₦airaland Forum

Femi Otedola, the billionaire businessman, has offered to foot the medical bills of Christian Chukwu, former Super Eagles’ coach, TheCable can report.

TheCable reported on Monday that Chukwu, one of Nigeria’s most influential footballers in history who captained the national team to their first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980, is suffering from prostate cancer which has affected his leg.

Although the surgery on his leg has been done, he reportedly needs an additional $50,000 for the prostate operation.

Norbert Okonkwo, media officer of Enugu Rangers, told TheCable that the Enugu state government donated N1.5 million for the leg surgery.

Speaking to TheCable on phone, Otedola said he would foot the entire cost of the operation as a “token of support to a great Nigerian who served his country to the best of his ability”.

Otedola previously settled the medical bills of the veteran actor, Victor Olaotan, who was at risk of double amputation following a ghastly car accident in 2016.

A patron of Chukwu’s former club, Enugu Rangers FC, Benson Ezeomeogo Ejindu, broke the news of the ailment at the weekend.

Chukwu also captained the Enugu Rangers FC team that won the Africa Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977.

He was nicknamed ‘Chairman’ for his authority on the field as a central defender.

Chukwu also served as assistant coach of the first team to win a FIFA World Cup trophy for Nigeria – the Golden Eaglets that triumphed at the FIFA U16 World Cup in China in 1985.

He was also assistant coach of the team tagged the Golden Generation – the 1994 Class of Super Eagles that qualified Nigeria for her first FIFA World Cup finals.

As assistant coach, he helped Nigeria win the Africa Cup of Nations title and reached the round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup in America .

Between 2002 and 2005, Chukwu was head coach of the Super Eagles, leading the team to bronze medal at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.

https://www.thecable.ng/otedola-offers-to-foot-christian-chukwus-medical-bill/

The management of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), on Saturday, announced the death of one of their staff, Mr. Adewale Adegoke, who was electrocuted around Onireke area, Ibadan North West local government area of Oyo state.

An eyewitness informed that power supply to the areas of Dugbe business district, like Onireke quarters, Adamasingba, Sabo and suburbs, was faulty on Friday afternoon and the officials of IBEDC was unsuccessful in their attempts to resolve the fault.

On Saturday, a staff member of IBEDC who preferred anonymity narrated the scenario which led to the incident, saying “they left Mokola early in the morning to the Onireke axis where the fault was detected.

“Mr. Adewale Adegoke was working on the high tension cables which normally comprises of three wires when he was suddenly trapped and electrocuted.”

Help didn’t come on time because reports said he was there for almost 30 minutes.
“He was an experienced officer and the job wasn’t an illegal type. It was duly communicated to the control room where they must have secured the power outage before effecting correction on the high tension,” he said.

The management broke the death of Mr Adegoke through one of their social media platforms and commiserated with his family.

The statement reads: “It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we at IBEDC hereby confirm the unfortunate passing of our staff member, Mr. Adewale Adegoke, during the course of duty this morning as he was involved in an electricity related incident.

“He was confirmed dead at Teju Hospital, where he was rushed to immediately after the incident at Onireke, after all efforts to resuscitate him at the scene of the accident proved abortive.

“Our sincere condolence and prayers go to the family. We are currently investigating the cause of this unfortunate incident,” the management stated.

https://www.tribuneonlineng.com/just-in-ibedc-worker-electrocuted-dies-in-ibadan/

Walter Onnoghen is the first chief justice of Nigeria (CJN) to be thrown into a dock labeled “defendant box”.

The exalted seat of the CJN makes it almost impossible to see the other side of the judicial process.

Weeks before the commencement of his trial over alleged false assets declaration, TheCable reported that the Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI), a civil society group, had launched a legal move to remove Onnoghen.

Less than 24 hours after the report, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) announced that it had received a petition written against the then CJN. Subsequently, charges were filed against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) and the National Judicial Council (NJC) eventually recommended Onnoghen, who had since been on suspension, for compulsory retirement.

Here is a timeline of how events unfolded around the CJN who has now tendered his resignation.

October 10, 2016: NJC recommended Onnoghen as CJN to President Muhammadu Buhari.

November 11, 2016: Being the most senior at the supreme court after the retirement of Mohammed Mahmud, Onnoghen took over the leadership of the judiciary in acting capacity.

February 7, 2017: Acting President Yemi Osinbajo transmitted Onnoghen’s name to the senate for confirmation as substantive CJN.

February 28, 2017: Civil rights activists and groups alleged that there were plots to deny Onnoghen position of CJN.

March 1, 2017: Senate screened and confirmed Onnoghen.

March 7, 2017: Onnoghen was sworn in by Acting President Osinbajo.

WHEN THE TROUBLE BEGAN

January 7, 2019: Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI), a civil society group, petitioned the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), listing a number of allegations against Onnoghen — notably false declaration of assets.

January 12, 2019: The CCB announced that it had filed a six-count charge against Onnoghen at the CCT.

January 14, 2019: Onnoghen absent as his trial commenced at CCT.

January 15, 2019: The National Industrial Court in Abuja gave an order restraining police from arresting Onnoghen.

January 16, 2019: Osinbajo said President Buhari did not know about plan to arraign Onnoghen.

Federal government asked the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to freeze five bank accounts belonging to Onnoghen.

January 21, 2019: The industrial court in Abuja reinforced its order restraining the continuation of the trial of Onnoghen.

January 22, 2019: Again, Onnoghen was absent at the CCT trial.

The federal government asked Onnoghen to step aside from office

January 25, 2019: Onnoghen was suspended and replaced by Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad

January 26, 2019: The United States issued a statement on Onnoghen’s suspension.

January 28, 2019: Police sealed off Onnoghen’s office

CCT adjourned Onnoghen’s trial indefinitely
Senate challenged Onnoghen’s suspension at the supreme court
The attorney-general of the federation (AGF) sent criminal allegations against Onnoghen to NJC
January 29, 2019: Onnoghen sued federal government over suspension.

January 30, 2019: Onnoghen lost bid to stop CCT trial.

February 4, 2019: CCT chairman accused Onnoghen’s lawyer of delaying trial.

February 7, 2019: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) traced lawyer’s $30,000 payment to Onnoghen’s account.

February 11, 2019: NJC asked Onnoghen to respond to a petition EFCC written against him.

February 13, 2019: CCT ordered Onnoghen’s arrest.

February 15, 2019: Onnoghen finally appeared at CCT and pleaded not guilty.

March 17, 2019: EFCC raided Onnoghen’s farm, taking custody of some vital documents

March 18, 2019: Onnoghnen said his asset declaration forms were tampered with.

