₦airaland Forum

In what seemed like a show of political power and acceptability test between the embattled Senator Dino Melaye and his sworn political enemy, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, Kogi State, the electorates say they’d rather recalled Governor Yahaya Bello instead of Senator Dino if it were doable.

In a mock recall exercise anchored by a Kogi State-born good governance advocate, Comrade Austin Okai Usman via his Facebook page, over 82% of respondents said they would rather recall Governor Yahaya Bello instead of Senator Dino Melaye.

It would be recalled that Senator Dino Melaye was recently arrested by the Nigerian police over the allegation of arming some youths to destabilize his home state. He was alleged to have jumped out from a moving vehicle when he learned he was being taken to Lokoja.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/wed-rather-recall-gov-yahaya-bello-than-dino-kogi-voters-say-in-a-mock-recall-exercise/

While the Federal Government relishes the belief that it has conquered the perennial jinx of spending billions of dollars annually in rice importation, information reaching LeadingReporters revealed that that claim looks like a long dream that’s yet to be realized as Nigeria/Niger Republic Border has become a route for all forms of criminality, ranging from smuggling to laundering cash. This follows a discreet information uncovered by LeadingReporters.

“On the average, there are no less than equivalent of 10 trucks of imported rice that are smuggled into Nigeria via Nigeria/Niger Republic Border. That includes other criminal activities such as routing in and out of monies”

“The services of hired bikers are used to cross the contraband goods and each bike carries as much as 4 bags of rice and other materials. They moved unchallenged after clearing with some officers from both Nigeria immigration and Nigeria Customs Service. It is an illegality that has gone untamed”

https://www.leadingreporters.com/investigation/nigerianiger-republic-border-a-new-route-for-smuggling-and-money-laundering/

Unsympathetically, the scorching sun barked without any sign of respite as this reporter hurriedly made his way to the Capital Building headquarters of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) at MKO Abiola way in Ibadan on October 12, 2017. With just a few customers waiting to be attended to by the two good-looking female customer care agents, it didn’t take long before he was jolted out of the comforting waves the air conditioner was puffing into his face as he was beckoned to take a seat to be heard.

“Excuse me ma, I’m tired of the estimated billing I’m made to cough up every month. It is too much. I need a prepaid meter and I have come to apply for one,” he said.


“We are very sorry for that sir. But at the moment, we have stopped issuing meters to customers. We have a backlog of applicants who have not yet been provided with the product. Until that is done, we cannot say when we will start supplying out meters,” the rotund lady with a dazzling hair extension audibly whispered.

However, findings revealed that, IBEDC, the largest electricity distribution company in Nigeria with its franchise area made up of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara and parts of Niger, Ekiti and Kogi states, stopped supplying prepaid meters in mid-2017 after the credited advance payment for metering initiative (CAPMI) intervention programme where customers were made to self-finance meter acquisition was stopped by Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing.

WELCOME TO THE BLACK MARKET WHERE PREPAID METER IS GOLD
https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/how-electricity-distribution-officials-extort-customers-in-need-of-prepaid-meter/

Residents of Tudun Wada in Lugbe have threatened to match fire for fire with the management of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company AEDC over what they termed wicked and exploitative estimated bills.

The residents converged in the AEDC office around Suka, chanting war songs and threatening to shut down AEDC’s office unless the outrageous bills are withdrawn. The residents wondered why AEDC has refused to meter their apartments to enable them to pay only for what they consumed.

One of the protesters who spoke to us wondered where AEDC got the bill of N30,540 they gave him since there was no single light throughout the billing month.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/lead-news/angry-residents-placed-juju-in-aedc-office-tudun-wada-over-outrageous-bills-without-light/

Melaye himself revealed this via Twitter on Monday morning, saying he was on his way to Morocco for an official assignment when he was arrested.

