16Ebiscoo: Governor Nasir El-Rufai warned against zoning of the Presidency between the North and South region of Nigeria in a prologue titled ‘Defeating a Determined Incumbent – The Nigerian Experience’, written in contributiion to a book by the Director-General of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Salihu Lukma.
The Kaduna State Governor argued that the competence has to be taken up in place of zoning as Nigeria cannot afford towing same path again. He also described the present method of funding parties as “opaque” and also proposed a new method which will cut off godfathers, while revealing factors that contributed to electoral success of the All Progressives Congress in the 2015 presidential election.
He said, “Even with our success in the 2015 elections, there is room for improvement. Barriers to political equality, such as our seemingly entrenched though informal rule for zoning candidacies according to regions of origin, need to be de-emphasised and ultimately abandoned in favour of an emphasis on qualification, competence and character.
“The financing of parties, candidates and campaigns remains opaque.
“Many African countries are marked by savage inequalities, and a handful of individuals have the wherewithal to hold the process hostage.
“We must work towards funding parties via capped and fully disclosed donations and annual dues payable by every registered party member.”
Also campaigning for an improved judicial processes and promotion of the rule of law, El-Rufai listed some conditions neccesary for an opposition to defeat the incumbent as these;
“A unified opposition preferably merged into a single and well-structured political party well ahead of the next election cycle, and with transparent processes and progressive policies.
“A presidential candidate widely seen as credible and reformist to provide a sharp contrast to incumbents usually fattened by years of lazy, incompetent and corrupt rule.
“Honest elections that guarantee that votes count, using a mixture of competent electoral commission leadership and, crucially, deploying technologies for voter verification that drastically reduces electoral fraud.
“Credible elections are enemies of voter apathy. They enhance democratic legitimacy and citizen participation.
“Continuous engagement of the international community, particularly in the leading stable democracies as well as in multilateral institutions, to supply a crucial external fillip to the electoral process.”
President Buhari claimed that he and his party had the support of Nigerians in the foreword of the book. He also insisted that his administration reversed the downward slide the PDP pushed the nation into by squandering its resources.
He said, “There is no doubt that we have the popular support of Nigerians.
“I have seen this myself when I went around the 36 states and the FCT during the campaigns.
“The turnout of people and messages of goodwill across the country were what no individual, party or government could organise or buy.
“They were purely demonstrations of confidence in our administration and its political platform, the All Progressives Congress, the product of the merger.
“The multitude that trooped out to see me and hear me were reassuring that Nigeria, despite its cultural diversities, is united on the imperative of change.
“Our duty as leaders is to ensure that we keep this nation united, build a better future for the citizens and the coming generation.
“I feel that without coming together, we would not have been able to achieve this feat and Nigeria will be the worse for it.
“We remain the only hope of the country in terms of charting a politically stable and economically prosperous future for our people.
“I will, therefore, encourage us to continue leading this country effectively, now that Nigerians have entrusted us with a mandate once again to chart the course for the future of our beloved nation.”
However Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun, a member of Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party disagreed with El-Rufai on zoning. Though he admitted that competence should be given a better place than zoning, he added that zoning was established during the defunct National Party of Nigeria to ensure no part of the country was alienated.
Oyedokun said, “If we could find a way of strictly implementing zoning in the true spirit of it, i will say i want it. But do we sincerely implement it? If you zone a position to a particular area, people from other areas are not supposed to come out to contest but that is not the case.
“To me, the kind of country we have, being heterogeneous in nature, in term of religious and ethnicity, I think for now, we should adhere strictly to zoning. What he said is right under normal circumstances but as it is now, Nigeria cannot afford to jettison zoning now.”
AutoJoshNIG: There is currently a protest by commercial vehicle drivers on the Kaduna-Abuja highway.
The reason for the protest is on account of the alleged shooting of one of them - a commercial vehicle driver - by the police.
The protesting drivers blocked both sides of the highway with their parked vehicles, making vehicular movement difficult. This has caused a heavy traffic jam on Kaduna-Abuja road.
naptu2: The Nigerian Police Force has replied the statement by the Nigerian Army Headquarters. It's reply came via the following statement by the Police Force Headquarters.
ExAngel007: It has been reported that a 24-year-old Nigerian student has died after his car hit a tree before it overturned in front of Cyberjaya National School (SK) in Malaysia.
The crash happened at about 6.20am. The victim, Muhammad Saad Yuguda, suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Muhammad was found stuck in the driver's side of his Honda Civic.
In a video from the scene, a lady suspected to be his girlfriend, can be seen crying over his corpse.
Condolences have been pouring in for the deceased.
Ogagist3: Victor Ogunyinka The Federal High Court in Abuja High has granted the Department State Service, DSS, permission to detain publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, for 45 days.
Sowore The DSS had filed a motion to the court to detain the convener of the proposed #RevolutionNow protest for 90 days, but the court only granted 45 days.
Recall that Sowore was whisked away by members of the DSS at his resident over the weekend for what it termed ‘treasonable’ statement, for describing the proposed protest as a revolution.
Mixed reactions have trailed his arrest and that of several other demonstrators.