March 21, 2019: A witness from the CCB said Onnoghen’s asset forms haven’t been verified since 2016.

The federal government closed case against Onnoghen

March 29, 2019: CCT dismissed a no-case application brought before it by Onnoghen.

April 1, 2019: Onnoghen opened defence at CCT.

April 3, 2019: Onnoghen closed defence at CCT.

EFCC detailed criminal allegations against Onnoghen before the NJC
Onnoghen said he never took bribe
NJC recommended Onnoghen for retirement
April 4, 2019: Onnoghen resigned as CJN

https://www.thecable.ng/timeline-from-delayed-confirmation-to-resignation-onnoghens-days-as-cjn/

Godwin Obode, former Special Assistant on Youth and Student Matters to Abiola Ajimobi, Governor of Oyo State, has been arrested.

SaharaReporters learnt that Obode was picked up by men of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) some days ago following his refusal to return the N18.5million he received from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State for the general election but did not spend.

Obode worked for Ajimobi during his first term as Governor but subsequently resigned with the explanation that he wanted to relocate abroad.

He later went to work for Teslim Folarin, a two-term Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator who contested (and lost) the 2015 Oyo State governorship election on PDP’s platform before joining the APC in 2017.

However, towards the 2019 election when APC was fearing a bad performance, the party engaged Obode to ruin the election in Okeogun and Oyo town.

“Ajimobi gave him money to mobilise students as security cover for the election,” a senior party figure who asked not to be named, told SaharaReporters.

“They gave him N18.5million for the election, but they later found out that he didn’t do anything; he was just having fun, drinking, on election day. They were even calling him to get field reports on election day, but they couldn’t get him.

"The problem now is that despite the best efforts of the Governor to recoup the money, Obode doesn’t want to return it.”

When SARS officials searched his house last week, they found the bag with which the N18.5million was delivered to him. The bag still contained a leftover sum of N9million.

Obodo was then arrested but later released, though he still has to report at the F-SARS office regularly.

SaharaReporters understands the “security cover” in the brief to Obode was actually “election violence”. According to a party source, it was “to disrupt voting at polling units where the process doesn’t favour the APC”.

http://saharareporters.com/2019/04/05/exclusive-f-sars-arrests-ajimobi’s-former-aide-withholding-n185m-meant-election-violence

Barely a few days after the execution of Kudirat Afolabi in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for drug-related offences, Saheed Ayinde Sobade, another Nigerian national, was allegedly nabbed on Thursday with 1,183 grams of cocaine in Jeddah.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, senior special assistant to the president on foreign affairs and diaspora, made this known while speaking at a programme on Arise Television on Friday.

“I have bad news for you. Just yesterday, in the midst of the cacophony of 20 to be killed, eight have been killed, another Nigerian was caught with cocaine in Jeddah,” said Dabiri-Erewa.

“He was caught with 1,183 grams of cocaine powder. As he was arrested, the mission was informed and his name is Saheed Ayinde Sobade. So, do not let us tribalise crime, no matter what.”

On Thursday, the federal government had condemned the execution of Afolabi — a widow and mother of two — who was executed on April 1, saying that the Saudi authorities did not inform the Nigerian missions in Saudi Arabia of the arrest and prosecution of the deceased Nigerian.

Dabiri-Arewa further stated that the Saudi authorities have never spared any country when it comes to drugs, adding that Nigeria only advocates for fair trial.

“It’s a sad commentary that at this point in our lives we are tribalising crime. Crime is crime. We should not debase the green passport. We should allow a few bad eggs to spoil the bond. The Dubai thing was all over the places. We saw the faces released to the public; only the eyes were covered and also the names,” said the presidential aide.

“So, there’s no reason why it will not be mentioned. However, for the Saudi incident, the woman that was executed, we have to tell the family first before making an announcement. So after informing the family, the minister for foreign affairs issued a statement stating her name, Kudirat Adesola Afolabi, a lady and a mother of two.

https://www.thecable.ng/nigerian-nabbed-cocaine-saudi-execution-kudirat-afolabi/amp

By Nwafor Sunday

Barely two days he visited Senegal, President Muhammadu Buhari, Thursday jetted off for an economic forum in Jordan.

Buhari who promised to leave Nigeria better than he met it, stormed Amman to participate in the world economic forum in Jordan and investment summit in Dubai.

He was invited by King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan.

President Buhari will deliver an address at the opening of the plenary alongside King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein and United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, and join world economic leaders in an informal gathering at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre.

The Nigerian leader will also hold bilateral meetings with some world leaders on the sidelines of the Forum.

President Buhari will depart Amman Sunday for Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) to participate in the ninth edition of the Annual Investment Meeting, April 8-10, 2019.

Invited by His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rachid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Nigerian President as Guest of Honour, will deliver the keynote address under the theme, “Mapping the Future of Foreign Direct Investment: Enriching World Economies through Digital Globalization.”

According to the organisers, the meeting is “the largest gathering of corporate leaders, policymakers, businessmen, regional and international investors, entrepreneurs, leading academics and experts showcasing up-to-date information, strategies and knowledge on attracting FDI.”

The meeting also seeks to explore investment opportunities in more than 140 countries, connect businesses and countries willing to engage in sustainable partnerships with investors.

President Buhari will be accompanied on both trips by Governors Abubakar Badaru, Abiola Ajimobi and Yahaya Bello of Jigawa, Oyo and Kogi States respectively.

Others on the entourage include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Babagana Monguno (rtd), and other top government officials.


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2019/04/breaking-again-buhari-jets-out-of-nigeria/amp/

The National Judicial Council (NJC) rose from an emergency meeting on Wednesday and elected to be silent on its report on the probe of petitions against suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen and Acting CJN, Ibrahim Muhammad.

The NJC, which considered the report of its five-man committee constituted to investigate petitions against Onnoghen and Muhammad, said it has decided to send its report to President Muhammadu Buhari rather than making it public in view of “the nature of the decision reached

Its spokesman, Soji Oye said, in a statement on Wednesday, that the NJC refrained from considering the allegation relating to asset declaration involving Onnoghen, “because it’s was subjudice.”

The statement reads: “The National Judicial Council reconvened today in an emergency meeting to consider the report of the five-man committee constituted to investigate the allegations of misconduct made against Hon. Mr. Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen, GCON and Hon. Mr. Justice I. T. Muhammad, CFR.

“Council decided that the allegations relating to assets declaration that were levelled against Hon. Mr. Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen, GCON were subjudice and therefore abstained from considering them.