Senator Dino Melaye@dino_melaye
I HAVE JUST BEEN ARRESTED AT THE INTERNATIONAL WING OF THE NNAMDI AZIKIWE AIRPORT ON MY WAY TO MOROCCO FOR AN OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENT SPONSORED BY THE FEDERAL GOVT AFTER CHECKING IN.

He did not say which law enforcement agency (Police, DSS, etc) that arrested him, but when contacted, Anjuguri Manzah, spokesman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, said he was not aware of the development.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/dino-melaye-arrested-at-abuja-airport/

5 Ways To Identify Selfish Politicians Who Seek Power For Self-Enrichment (Part I)

They Are Intolerant To Criticism:
Contrary to what many believe, the loudest and most verbose politicians are not the most creative. That is not to say there are no elected leaders who know how to raise the dust for the good of the people. Search them out, this class of politicians are queer in their character and only need the people for the sake of their votes. They are chronically intolerant with opposing views and can go extra miles to silence dissenting voices. They see constructive opposition as a call to political warfare. They’re prone to violent and in most cases have groups of young men at the beck and call who do their violent biddings. They deceitful, wicked, selfish and lack compassion to do good to the people.

They Swing Parties When Their Original Party Lose Power:
When you see politicians jumping from one political party to the other, it is not mostly because of what they want to offer to the electorates. In most cases, it borders on their own selfish desire to stay politically afloat for what they can get and not what they can offer. This crop of politicians jump boats and are always found among the ruling party. Their stock in trade is to begin to castigate their former party by branding it ‘corrupt’. They do this just to be accepted in their new party and to curry favour from their new party leaders. Morality, selflessness, sound service delivery and passion for selfless service are far from them. They’re simply political prostitutes who jump from one party to the other for sheer political patronage.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/5-ways-to-identify-selfish-politicians-who-seek-power-for-self-enrichment-part-i/

Facebook said it now thinks up to 87 million people, mostly in the United States, may have had their data improperly shared by political targeting firm Cambridge Analytica.
And many more — most users, in fact — probably had their public information scraped by outside companies, it says.
The new Cambridge Analytica estimate, disclosed in a blog post Wednesday where it detailed changes meant to enhance the privacy of its users’ personal information in the wake of a data scandal that has raised doubts over CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s leadership, is higher than the estimate of 50 million people reported three weeks ago by The New York Times and The Observer.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/business-2/beware-your-information-is-not-secure-on-facebook/

Here Is The Train That Carried Queen Elizabeth II During Her Maiden Visit to Nigeria

The remains of the train that once carried Queen Elizabeth II during her 1956 visit to Nigeria when it was still a British colony, is lying fallow in the compound of the Nigerian Railway, Ebuta Meta in Lagos, according to a tourist Ambassador Dr. Raphael James who is touring all parts of Nigeria to unveil the tourism potentials of the country.

Queen Elizabeth II during her 1956 visit to Nigeria when it was still a British colony Photo: Alamy Image
“This old steam locomotive and railway cars are lying fallow in the compound of the Nigerian Railway Ebute Meta, in the space created to host “The Railway Museum” established by the Nigerian Railway Corporation and LEGACY in 1998.
“LEGACY – a Non- profit organization preserving Nigerian historic buildings and materials, I understand is presently doing all within its power to preserve the train car, other colonial-era buildings and other memorabilia.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/lead-news/here-is-the-train-that-carried-queen-elizabeth-ii-during-her-maiden-visit-to-nigeria/

Dislodge AEPB Board And Field Officers Over Sexual Misconducts, Extortion – FCT Minister Told

Residents in Abuja are calling on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alh. Muhammed Musa Bello to as matter of urgency overhaul the Abuja Environmental Protection Board over accusations of extortion and rape.
This was contained in a petition to law enforcement agents filed by concerned citizens under the aegis of Alliance For A Safer FCT which was made available to LeadingReporters.
The group accused the FCT Minister of feigning ignorance of the ignoble activities of the charlatans the agency deployed as field workers who have not only resorted to aiding crime within the city but has committed heinous crimes against residents, especially the female hawkers within FCT.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/dislodge-aepb-board-and-field-officers-over-sexual-misconducts-extortion-fct-minister-told/

