memorable day in Kano APC, and you should know that all of you have been with us in this great party but went on Sabbatical, now you are back to your home”.

Muhammad Garba explained further that the defection is a rewarding struggle that would truly pay, adding, ” Kwankwasiyya is dead and buried in Kano and by 2019 Ganduje would make good his promise to deliver the 5 million votes for Buhari in Kano”.

The Commissioner said the defection of the over ten thousands Kwankwasiyya followers is the beginning of a great shocker for not only Kwankwaso but any other person who thinks his political prowess is intact.

“You see God willing by 2pm both Buhari and Ganduje would be declared winners that is before those thinking they are politicians wake up from their slumber”, Garba boasted.

https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/08/photos-kwankwassiya-members-burn-red-caps-defect-to-apc/

By Peter Okutu
ABAKALIKI-THE leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide Wednesday stated that any manoeuvring aimed at denying Ndigbo the Presidency come 2023 will spell doom for the nation.

This was part of the resolutions reached by the group during its meeting in Abakaliki where it deliberated on several issues affecting Ndigbo economically and politically in the country.
In a statement issued at the end of the meeting by the Secretary General, Okwu Nnabuike and Deputy National Public Relations Officer, Ado Osaka of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, the group stressed that 2023 Igbo Presidency was not negotiable adding that handing over power to Ndigbo was for justice, equity and fairness to reign in Nigeria’s political arena.

The statement read in part: “The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide met today in Abakiliki, Ebonyi state being 28th August 2018 and deliberated extensively on issues affecting Ndigbo Economically and politically and resolved as follows.

“OYC insists that 2023 Igbo Presidency is not negotiable, and it’s our date with destiny and any manoeuvring may spell doom to the unity of the Country, as the recent unjust appointments since 2015 by the Presidency resulted to the rise of Biafra agitation, and those seeking Igbos votes in 2019 across Nigeria where Igbo reside must consider handing power to Igbos for justice, equity and fairness in 2023, those clamouring for restructuring should think twice, and no Northern President will restructure a system that favours the north more than the Southerners, it’s only a Southern President will restructure Nigeria.

“Ohanaeze Youths frown at the report that some cabal in APC had perfected plans to return power to South West instead of South East immediately after President Buhari quits Power. We still insist that the Presidency should refute such negative plot or it will make Ndigbo to consider other political options before them in 2019. We are aware that irrespective of INEC officials denying Igbos their constitutional rights in some parts of Nigeria to collect their PVCs in 2015 outside Igbo land, our voting strength in South west is equal to that of the indigenes, even in the North. We have more than 12million registered Igbos in Northern Nigeria and 5million Igbos in south West.

“OYC insists that APC had not fulfil their political promises to the people of South East, which includes the campaign promise of President Buhari to revamp Enugu Coal mine which had been politically closed for 45years now, irrespective of the Projects the Presidency insists they
attracted to South East, but if APC continue to give priority to other zones more than South East, it may spell doom for them, APC need Ndigbo More than Ndigbo needs them.

“OYC congratulate the Governor and people of Abia state on their 27 anniversary since the creation of Abia in 1991 and insists that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu have what it takes to transform Abia state, we observed that since 1999, Abia state have been unfortunate in governance, but since 2015, even with distraction from opposition, Governor Ikpeazu had performed more than any Governor that had governed Abia since 1999, but salute the Abia indigenes courage to stand behind Governor Ikpeazu and support his government.

“We support the single tenure of 6 years for President and Governors proposed by Senator Ike Ekweremadu, we believe it help to unite Nigeria than divide us.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/08/2023-igbo-presidency-is-not-negotiable-ohanaeze-youths-threatens/