“Council reached a decision on the petitions written by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and others and conveyed its decision to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

“Council also resolved that, by the nature of the decision reached, it would be inappropriate to publicise it before conveying it to Mr. President.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/breakingnjc-concludes-probe-of-onnoghen-muhammad-silent-on-findings/

No fewer than 113 million people experienced high levels of food insecurity in the world’s most severe food crises in 2018, the Global Report on Food Crisis 2019 has found.

The report, which was released on Wednesday in Brussels, warned that these food crises were primarily driven by conflict and climate-related disasters.

One of the key findings of the report showed that nearly two-thirds of those facing acute hunger were in just eight countries.

These countries were Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

“The worst food crises in 2018, in order of severity, were: Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Sudan, South Sudan and northern Nigeria.

“These eight countries accounted for two-thirds of the total number of people facing acute food insecurity – amounting to nearly 72 million people,” according to the report.

Similarly, short-term outlook of food insecurity for 2019 showed that “Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Sudan, South Sudan and northern Nigeria are expected to remain among the world’s most severe food crises in 2019.

“Large segments of populations in most of these countries risk falling into Emergency (IPC/CH Phase 4) levels of acute food insecurity,” it stated.

The report further added: “In the 16 states of northern Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, the number of people in ‘Crisis’ and ‘Emergency’ decreased by 40 per cent between June and August 2017 and 2018 to 5.3 million.

“At the peak of the lean season three million were acutely food insecure in the three north-eastern states affected by the Boko Haram insurgency where protracted conflict and mass displacement disrupted agriculture, trade, markets and livelihoods, and pushed up food prices,” said the report.

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)’s Director-General, José da Silva, said in spite of a slight drop in 2018 in the number of people experiencing acute food insecurity, “the figure is still far too high.”

“We must act at scale across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus to build the resilience of affected and vulnerable populations. To save lives, we also have to save livelihoods,” he added.

World Food Programme Executive Director, David Beasley, also said: “while critical to saving lives and alleviating human suffering, humanitarian assistance does not address the root causes of food crises.”

Beasley highlighted the importance of “attacking the root causes of hunger: conflict, instability, the impact of climate shocks.”

“Boys and girls need to be well-nourished and educated; women need to be truly empowered. Rural infrastructure must be strengthened in order to meet that ‘Zero Hunger’ goal.

“Programmes that make a community resilient and more stable will also reduce the number of hungry people,” he said. (NAN)

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/323716-two-thirds-of-worlds-hungriest-people-live-in-nigeria-seven-other-countries-un.html?

The PDP has asked INEC to “save the nation a serious crisis” by concluding the collation process as well as respecting the will of the people of Rivers State as expressed at the governorship poll on March 9.

The party specifically demanded INEC to declare Governor Nyesom Wike as rightful winner of the election without further delay.

The PDP, in a statement yesterday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, cautioned the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), over an alleged plot to scuttle the collation of results of the poll.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdp-to-inec-declare-wike-winner-of-rivers-govship-poll.html

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola have asked the Court of Appeal in Abuja to reverse the majority judgment given on March 22 this year by the state election tribunal.

The tribunal had, by a majority judgment of two members, voided the election of Oyetola, pronounced Ademola Adeleke of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) winner and asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC to issue him a certificate of return.

In a 39-ground notice of appeal filed by their team of lawyers, led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), the APC and Oyetola faulted the majority judgment, given by Justices Peter Obiora and Anyinla Gbolagunte, on the grounds that it was perverse, replete with contradictions and not supported by evidence led by the petitioners.

APC and Oyetola want the Court of Appeal to uphold their appeal, set aside the majority judgment and dismiss the October 16, 2018 petition by PDP and Adeleke.

http://thenationonlineng.net/breaking-apc-oyetola-appeal-osun-tribunals-judgment/

An Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has revoked the bail earlier granted to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The court presided over by a judge, Binta Nyako, gave the order on Thursday and directed that a bench warrant should be issued for Mr Kanu’s arrest.

The court said it has given the order because Mr Kanu had failed to appear in court after his bail was granted in April 2017.

The court ruled that the trial must continue and directed that a fresh date for the continuation should be given by parties so that the matter will continue in Mr Kanu’s absence.
The case was adjourned till June 18.

Mr Kanu, a separatist leader calling for an independent Biafran country, jumped bail when he escaped out of the country.

He has since appeared in several videos online criticising Nigerian leaders and government.
Details later…

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/322812-just-in-court-orders-arrest-of-nnamdi-kanu-revokes-bail.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has given the nod to Ahmad Lawan as senate president and Femi Gbajabiamila as speaker of the house of representatives in the in-coming national assembly, TheCable can report.

The duo, who are currently the leaders of the APC caucus in the upper and lower chambers of the national assembly, enjoyed the support of the president in 2015 but Senate President Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of reps, teamed up with some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers to edge them out.

While Lawan did not get the opportunity to go head-to-head with Saraki, Gbajabiamila lost to Dogara by eight votes.

However, Saraki is out of the way, having left the APC for the PDP and lost his re-election bid.

Dogara is also not expected to put a fight as PDP, his new party, does not have enough numbers in the house of reps.

In the red chamber, APC has 25 seats more than PDP while the ruling is clearly ahead of PDP by 100 seats in the green chamber.

Last week when he announced his ambition to lead the senate, Lawan, who represents Yobe north, said the ruling party will do things differently in choosing the leadership of the 9th national assembly because it had learnt its lessons in 2015.

“We are not in any way thinking that we will have crises; it is not what we are envisaging at all. But let me say that our party, the APC, must have learnt its lessons, and therefore, the party leadership will do something differently this time,” he had said at a press conference in Abuja.

Lawan was elected into the house of representatives in 1999 and got into the senate in 2007. The 60-year-old is a graduate of the University of Maiduguri where he read geography. He also has a postgraduate diploma in land survey, an MSc and PhD in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS), all from the University of Cranfield, United Kingdom.

On his part, Gbajabiamila, who represents Surulere 1 federal constituency of Lagos state, is an ally of Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the APC. He was first elected into the green chamber in 2003.

A law graduate from the University of Lagos, he started his career with the Bentley, Edu and Co law firm in Lagos before he established his own firm, Femi Gbaja and Co. where he was principal partner. Gbajabiamila later returned to John Marshall Law School in the US and was said to have graduated top of his class, earning himself a juris doctorate. He set up a law firm and had a brief stint of practice in the US after he passed his Georgia bar exams in 2001. Later, he returned to Nigeria to join politics.

The national working committee (NWC) of the ruling party was in a meeting with the newly elected APC members in the house of representatives on Monday when this report was filed.