GistAlert: The Police in Lagos have arrested a 39-year old housewife, Mrs. Shade Gbadamosi, for allegedly attempting to wipe out her neighbour, Mrs. Munirat Muhammad, and her entire family by poisoning their cooking water with can of popular insecticide known as Sniper.
Source reports that the incident happened at 28 Aje Street, Oko-Odo area of Lagos, where they reside.
The Police also arrested two other suspects, Mrs. Aina Omowumi and Rahman Balogun, over assault on Mrs. Munirat.
It was gathered that Mrs. Shade had a disagreement with Mrs. Munirat. Thereafter, she reportedly bought cans of Sniper insecticide, woke up at night, poured the contents into the cooking water of Mrs. Munirat and sneaked back to her apartment. However, while she was doing so, one of their neighbours, who saw her when she emptied the Snipers into the water, hinted Mrs. Munirat.
The matter was reported to the Police in the area and the suspects were arrested. They were later transferred to the Human Rights section of the Command for investigation. After interrogation, the Police found the suspects culpable and charged them before the Ogba Magistrates Court for alleged offence.
They pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Ezekiel Ayorinde, asked the Court to give a date for hearing to enable the Police to prove that the defendants actually committed the offence. Thus, the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi, granted them bail in the sum of N50,000 each with one surety in like sum.
They were remanded in prison custody pending when they will perfect their bail conditions. The matter was adjourned till 21st August, 2019.
kidap: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Lagos Zonal office, has arrested a 32-year-old suspected fraudster, Loretta Okonkwo, for obtaining money under false pretence.
Okonkwo, a graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, was arrested on July 19, 2019 in Lagos, following a petition received by the Commission about her fraudulent activities.
The complainant alleged that he invested in Recharge and Make Money Limited, a company belonging to the suspect.
The petitioner further alleged that the suspect, however, reneged on her promise to offer him a percentage of the proceeds on his investment and also refused to refund him. .
festacman: Nothing justifies the senseless action of these BALLOON HEADS who called themselves soldiers. Why kill the innocent policemen and release a criminal who was clearly in handcuffs? Pure madness! This is just sad, very sad. The soldiers involved should be arrested and charged with WILFUL MURDER immediately. '
Maniagist1: The Nigerian Army on Wednesday offered explanation for the killing of three policemen on covert duties in Taraba State by its personnel.
The explanation was offered in a statement by the spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Sagir Musa.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Deputy Commissioner of Police Frank Mba, had earlier in the day said three operatives in the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team, headed by DCP Abba Kyari, were killed by the soldiers in Taraba State despite identifying themselves as being on covert operation to arrest one Alhaji Hamisu, a suspected kidnapper. Hamisu was said to have been involved in several crimes, collecting N100 million as ransom during one of such operations.
However, Mba said as Hamisu was being driven to the Police Command Headquarters in Jalingo, they were engaged in fierce shooting by soldiers, resulting in the death of three policemen, a civilian and the escape of the suspect.
But Musa countered Mba, saying the IRT operatives refused to stop at three military checkpoints and then engaged the soldiers in a shootout.
He said some villagers had raised the alarm that the operatives were in an unmarked bus and refused to stop at the checkpoints, which resulted in the soldiers giving them a hot chase.
On the unfortunate incident that occurred on the 6th of August 2019 in which troops of 93 Battalion Nigerian Army Takum pursued and exchanged fire with some suspected Kidnappers who indeed turned out to be an Intelligence Response Team from the Police Force Headquarters Abuja on a covert assignment from Abuja resulting in the death and injury of some members of the Team.
On the 6th of August 2019, the said Nigerian Army troops, while responding to a distress call to rescue a kidnapped victim exchanged fire with the suspected kidnappers along Ibi-Wukari Road in Taraba State.
The suspected kidnappers numbering about ten (10) and driving in a white bus with Reg No LAGOS MUS 564 EU refused to stop when they were halted by troops at three consecutive check points.
The flagrant refusal of the suspected kidnappers to stop at the three checkpoints prompted a hot pursuit of the fleeing suspects by the troops.
It was in this process that the suspected kidnappers who were obviously armed opened fire at the troops sporadically thus prompting them to return fire.
In the resultant fire fight, four (4) suspects were shot and died on the spot while four (4) others sustained various degrees of gunshot wounds and 2 others reportedly missing.
It was only after this avoidable outcome that one of the wounded suspects disclosed the fact that they were indeed Policemen dispatched from Nigerian Police, Force Headquarters, Abuja for a covert assignment.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM,mni has ordered full-scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of three (3) Police operatives and one (1) Civilian, and serious injury to other Police operatives, who were on investigation activities to Ibi, Taraba State, to arrest one Alhaji Hamisu indicted in a series of high-profile kidnap incidents in the State.
The Police Operatives, led by ASP Felix Adolije of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) reportedly came under sudden attack and serious shooting by soldiers of the Nigerian Army, along Ibi – Jalingo Road, Taraba State. The Operatives, who were taking the arrested suspect, Alhaji Hamisu to the Command Headquarters in Jalingo, were shot at severally by the soldiers despite sufficient proof that they are Police personnel on legitimate duty. Three Policemen (comprising one Inspector and two Sergeants) and one civilian died as a result of gunshot injuries sustained in the attack while others sustained serious gunshot wounds.