How Board Members of 6 Federal Agencies Blew N4.7b As Sitting Allowance

What comes to your mind when you see people jostling for board appointments in government parastatals and agencies?
You’d thought it’s about service to nationhood?
How wrong, being a member of a Federal Board has become an easy way to self-enrichment; little wonder it is believed that just like other elective positions where contestants pay huge sum of money to get votes, those lobbying for board membership spend fortunes and hope to get all back once appointed.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/investigation/how-board-members-of-6-federal-agencies-blew-n4-7b-as-sitting-allowance/

5 Serving APC-Political Appointees Who Are Eyeing For Governorship Seats
Politics is not a game of luck, it is a game of conscious planning, scheming and leveraging on every opportunity at the aspirant’s disposition.

LeadingReporters can authoritatively reveal that among the political appointees of President Buhari, the under listed appointees are nurturing gubernatorial ambitions, leveraging on their personal association and relationships with President Muhammadu Buhari. In fact, these aspirants are those urging President Buhari own to seek reelection in 2019 despite having been advised by some well-meaning Nigerians against seeking re-election.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/investigation/5-serving-apc-political-appointees-who-are-eyeing-for-governorship-seats/

Across the political landscape, voices are daily raising against the reelection bid of President Muhammadu Buhari come 2019.
While President Muhammadu Buhari’s supporters and allies are urging him to throw in his hat in the ring to seek reelection as an eligible Nigerian come 2019, more prominent Nigerians are raising their voices, advising him to retire to his home state in peace and let the peaceful political terrain continue in 2019. Many reasons are being put forward by the opponents of Buhari’s second term bid.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/15-prominent-nigerians-who-passed-vote-of-no-confidence-on-president-buhari-reelection-bid/

Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Students has called on the anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria to beam its searchlight on the alleged diversion of N500m Special Intervention Fund by the Vice Chancellor, Cross River University of Technology.
In a forum on Wednesday in Lagos, the group in a statement made available to LeadingReporters charged the anti-graft agencies to immediately wade in and unravel the mystery behind the diverted N500m interventional fund, as according to the students, the leadership of the university headed by its Vice Chancellor, Prof Anthony Owan Enoh is doing everything to drown the matter.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/investigation/diversion-of-n500m-special-intervention-fund-ccns-call-for-the-probe-of-vc-cross-river-university-of-technology/

A lot of reactions trailed President Buhari’s rather sudden about-face on his hardline stance with regards to visiting some of the states in the country that have been bedeviled with killings and abductions. While Femi Adesina, the president’s spokesman is making spirited efforts to trivialize the timing of his principal’s proposed visit to these troubled spots, many Nigerians, including Femi Adesina know the foolhardiness in trying to compare an impulsive expression of compassion enwrapped in a swift visit to a woebegone community with a belated, afterthought and ostensibly coerced bunch of stopovers.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/opinion/president-buharis-volte-face-statesmanship-or-showmanship/

The trade proposal tagged “National Trade Platform” conceptualized by the Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun and the Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amechi would have been nothing but a scheme laden with deceit, manipulation and selfish outing that would have cost Nigerians billions of Naira.

These monies would have been perennially plunged into private pockets of ‘selected’ proxies who would have served in the board of the private limited liability company that would have been used as a conduit to siphoning billions of naira accruable to the Federal Government.

According to the scheme, as conceptualised by the Minister of Finance in partnership with the Minister of Transport, a Limited Liability Company to be named NTP Limited would be floated. The company would be funded from revenue accruing to the government and co-owned by the company and National Sovereign Investment Authority, among other proxy partners.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/investigation/how-amechiadeosun-proposed-single-window-would-have-ripped-nigeria-of-billions-of-dollars/

Lead Poisoning Imminent In Nasarawa State; Minister Asked To Account For N30b Intervention Fund

There is an impending cloud of death hanging on the hapless youths in their thousands in Uke, a village in Nasarawa State Nigeria. Uke is a 45km drive from Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory. A new gold mine has been discovered attracting over 5000 youths who eke out their living grinding stones, washing them of impurities and searching earnestly for gold.