Speaking at the Yar’Adua Center, Abuja, where the politicians gathered, Adams Oshiomole, national chairman of the APC, made it clear that the purpose of the meeting is to ensure that the party produce the leadership of the lower chamber.

“We will ensure that we have a leadership of the national assembly that share the vision of the executive . Although we stick to separation of power and unless the various arms pursue the same agenda it is difficult for the executive to fulfil its promises and legislative backing is often require for most of the executive actions,” Oshiomhole said.

https://www.thecable.ng/exclusive-buhari-favours-lawan-gbaja-to-lead-9th-national-assembly/amp

The Court of Appeal sitting in Sokoto, led by Justice Tom Yakubu, has set aside the judgement of a Zamfara High Court on the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries that produced the party’s candidates for governorship, National and State Assembly elections.


Details shortly…

http://thenationonlineng.net/court-nullifies-zamfara-apc-primaries-governorship-assembly-elections/

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has scored the highest votes the Sokoto State governorship election after polling a total of 512,002 from both the March 9 first ballot and yesterday’s supplementary election.

Ahmad Aliyu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) came close behind with 511,661, losing to his erstwhile principal with just 341votes.

Mr Aliyu was Mr Tambuwal’s deputy governor.

Both men were of the APC until Mr Tambuwal defected to the PDP.
The results of all the local governments where supplementary elections were held in Sokoto have now been announced at the state collation centre.


A final declaration by INEC that Mr Tambuwal has won the election is expected any minute from now.

More details to come.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/322022-breaking-tambuwal-survives-narrowly-defeats-apc-in-sokoto.html

With a total of 595,582 votes secured in the Plateau state governorship election, Simon Lalong, incumbent governor, has won his reelection.

Lalong, who ran under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), defeated Jeremiah Useni, his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rival, who secured 546,813 votes in the election.

The Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) had election inconclusive based on the number of cancelled votes being higher than the margin between the two leading candidates in the election.

More to follow…

https://www.thecable.ng/breaking-lalong-defeats-pdps-useni-with-over-3000-votes-in-plateau

Kano State Commissioner of Information, Malam Muhammad Garba has debunked rumours being circulated in the social media that the police have arrested a serving commissioner in the state during Saturday’s re-run elections.

Garba, who spoke to reporters, also described the reported loss of life due to violence in some polling units as false.

He said these negative, false and disturbing reports are nothing but propaganda of the Kwankwasiyya movement of PDP designed and perpetrated to discredit the conduct of the re-run elections in the affected areas as they sense clear defeat.

He said the elections were conducted peacefully and smoothly adding that there was and will not be any infringement of law or wrong doing from the government as alleged by the PDP.

Garba therefore called on Kano citizens to disregard these fake news and propaganda and remain calm as collation of results continue.

http://thenationonlineng.net/no-serving-commissioner-was-arrested-in-kano/

Bola Bamigbola, Osogbo

All Progressives Congress in Osun has rejected the judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal verdict that declared Adeleke the winner of the 2018 governorship election in the state.

APC, in a terse message sent to our correspondent by the party’s spokesperson, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, said, “‘The verdict cannot stand superior legal scrutiny. Therefore we will appeal against it.”

https://punchng.com/verdict-cant-stand-superior-legal-scrutiny-says-apc-as-tribunal-declares-adeleke-2018-osun-gov-poll-winner/

...as INEC plans to conduct rerun

A rerun of the gubernatorial election in Bauchi will hold in 15 local government areas where 22,759 votes were cancelled, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner Ibrahim Abdullahi who disclosed this to reporters in Bauchi on Thursday said the supplementary election will hold on March 23.

He stated the rerun election will be held in 36 Polling covering 29 registration areas (wards) in the 15 affected local government areas with 22,759 registered voters equally affected.

He further said that rerun election will not hold in Tafawa Balewa local government area until after the ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The REC appealed to the public, especially the people of Tafawa Balewa local government area, to be calm and wait for the outcome of the court ruling.

But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi state has described the supplementary election as a sham threatening not to participate in it.

Its chairman, Alhaji Hamza Koshe Akuyam told reporters: “The supplementary election is a sham, INEC wants to conduct rerun because 22, 759 people were disenfranchised in 15 LGA, meanwhile 139, 240 were disenfranchised in Tafawa Balewa local government area.

“I don’t know what INEC is up to. Maybe they are reading somebody’s script. We are not going to participate in this election.

“Our legal team will look at this matter though it is not just about going to court but for INEC to do the right thing.”

The PDP Chairman stated that the party will go to court and seek a redress.

But the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state says it is well prepared for the supplementary election.

Its chairman Ubah Nana told reporters the party is readily prepared for the re-run.

“15 LGAs will be having rerun this Saturday and we are participating .Though the proper thing to be done was for the rerun to be held in the 15 LGA and Tafawa Balewa but unfortunately it was not the case .

“We are fully prepared. I don’t know why some people seem not to be fully prepared. I don’t know why they are afraid.

“Let the game be played according to the rules,” he stated.

Tafawa Balewa local government area was excluded from the rerun as INEC, in compliance with a court order restraining it from resuming with the collation and announcement of result for the LGA, discontinued with the process.

A Federal High Court in Abuja had barred the Commission (INEC) from collation of result of the governorship election of March 9 in Bauchi State in an order given by Justice Inyang Ekwo on Tuesday following an ex parte application filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the incumbent governor of the state, Mohammed Abubakar.

http://thenationonlineng.net/bauchi-guber-pdp-threatens-to-boycott-election/

By Nwafor Sunday

Following the assertions of the speaker House of Representatives, Honorable Yakubu Dogara, that no evildoer would go unpunished, Lauretta Onochie, social media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, Thursday subscribed to Dogara’s postulation, saying that Idigun, Shango, Oshosi, Ogun, Mkpitime, Iyi Odekpe, Animodua, Adugbé, Amadioha and other deities would consume those who purportedly rigged the 2019 general elections.


Recall that many Nigerians have faulted the outcome of the Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and State House of Assembly elections, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of colluding with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to rig elections.

The major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was not left out as they listed, irregularities and electoral fraud as challenges that bedeviled the 2019 electoral system.

At the 85th Emergency National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abuja, Dogara opined; “What has happened (the 2019 elections) is pure evil. Our consolation as members of this party is that evil doers not last and no evil doer has ever escaped punishment. If they do what others have done before, they will see what those who did evil saw. Definitely they cannot escape from it. It is a law of nature and it is in the scripture of God, that whatever you sow, you shall reap.