The soldiers thereafter released the handcuffed suspect, Alhaji Hamisu, who is now on the run. Alhaji Hamisu, a notorious kidnap kingpin, has been on the Police wanted list for his complicity in several high-profile kidnap cases including the recent abduction of an Oil-Mogul in Taraba State wherein a ransom of about One Hundred Million Naira (N100,000,000) was paid.
The IGP has ordered the AIG Medicals to proceed to Jalingo to ensure concerted efforts in the treatment of the injured Police officers. The remains of the deceased have been deposited in the morgue. Meanwhile, the Force has commenced a full investigation into the bizarre and unfortunate incident.
lordmayor2013: Ondo state government, through the Governing Council Chairman, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Mr Banji Alabi, just terminated the appointment of all members of staff of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Staff Primary and Secondary School.
According to Mr Alabi, government can no longer fund the school and wants to “sell it”, so the services of all members of staff are no longer needed.
OdinceGoodwill: According to media reports, Gani Adams, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland has appealed to the Federal Government to release the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore.
Reacting in a statement, Adams said the arrest was an abuse of human right to freedom, stating that the planned revolutionary protest could not be said to be treasonable since it was yet to be implemented before Sowore was arrested by the DSS and that such arrest portends grave danger for Nigeria’s democracy
Adams, who faulted the rationale behind the arrest, said it was unfortunate that Nigerians usually forgot events and memories of the past. He said that Nigeria’s problems emanated from the military’s dictatorship and tendency to gag the press and prevent freedom of speech and expression.
He however, said with the information at his disposal, the convener did not consult many of the civil society groups. The planned protest, he admitted, would have presented to Nigerians, the needed opportunity to express their feelings to President Buhari.
“Not everybody can have access to the presidency in Abuja. This is democracy,..
Respect IPOB, IPOB staged protest for 2 years, facing live bullets from military, DSS, Police and Navy. We never succumbed to Military and police intimidation until our leader was freed. Just common tears gas Nigerian youths took to their heels, now who are the cowards, Nigerian youths or IPOB? Ndi Ara!
This Lagos Revolution Must Continue ! If you run your father.
Revolution Must Continue !
WATCH Arrested Comrades Speak from Mobile Detention #RevolutionNow
Nigeria2day: Deji Adeyanju, an associate of Omoyele Sowore has revealed that the leader of the #RevolutionNow is hale and hearty in the custody of DSS in Abuja.
Adeyanju said the Take it Back Members visited defiant Sowore in DSS Detention on Monday evening and were allowed to see him at 6 pm.
He said Sowore is in high spirit and unmoved to the fight against injustice in Nigeria.
He took to his Facebook wall and announced to all well-meaning Nigerians that the #DayofRage leader is still standing tall, Unbowed and unbroken.
“At 6 pm today, 5th August 2019, members of the Take it Back Movement were allowed to visit Sowore, for the first time since his armed abduction. He’s in high spirit & unmoved,” he said.
Meanwhile, Premium Times reports that the #RevolutiionNow leader said he is pleased that the protest went ahead despite the government's effort to quash the protest on Monday.
“I am pleased that the peaceful #RevolutionNow protests went ahead,” he said.
Whiteangel1234: Please Post Update what is happening in your area Day 2 of Rage . I though the Protest is suppose to continue until all the demands of the Council of the Revolution ( CORE too much watching of Hollywood movies ) is actualize ?
Reporting from Anambra
WATCH Arrested Comrades Speak from Mobile Detention #RevolutionNow
olayemioshiyemi: A human rights lawyer, Mr Inibehe Effiong, has said no fewer than 60 protesters may have been arrested by the police in the states where the #RevolutionNow protest took place on Monday.
Effiong, who is also the National Legal Adviser of the African Action Congress, lamented that the clampdown on the protesters was an ominous sign of greater danger to come, adding that Nigeria was no longer practising democracy.
He said, “In Ogun State alone, we learnt that about 20 protesters were arrested, while nine were arrested in Lagos. In Cross Rivers, Ondo, Kwara, Nigerians were also arrested for demanding their rights.
“The militarisation is unwarranted. There is no need for this primitive deployment of state power to quell an ordinary civic response to the situation in the country. The government, the police and the army did not need to do this.
“Even the manner they went about it clearly shows that Nigeria is not a democratic country. When you have soldiers and policemen being heavily mobilised with armoured personnel carriers, AK-47 and other assault rifles; and they are opening bullets on people, using tear gas and arresting protesters who were just singing.
“Look at the Lagos protest for example. We were not even disrupting traffic flow. We were just at one spot when those people swoop on us. For me, I find it troubling and it is an ominous sign of the danger the country is facing. It also shows the deterioration of democratic values. It is a way of telling the international community that Nigeria is back to the dark era of censorship, intolerance and totalitarianism.
Politics › Re: Governor El-rufai Wants Zoning Stopped In Presidency by jessebig: 2:31pm On Aug 10, 2019
Please Post Update what is happening in your area Day 2 of Rage 