But something is the problem here. These youths do not in any way believe that their treasure hunt could lead to their untimely death. But who will tell them? The Supervisory Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, seems more interested in signing stage-managed MOUs with so-called international miners, collecting kickbacks and feigning ignorance of the impending dangers.

LeadingReporters investigation revealed that aside Nigeria losing trillions of Naira to the activities of illegal mining, there are impending health dangers within the sites where these illegalities occur.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvvrSyVJiPI

https://www.leadingreporters.com/investigation/lead-poisoning-imminent-in-nasarawa-state-minister-asked-to-account-for-n30b-intervention-fund/

World rulers today: China – Xi Jinping and his Communist Politburo runs the entire Pacific like their private club.

Syria – Bashir Al-Assad vows never to liquidate his little Monarchy and hand the reins of power to a Democratic government.

Britain – Theressa May is politically fashioning herself into Magaret Thatcher at the expense of Brits.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/opinion/what-hope-is-there-for-democracy-in-the-21st-century/

Muhammadu Sanusi II, emir of Kano, says one of his daughters wants to succeed him as the second most ranked Muslim leader in Nigeria.

Sanusi said this in an interview with Financial Times at his Kano residence.

“My daughter wants to be the next emir of Kano, and she’s disappointed I’ve not yet appointed a woman to the Kano emirate council,” Sanusi said.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/my-daughter-wants-to-be-the-next-emir-emir-sanusi/

Nigerian Govt Lied, 5 Million Euros, Boko Haram Fighters, Swapped For Dapchi Girls, While The Only Christian Girl Remains In Boko Haram Custody

Contrary to the claims of two ministers of President Muhammadu Buhari, SaharaReporters can report that a handsome ransom of five million euros was paid to Boko Haram to secure the release of Dapchi girls freed by the insurgents early Wednesday morning.

This is in addition to Boko Haram fighters in the custody of the Nigerian military exchanged for the release of the girls.

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed as well as Minister of Defense, Mansur Dan-Ali had denied that ransom was paid to Boko Haram to secure the freedom of the girls kidnapped by Boko Haram in their school in Dapchi, Yobe State on 19 February.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/updated-nigerian-govt-lied-5-million-euros-boko-haram-fighters-swapped-for-dapchi-girls/

Report Any Crime Or Official Misconduct By Any Police Officer To The AIGs/Command Commissioners
https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/names-emails-and-phone-numbers-of-all-aigs-commissioners-of-police-in-nigeria/

The pressure on marriage is high on the side of Nigerian media personality and blogger, Linda Ikeji, with uncountable attacks because she is yet to tie the knot.

Her younger sister, Laura Ikeji, is married with one kid.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/entertainment/16-year-old-blogger-mocks-linda-ikeji-advises-her-to-get-a-husband/

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Chairman of Advisors of the Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG), after delivering a speech titled “Leader In African Context” at the Blavatnik School of Government, the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, on Monday, said that Nigeria Will Collapse if Buhari wins in 2019 general elections. He said this in an interaction with international media in the UK.

The former Nigerian president has been most erratic in his political leaning and ideological belief. Dr. Obasanjo has become renown for sponsoring candidates in presidential elections after he vacated office in 2007 and turns back before the end the tenure to run down same president the supported in the election.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/nigeria-will-collapse-if-buhari-wins-2019-election-obasanjo/

Know Your Senators And The Parties Under Which They Were Originally Elected
https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/lead-news/know-your-senators-and-the-parties-under-which-they-were-originally-elected/

The promoters of Big Brother Naija are smiling home with hundreds of millions of Naira. All thanks to the eleven million votes so far received from vulnerable Nigerians, especially the youths.