“I want to use this opportunity to remind INEC that we should escape the trap of always getting Nigeria to be slanted as bad when they are looking for example of a bad precedent. “Elections are done all over the world. Elections are conducted in Africa and at no time have we heard of this inconclusive elections in other jurisdictions. “It is very unfortunate if INEC which is led by a first class Professor set this very dangerous and unacceptable precedent in our political history.”

In view of that therefore, Onochie via her tweeter handle, averred; “Me: Amen. Amin. Ise

Consequences for electoral crimes are rarely applied so may Idigun, Shango, Oshosi, Ogun, Mkpitime, Iyi Odekpe, Animodua, Adugbé, Amadioha, etc. consume the election riggers in Nigeria”.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/03/may-amadioha-shango-others-consume-election-riggers-lauretta-onochie-prays/

An official of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has alleged of plot by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki to hijack the constitution of the leadership of the 9th Senate.

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of APC, Yekini Nabena alleged that Saraki, Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, caucus were plotting to decide the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Speaking with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, Nabena alleged that Saraki and PDP have devised plans to ensure that their loyalists take control of the legislative arm of government.

According to Nabena: “The outgoing Senate President and the PDP caucus have begun surreptitious move to lure some new APC lawmakers with juicy committee position in return for their support for the PDP choice for the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives.

“Already, Saraki’s henchman, Dino Melaye and some other returning PDP federal lawmakers have scheduled meetings with some APC lawmakers from Wednesday to Sunday in a yet-to-be announced venue.

“It is important that the APC leadership meet and urgently roll out a fair zoning arrangement to ensure that we produce our preferred candidates for all leadership positions in the incoming National Assembly.

“Since Saraki lost his bid to return to the Senate and control of his home state, Kwara, he has devised a plan to ensure that he influences the choice of the incoming National Assembly Leadership. This is Saraki’s last-ditch effort to remain politically relevant,” he said.


http://dailypost.ng/2019/03/19/nass-saraki-dino-melaye-plan-install-next-national-assembly-leadership-apc-spokesman-alleges/

Ade Adesomoju, Abuja

A Senior Investigation Officer of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Mr. James Apala told the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Monday that the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria submitted two assets declaration forms on December 14, 2016.

He said one of the forms had two Union Bank accounts of the suspended CJN while the other had seven bank accounts with two kept with Union Bank and five others with Standard Chartered Bank.

Apala was testifying as the first prosecution witness in the trial of the suspended CJN on the charges of false and non-declaration of charges preferred against the embattled top judicial officer.

The witness, led by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Aliyu Umar, said the first form earlier admitted as Exhibit 2, covered the period June 8, 2005 when Onnoghen was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court till November 22, 2014.

He said the second form as Exhibit 3 was declared after the defendant assumed office as CJN.

Fielding questions from the prosecuting counsel, Apala said the two forms were received by an official of the bureau, Awal Yakassai, on December 14, 2016.

He confirmed that the two forms had acknowledgement slips bearing the same date.

https://punchng.com/onnoghen-submitted-two-asset-forms-on-same-day/

Gov. Mohammed Abdullahi of Bauchi State on Monday visited the presidential villa barely 24 hours after the Presidency distanced President Muhammadu Buhari from the activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor had met with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo last week and declined to speak on the outcome of the meeting.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the closed door meeting with president, the governor revealed that he briefed the president on the latest political development in Bauchi state.



He explained that the position of INEC regarding result of the Bauchi governorship election was capable of creating social unrest.

However, the Presidency in a statement by Malam Garba Shehu on Sunday said the president had vowed never to interfere in the forthcoming re-run elections in some states, describing it as unfair and ridiculous criticisms of President Buhari’s apparent disinterest in the exercise.

“Past Presidents of Nigeria were known to interfere in inconclusive elections, and that is why party members appear to be upset that the same thing is not happening now, but President Buhari is a different kind of leader.

“He swore to defend the constitution and will not veer off from that. The constitution of Nigeria gives the President no such powers,’’ the statement said.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had, on Friday, decided to resume the collation of the governorship election result in Bauchi State and may declare the winner of the poll, hitherto ruled as inconclusive along with five other states across the country.

(NAN)


https://punchng.com/breaking-bauchi-gov-abubakar-visits-aso-rock-meets-president-buhari/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied any raid on the farm allegedly linked to the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

It was reported that about nine EFCC operatives, a cameraman and policemen in a Nissan bus marked Abuja BWR 627AT raided Wanogan Farms Limited located in the Masaka area of Nasarawa State around 3pm and searched the entire premises for over three hours.

The anti-corruption agency in a telephone conversation with Channels Television, through its spokesperson, Tony Orilade, denied being aware of any search by operatives of the agency on the property reportedly linked to the suspended CJN.

Recall that EFFC had 24 hours ago dismiss reports on a raid at the suspended CJN’s residence, adding that it never went to his house.

While also denying reports about an invitation from the EFCC to the CJN, the agency described these reports as ‘fake news’.

The anti-graft agency, therefore, urged Nigerians to disregard all unfounded claims and be rest assured that the commission will fight corruption in line with the agency’s mandate.

Justice Onnoghen is facing six charges bordering on failure to declare his assets and operating a domiciliary account, among other charges. at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

https://www.independent.ng/efcc-denies-raid-on-justice-onnoghens-farm/

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is probably poorer now than when he became President of Nigeria in 2015.

The Vice President stated this on Thursday night when he hosted a dinner in honour of volunteers who canvassed for votes for the All Progressives Congress, APC during the campaigns in the general election, at the Old Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja. According to him, “When I looked at his assets declaration form, I was checking it in 2015, I said to him, “Mr President, I am so much richer than you, it is an embarrassment.”


He further said, “I am only a soldier, you are a big lawyer so you should have more money than me.” I can tell you that he is perhaps; even poorer than he was in 2015 when I saw his declaration of assets form.” Osinbajo urged Nigerians to vote for the APC in the March 23 supplementary elections in the six states the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared elections inconclusive.

He said “We are still not done with the elections.On the 23rd of March, we still have some outstanding states and as you know we are re-running in about six states. “And all of the efforts we need to put into those six states, we still need to do. “We can’t afford to slack off and say the job is done; we still have some things to do.”

Recalling the experiences he had during this year’s electioneering, Professor Osinbajo said his encounter with Nigerians as he crisscrossed the country, campaigning for votes, showed that Nigerians are so trusting and supportive of their leaders.

He said, “I think that one of the main characteristics of the Nigerian is how so supportive and trusting many of our people are and they don’t ask us for too much. “They never really ask for anything that is impossible to do. “And that’s why, for many of us that went around this country, we realized the tremendous amount of work that there is to do and our capacity to do so much work.

“What our people need, as we discovered, isn’t that much. “As a matter of fact, I do not know any nation where the people are so generous no matter how poor they are.” Vice President Osinbajo said there was need for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to connect more with the people. “It just struck me that what we really need to do a lot more is to connect with the people. “All the people need is opportunity for us to interact with them.

“We should have a way by which everybody is involved one way or the other. “One of the complaints that people made about our government is that we were not communicating enough and that people did not know what had done.”

The vice president acknowledged that the diligent communication carried out to put across the APC message in 2015 was not sustained, making the administration lose some ground to the opposition, especially in the social media. He said the new administration would ensure that it makes change in that regard. Osinbajo said that he would take up everyone who has challenged the administration on the issue with a view to getting its communication of programmes and policies better.

Earlier, the Deputy Chief of Staff in the State House, Ade Ipaye, said the volunteers worked during the campaigns to demonstrate the integrity and capability of the candidates of the APC. He said the event was organized to appreciate them for the work they did in selling the policies and programmes of the administration to the Nigerian electorate.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/03/buhari-poorer-than-in-2015-says-osinbajo/

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday advised the Oyo State Governor-elect, Seyi Makinde, not to run a Democratic system that would put the government of the state in his pocket.

Obasanjo said Makinde has the onerous task of striving to transform the capital of former old Western Region, urging the people to keep supporting him to succeed when eventually sworn-in.

The elder statesman gave the advice when he received the Governor-elect, his Deputy, Akeem Ademola, Oyo state chairman of PDP, Kunmi Mustapha, Bose Adelabu, Lagos state PDP chairman, Dominic Agboola among others at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun state.

The ex-Head of States described such government that serves narrow interest as “democratic so sa po”, meaning pocketing democratic system for personal gains against true democratic system.

He also advised Makinde to shun corruption.

“Be transparent and embark on developmental projects, which would be a delight to the people of Oyo state. Please run a government that will be making them ask, where have this type of government been all these years in Oyo state.

“You must give them something (positive), you must give them good democracy and not that one my younger brothers will call democratic so sa po’ (pocketing democracy).

“Where there is misunderstanding, call yourselves( your people) together and make peace in the overall interest of Oyo state.

“He cannot do it alone and since you have supported him now, you should continue to be together. You should be mindful that Oyo people are fearless and they don’t mind, whose oars is gored, that is why you are there now,” Obasanjo stated.

He promised to support the incoming new government and be available anytime his service is needed.

In his response, Makinde said the visit was meant to appreciate Baba Obasanjo and seeks wisdom from the elder statesman.

The Governor-elect admitted that Oyo state was “in a bad shape but pledged to apply wisdom to make things better.

“He had warned against corruption and transparency. We are very much aware of this too. With God, Oyo state will never be the same again. This is the type of visit that will give us the needed tonic to forge ahead positively in Oyo state,” he said.

The former Deputy Chairman (South) of the People’s Democratic Party, Chief Olabode George who facilitated the visit, said he called Obasanjo barely 24hours ago to fix the appointment.

“I want to thank him for granting us audience within the short notice,” George said.

http://thenationonlineng.net/obasanjo-to-makinde-dont-pocket-oyo-state-govt/

Presents Report Tuesday, Senate to Pass the Bill same day

By Henry Umoru


ABUJA – THE Senate Adhoc Committee on a New National Minimum Wage Bill, 2019, has agreed with the House of Representatives, recommending N30,000 as the accepted minimum wage for the Nigerian workers as against N27,000 proposed by the Federal Government.

The Committee which is chaired by the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Francis Alimikhena, All Progressives Congress, APC, Edo North, met yesterday at Senate Room 431 New Building has concurred with the members of the House of Representatives that had earlier recommended a wage of N30,000 that was later adopted by the lower chamber.

A source told Vanguard yesterday that at the meeting of the Committee, the Chairman, Senator Alimikhena asked all the members to make contributions one after the other on the new minimum wage.

According to the source, all the Senators who spoke one after the other agreed, for a new minimum wage of N30,000, just as they were said to have taken the bill clause by clause whereby they also agreed with the issues raised in the bill.

Vanguard also gathered that the Senators agreed on very stiff punishment for civil servants who do not go to work as a fine of N75,000 to be paid by any erring Civil servant has been settled for by the members, just as they were said to have complained bitterly about local government workers who abscond from their duty posts, only to wait and come to the secretariat whenever the salaries were ready.

The Committee, Vanguard learnt would present its report to the Senate at Plenary next week Tuesday as the report would be ready this week and passed by the Upper chamber next week Tuesday.

It would be recalled that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki on Monday this week, announced that following the absence of the Chairman, Senate Adhoc Committee on New National Minimum Wage Bill, Senator Olusola Adeyeye, APC, Osun Central, the Deputy Senate Majority Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena, APC, Edo North to now head the panel in acting capacity.

It would be recalled that the Senate had on 24th January this year, set up an eight- member Adhoc Committee to look at the New Minimum Wage bill after scaling second reading, just as the Bill was referred to the constituted ad- hoc Committee.

The Ad- hoc Committee had the Senate Majority Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye, APC, Osun Central, with the Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena, APC, Edo North, representing the South South; Senator Abu Ibrahim, APC, Katsina South who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour; Senator Shehu Sani, PRP, Kaduna Central, representing the North West; Senator Sam Egwu, PDP, Ebonyi North, representing South East); Senator Suleiman Adokwe, PDP, Nasarawa South, North Central) ; Solomon Adeola, APC, Lagos West, representing South West and Senator Binta Masi Garba, APC, Adamawa North, representing North East.

The Committee was given two weeks to conclude its assignment and report back.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Lagos West), yesterday called for the review of Revenue Allocation Formula by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission as a way of effectively implementing the recommended N30,000 minimum way across all tiers of government.

Making his contribution during a meeting of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Minimum Wage chaired by Senator Francis AlimiKhena to consider the Minimum Wage Bill, Senator Adeola supported the recommended N30,000 contained in the National Minimum Wage Bill adding however that the law when passed must be implemented by all the three tiers of government.

In a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Kayode Odunaro, Senator Adeola said, ” I am in support of the recommended minimum wage as it will go a long way in cushioning the challenges faced by workers. However, there must be no excuse for non implementation by any tiers of government across the federation. It is in this wise that I call on the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission to begin a process that will lead to the review of the Revenue Allocation Formula for all tiers of government to be able to pay the minimum wage when passed into law”.

The senator supported the sanctions contained in the bills for indolent workers stressing that while supporting the minimum wage for workers and improve welfare packages, the Civil Service at all levels must perform at its best as they are critical in the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people.