A vote is equaled N30 and so far, 11,000,000 votes have been received. When that is multiplied by N30 per vote, the organisers are raking in N330,000,000.

That is aside from the advert placements and other promotions being featured on the show.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/lead-news/how-big-brother-naija-raked-in-n300000000-from-11000000-vulnerable-nigerian-youths/

Italy has elected the first black senator in its history, it was announced on Tuesday, and he belongs to the anti-immigration League.
Toni Iwobi, of Spirano in Lombardy, announced “with great emotion” on his Facebook page that he had been elected to the Senate in Italy’s general election

“After more than 25 years of fighting as part of the League’s big family, I’m about to start another great adventure,” Iwobi wrote, going on to thank leader Matteo Salvini and his other fellow party members.

“I’m ready, friends,” Iwobi said.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/nigerian-becomes-first-black-senator-in-italy/

Looking at the ripple reactions that greeted the hate speech bill currently before the Nigerian senate; one will but agree with the words of John F. Kennedy, that ‘a man who creates power makes an indispensable contribution to the nation’s greatness. But the man who questions power make a contribution just as indispensable, especially when the questioning is disinterested; for it is in this, that we determine whether we use power or if power is using us’.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/opinion/hate-speech-bill-issues-and-concerns/

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) chapter, on Tuesday staged a protest at the association’s secretariat in Garki, Abuja.

The protesters, comprising representatives of the association in NIMC from the 36 states of the federation, expressed their grievances to the national executive of the association, represented by the M.M. Abass, the State Secretary.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/lead-news/protest-at-nimc-as-senior-staff-demand-removal-of-caretaker-committee/

The homeless mum of £30,000-a-week Arsenal star, Ainsley Maitland – Niles is sleeping in a freezing 10ft square metal storage crate. The 38year old Jule Niles, says Her son, Ainsley, refused to get her a flat.

While the Arsenal star shares a luxury £700,000 apartment with His brother Cordi, the mum has to sneak pass staff at the Big yellow storage to sleep in the freezing container.
Jule said, she began living in the box three months ago after her relationship broke down with Ainsley, who is rated £15million.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/sports/the-homeless-mum-of-an-arsenal-star/

Forget The Charlatans Endorsing You; 2019 Is Your Doom Year – Dr. Max Warns Ikpazu
https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/09forget-charlatans-endorsing-2019-doom-year-dr-max-warns-ikpazu/

Govt Can Set Up Cattle Colonies For Herdsmen Just Like It Builds Airport For Airlines – Hon. Datti
https://www.leadingreporters.com/interviews/%40govt-can-set-cattle-colonies-herdsmen-just-like-builds-airport-airlines-hon-datti/

Zamfara Killings : Saraki Directs Panel To Conduct On-The-Spot Assessment
https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/lead-news/234wzamfara-killings-saraki-directs-panel-conduct-spot-assessment/

The World Peace and Unification Sanctuary, a church in Pennsylvania, USA, held a service on Wednesday during which members were asked to attend with the rifles to be presented for blessings.

Worshippers clutching AR-15 rifles drank holy wine and exchanged or renewed wedding vows at the ceremony, prompting a nearby primary school to cancel classes.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/news-2/church-holds-service-bless-members-guns/

Mary Onyali-Omagbami, popularly called “Queen of African Sprints” is among the dignitaries that will honour the second edition of Annual Sports Festival organized by African International College and Africa Community Schools Abuja scheduled to hold on 3rd March 2018 within the school’s sports arena, Plot 1120 Kaura District, Opposite Sun City Estate.

The event is the second edition of Annual Sports Festival organized by the schools to produce a total child who will not only excel in his or her academic pursuits but will thrive in other sporting activities and careers.

Recall that the first sports festival held in March 2017 had among other dignitaries Jonathan Akpoborie, one of the Nigerian football heroes.

The sports festival will feature different schools drawn from within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/lead-news/mary-onyali-honour-african-intl-college-africa-community-school-2nd-annual-sports-festival/