It would be recalled that the House of Representatives, had on 29th January, approved a national minimum wage of not less than N30,000 per month for Nigerian workers.

The passage followed the lawmakers’ unanimous adoption of a report of an ad hoc committee on National Minimum Wage Bill, 2019, which recommended N30,000 as against N27,000 proposed by the Federal Government.


According to the Chairman, ad hoc committee on National Minimum Wage Bill and Deputy Speaker of the House, Yusuf Lasun (APC, Osun), the bill aims to prescribe the national minimum wage and a legal framework for a seamless review.

Tagged “A Bill for an Act to repeal the National Minimum Wage Act 1981 and enact the National Minimum Wage Bill, 2019” the law makes it compulsory for employers in Nigeria to pay their workers no less than N30,000 per month.

The Lower Chamber approved the minimum wage bill following its adoption by the ad hoc committee on the report presented to the assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/03/minimum-wage-senate-committee-concur-with-reps-approves-n30000/

The Independent National Electoral Commission’s fact-finding committee on the suspended Rivers State elections has completed its work in Port Harcourt.

It has, however, left political actors and the public in anxiety and uncertainty.

“They have finished everything, and they are going back to Abuja,” said a senior official familiar with committee’s work at the commission’s Port Harcourt office on Tuesday evening.

“They did not tell us anything. They are reporting to Abuja, and that is where a decision will be taken.”
Background

INEC spokesperson, Festus Okoye, who announced the suspension of the electoral process in Rivers State on Sunday, when contacted at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, said the committee members were being awaited at the headquarters in Abuja

The probe committee led by Anthonia Okoosi-Simbine, a national commissioner, is made up of senior officials deployed from the headquarters in Abuja.

The officials arrived in Port Harcourt on Monday and then grilled local staff, including electoral officers and collation officers at the various local government areas for at least eight hours.

They continued their inquiry today, Tuesday, and took submissions from the NYSC and the security agencies, a source at the Port Harcourt office of INEC said.

The committee’s assignment in Port Harcourt was announced on Sunday evening just as the INEC suspended the electoral process in Rivers State.

The commission, according to the announcement by the spokesperson Mr Okoye, said it had received reports “from our officials in the field” of widespread disruptions of Saturday’s governorship and state parliamentary elections.

PREMIUM TIMES understands it was the state office leadership that had decided to report the incidents of disruptions and violence during voting and at collation centres to the Abuja headquarters following reports from local areas.

The commission asked its fact-finding committee to turn in a report today.

“We appeal to the people of Rivers State, particularly the voters, for their understanding as we look into the circumstances of these disruptions and what further actions need to be taken,” the commission had said in Mr Okoye’s statement on Sunday evening.

Ruffled

Since the commencement of the inquiry yesterday, the two main parties in the elections, the Peoples Democratic Party and the African Action Congress backed by the All Progressives Congress, had dissipated energies to separate claims of leading the polls before the process was suspended.
INEC at the state level has not endorsed any result from any of the LGAs

This reporter interacted with actors from all sides at the end of the committee’s work on Tuesday.
They are reportedly gripped by anxiety and already contemplating possible outcomes.
INEC is expected to announce its decision after receiving the report of its committee deployed to Port Harcourt.

It will decide whether to have fresh polls and continue with the collation exercise even though security remains a concern in Rivers, PREMIUM TIMES understands.
Speaking from Abuja Tuesday night, Mr Okoye said the members of the committee have not reported to the commission.

”All of us are still in the situation room,” he said. “We are still waiting for them.”

He restated the expectation that the committee should submit its report in 48 hours, ending today.
Asked when the commission will state its decision, he replied: “I can’t say for now until we see the members of the committee and get their report. All of us are still in the situation room.”

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/319889-rivers-elections-inec-committee-ends-inquiry-as-anxiety-grips-parties.html

Suspected political thugs Friday night set ablaze a Registration Area Centre (RAC) in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
RACs are used by the electoral commission (INEC) to ensure adequate distribution of election materials in various areas as well as handle other logistics.
The RAC in Umuoghara was attacked by the unidentified hoodlums around 2 am.
They fire, it was gathered, destroyed sensitive and non sensitive materials to be used for today’s governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
The hoodlums also burnt down Community Secondary School, Okposi Umuoghara, in the area.

The police spokesperson in the state, Loveth Odah, and the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Godswill Obioma, confirmed the attack.
” I got a call from the area that the RAC was under attack just few minutes ago. I am rushing back to command to ramp up response to the situation,” Ms Odah said.

Mr Obioma on his part said he has escalated the matter to the INEC headquarters Abuja.

Ebonyi, in South-east Nigeria, is one of the states that witnessed election violence during and in the build-up to the presidential and federal parliamentary elections on February 23. At least two people were killed in the state.
INEC offices in other states like Benue and Akwa Ibom were also burnt down by suspected hoodlums.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-east/318650-thugs-burn-inec-office-in-ebonyi.html

Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja

The Nigerian Army says it has begun a forensic investigation of a CCTV footage showing soldiers invading the home of the Rivers State Commissioner of Education, Dr Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja.

The army said in a statement by its Acting Director, Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, that the military would remain neutral before, during and after the polls.

The statement read in part, “The Nigerian Army has observed some CCTV footages in circulation on social media and other online platforms, allegedly showing soldiers of the NA and other security agents invading the residence of the Rivers State Commissioner of Education, Dr. Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja.

“The NA has started conducting a comprehensive forensic investigation of the footages to authenticate the validity or otherwise of the claims to guide its further actions.

“In the view of these allegations, the NA, for the umpteenth time, categorically reiterate its position in the entire conduct of the 2019 general elections as severally and consistently espoused and directed by the Chief of Army Staff Buratai which is – ‘NA is apolitical, neutral, impartial and will not compromise its constitutional roles under any guise’”

He explained that the army’s responsibility in the entire electioneering process is only to assist civil authority, Nigeria Police and other relevant security agencies to provide a secure, peaceful and enabling environment for the successful and transparent conduct of the election.

The army spokesman said anything beyond this is not authorised and therefore totally unacceptable by the leadership of the NA.

The statement read in part, “Any military personnel confirmed to be involved in any professional misconduct, such a person/s would be dealt with decisively in accordance with the law.

“To this end, the NA wishes to request well-meaning Nigerians to always forward genuine complaints and evidences of professional misconduct against any of its personnel for investigation and necessary action.”

https://punchng.com/gov-election-army-probes-video-showing-soldiers-invading-rivers-commissioners-home/

With just two days before the gubernatorial and state house of assembly elections across the nation, confusion has rocked the Kwara State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as its governorship candidate, Razaq Atunwa, has insisted on pulling out of the race owing to lack of funding of his campaign by the incumbent Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed, among other factors.
The confusion deepened in the past few days as Ahmed made it clear he was not going to spend public funds to bankroll the campaign again as anti-graft agencies keep beaming their searchlight on his government.

At least three top officials of the state government – including the Finance Commissioner, Ademola Banu, have been arrested in connection with the N1 billion loan recently obtained from a bank and diverted to fund the presidential and National Assembly elections.

The governor is said to be afraid that he might be arrested and prosecuted if public funds are found to have been used to run the election.

The tension is worsened by the crushing of the PDP at the presidential and National Assembly elections on February 23, with Senator Bukola Saraki and all his cronies failing to win their seats.
“There are yet-to-be successful efforts to convince Atunwa to remain in the race. He is bitter that he has become like an orphan. The governor no longer allows free money for the campaign while others are mocking him that he (Atunwa) was probably responsible for the bad luck the PDP has suffered,” according to a source.

“It is now common, even in Government House, for people to say ‘o daye Atunwa’ for PDP to win. There is this suspicion that the Governor is working for APC because of his nonchalant attitude to the PDP campaign,” the source said.

INDEPENDENT sources also added that the governor has been bitter and he is still licking his wounds from the supposed “maltreatment” he received from his party during the primaries.
This is coupled with the fact that he was being blamed for everything.

INDEPENDENT also has it on good authority that the camp is now split down the middle as Ahmed made it clear he was not going to be the ‘fall guy’ anymore.

“The crisis actually deepened with the subtle rejection of Saraki by Ahmed after the senatorial ticket was withdrawn from him.

“In what looked like open declaration of war, Ahmed removed his WhatsApp DP that contained his picture with Saraki and replaced it with a picture of himself and Buhari.

“This has continued to breed bad blood, even though he has since returned the old picture as his DP.
“So Atunwa knows he has no chance at all this Saturday. Besides, he believes that stepping down may be the perfect face-saving measure,” our source explained.

There is also the unabated tension about the lack of support for Atunwa by the likes of Bolaji Abdullahi and many others who felt he had been imposed on them.

Besides, there is also palpable tension in the Saraki camp as several of his ‘good boys’ have gone underground after their leaders were flogged for making away with campaign funds.
“Top Saraki guys like Nasiru Subair and Auto were flogged for diverting money. Nasiru had his hands broken while others were dealt with too,” according to the source.

https://www.independent.ng/confusion-in-kwara-pdp-as-guber-candidate-atunwa-mulls-backing-out/amp/

By Nwafor Sunday Mr Bello Abdullahi Bodejo, National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Socio-cultural Association, Thursday, said that animals are happy that President Muhammadu Buhari triumphed over his political opponents in the last Presidential election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in Nigeria.

Speaking in an interview with the SUN NEWSPAPER, Bodejo averred that cows have doubled their milk production, noting that their actions are evident to show that they (cows) know about Buhari’s victory. He linked Buhari’s victory to the love Fulani’s and Nigerians have for him, saying that ‘If a tribe like the Fulani rejects you, you should know that you are finished. Whatever you are doing in the country, if you are not with the Fulani, it would not succeed.’ His words, “This time, President Buhari has to check the people around him very well. Not all of them are giving him good advice. I believe that by now, he already knows those who like Nigeria and those who do not like Nigeria. It is now that the real change will come. “I believe that Baba will bring a lot of change to Nigeria. Even the cows in the bush are now happy and will know that very soon, change will reach them. Today (Wednesday), when I wanted to harvest milk from my cow, I noticed that it was double what I used to get.

Through that, I know that something good is coming to the country. So, even the cows are happy and feeling that change has come. Before now, after every election, you used to have all manner of crises but since Buhari won, you can see that everywhere is calm. “Everybody is very happy; some are dancing and killing animals to do sacrifice. We, the Fulani are praying for him and that he should remember us. The Fulani are really suffering; they are killing the Fulani everywhere but we cannot leave President Buhari. We believe in him. He is our son, father and grandfather.

“I urge him to remove all the people around him who are enemies of his administration. During the campaigns, many people including Atiku were trying to poison the minds of the Fulani that Buhari did not do anything for us. We understood that Buhari entered government at a time that everything had spoilt in the country. I believe that Buhari is going to do a lot now. “So many people tried to use money to buy us but we believe in Buhari. We are praying that Buhari will listen to the leadership of the Fulani. “They made so much noise; many of them like Buba Galadinma carried so much propaganda but they were not on ground. However, if they have issues with the election, they should go to court. I advise them to join Buhari’s government and not waste their time. “If you saw their campaigns, you would think that they were going to win the election but it is few people among them that deceived them to think that they have been accepted by Nigerians. One thing is that if you are a presidential candidate, you should not take any tribe for granted. “If a tribe like the Fulani rejects you, you should know that you are finished. Whatever you are doing in the country, if you are not with the Fulani, it would not succeed. “The reason is that if the Fulani say yes to you, it means yes. Atiku lost the election but if he wants to go to court, he can do that; after all, the lawyers are there and they will be happy to get briefs from the PDP. It is a very clear election that they conducted and everybody saw it.

“Before, Buhari could not win Nasarrawa but this time he won it because of his popularity. Look at the campaign of Atiku; he said he would sell the NNPC if he is elected; how can he say that? Is it his personal property? He also said he wants to do anti-grazing law. Which kind of leader is that? You will sell NNPC and ban the Fulani from grazing. You said the Fulani are killing people and you want to win election.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/03/cows-are-happy-for-buharis-victory-miyetti-allah-president/

Tunde Ajaja

A former General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church, Prophet Samuel Abiara, has advised the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the just concluded presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to accept defeat.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, President Muhammadu Buhari polled 15,191,847 votes to win the election while Atiku polled 11,262,978 votes to come second.

Atiku had rejected the result, saying he would approach the tribunal to seek redress.

But in a message on Friday, Abiara said, “Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is mature, peaceloving, civilised and a devout Muslim, and so I want to tell him to embrace peace. He must accept defeat and let peace reign in Nigeria. I call on the PDP presidential candidate to be focused and he should not let them push him to the extreme.

“If he refuses to embrace peace now and anything bad happens on his account, people may not forget. Once again, I, Prophet Samuel Abiara, am telling the PDP presidential candidate to embrace peace because of tomorrow.”

Speaking on the governorship and state House of Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, March 9, the cleric said, “I believe God owns this country and Nigerians must put their minds at rest. “

https://punchng.com/abiara-advises-atiku-to-accept-defeat/