President Muhammadu Buhari has sent warm felicitations to the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his 67th birthday, scheduled for March 29th.

Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, described Tinubu as one of the strong pillars of Nigeria’s democracy.

He joined the APC family in celebrating the Asiwaju of Lagos, who is also the Jagaban of Borgu Kingdom in Niger State, for his selflessness in serving his country, and making life better for many.

The President recalled some of the sacrifices of the party chieftain to include standing up against injustice in 1993 when the June 12 elections were annulled, which led to his going on political exile for many years, and a protracted legal battle with the Federal Government when funds for Lagos were withheld.


President Buhari affirmed that Asiwaju’s uncompromising posture in the face of injustice and refusal to follow the path of least resistance for personal gains stand him out today as a rare breed and one of the cornerstones of Nigeria’s democracy, especially with his track record of persistence, consistency and effective leadership.

As the father of modern Lagos State, the President commended the visionary and inclusive leadership style that Asiwaju provided for the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria for eight years, laying the foundation for a modern and technologically driven city, and ensuring that every successive leader in the state sticks with the master plan of a greater Lagos.

President Buhari rejoiced with family members, friends, political and business associates of the Jagaban on this auspicious milestone, which is further brightened with the many successes recorded at the recently concluded polls by his strong leadership.

The President believed the best years of the APC National Leader are still ahead, praying that the almighty God will grant him longer life, good health and more wisdom to keep serving the country he loves so much.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/tinubu-one-of-democracys-strong-pillars.html

Following the nod given by the Adamawa State High Court yesterday to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to proceed with the supplementary governorship election in the state, the commission has fixed tomorrow for the poll.


The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Alhaji Kassim Gaidam, announced this yesterday during a chat with newsmen at the INEC state office in Yola.

He said the decision was taken after due consultation with the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
He said efforts were being made with the various security agencies to ensure that the violence, which characterised supplementary election in some other states, does not repeat itself in Adamawa.

He added that to facilitate a hitch-free process, only voters with permanent voter cards (PVCs) will be allowed into voting centres in the places where the supplementary election will hold.
The governorship election in Adamawa remains inconclusive weeks after INEC halted the process on the basis of insufficient margin of win between the two leading candidates of APC and PDP.

The supplementary governorship election in the state had been scheduled for 44 polling units in 14 local government areas but it could not hold on March 23, which it was originally scheduled following a court injunction against it.
Similar supplementary polls held in five other affected states last Saturday. The states are Kano, Sokoto, Benue, Bauchi and Plateau.
The decision by INEC to hold the rerun tomorrow followed the vacation of the order against the election by the Adamawa State High Court at a sitting in Yola earlier in the day.

After the conduct of the governorship election on March 9, the candidate of the Movement for the Restoration and Defense of Democracy (MRDD), Rev. Eric Theman, went to the court to allege omission of the MRDD logo from the ballot paper, and asked the court to annul the election and stop the rerun already announced for units where voting was cancelled.

The court immediately granted an injunction to stop the rerun and continued proceedings to rule on arguments raised at subsequent sittings, including the court’s jurisdiction over the case.
At the sitting yesterday morning, the court presided over by Justice Abdul’Aziz Waziri ruled that it has the jurisdiction to hear the case.
The court fixed today for hearing of the originating motion by MRDD asking the court to nullify the first Adamawa governorship election conducted on March 9.

The party alleged that INEC had removed its logo during the election.
Reacting to the order vacating the order, counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Okechukwu Udeze, commended the judge for reversing himself in the interest of justice.
On his part, counsel to the PDP governorship candidate, Alhaji Umaru Fintiri, Mr. JK Gadzama SAN, poured encomiums on the judge, saying his ruling was in order because only an elections tribunal has the jurisdiction to give an injunction against INEC and not a conventional court.
Gadzama said he was happy that the judge understood the issues involved and decided to allow INEC to go ahead with the conduct of the election in Adamawa State.

APC Rejects Extra Election Date

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has rejected the decision of INEC to hold the extra election tomorrow.
The Organising Secretary of the party, Mr. Ahmed Lawal, announced the party’s decision in an interview with newsmen in Yola.
Lawal said INEC did not consult the party before fixing the new date for the poll.
He alleged that information had filtered out earlier that the election would be held tomorrow.
It said: “INEC failed to consult with political parties involved in this election before going ahead to fix a new date for the re-run.
“We, therefore, became suspicious due to rumours in town earlier that supplementary election would be conducted on Thursday and it turned out to be true.
“We are not afraid of re-run election, but INEC should have done the right thing.
“How can you fix an election on a working day? Are civil servants not going to participate in the election?
“We are going to forward our protest on the matter to INEC,’’ he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/adamawa-supplementary-election-holds.html

Ifeanyi Ubah, Anambra South Senator-elect, of the Young Peoples Party (YPP) has dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).


Ubah’s defection was made known by the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on Monday.

Oshiohmole informed the APC National Working Committee members, returning/newly-elected senators at the Presidential Villa, on Monday, that Ubah was now with the ruling party, NAN reports.


Describing Ubah as a ‘smart politician Oshiomhole in his opening remark, said the “YPP Senator-elect from Anambra South has decided to pitch tent with the ruling party because he felt more comfortable with the winning team.”

He, however, added that other issues related to Ubah’s defection would be perfected on a later date.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/breaking-ifeanyi-ubah-dumps-ypp-for-apc.html

The Buhari Support Organization, BSO, on Monday, faulted former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo over his recent statements on the political developments in the country.
Obasannjo had in a statement he personally signed, said that those insinuating that PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s decision to head to court to challenge Buhari’s victory at the presidential election tribunal was an invitation to violence, were evil minds.

But, Enugu BSO, reacting through its Secretary, Barister Godwin Onwusi, who is also the Secretary of Zikist/Buharist Movement (ZBM) South East, said “For us in the BSO, the international community, patriots and eminent statesmen like His Excellency, Ibrahim Babangida and Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, who advised Atiku not to head to presidential election tribunal are better friends of Atiku than Obasanjo.


“They’re better friends of Atiku, for advising him not to waste his time and resources. The truism is that Buhari contrary to Facebook or social media online analysis, which the Atiku camp relied upon, won the election.

“Obasanjo should come to terms with reality, that Buhari has a uncommon treasure Vote-Bank of 12 million voters, whom since his first outing in 2003 presidential election had voted for him, and the voting repeated in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019. Apparently Obasanjo is unaware that majority of Buhari’s voters were not captured by social media and possibly is unaware that Buhari for the first time scored over 1 million in the South South and had 25% in Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states.”

On the allegations that the presidential election was tainted by irregularities, including vote buying and none use of the Card Reader, he said “without contempt of the presidential election tribunal, the reality is that recorded irregularities were not substantial enough to vitiate Buhari’s victory.


“Buhari is standing on the Aminu Kano tradition in the North, which he not only inherited, but epitomise. It is a tradition of integrity quotient and prudent management of public finance. Atiku is deficit on this tradition and the votes reflected.”

He appealled to all “those patriots and even bigots who wished to see Buhari’s back, to come terms to the truism that the 2019 presidential election had come and gone, therefore should as a matter of urgent national importance join hands with Mr President to move the country forward.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/buhari-vs-atiku-why-obasanjo-is-wrong.html

There are strong indications that as President Muhammadu Buhari appears ready to assent to a new national minimum wage, following its recent passage by the National Assembly, he may be compelled to prune down the bogus salaries earned by some classes of civil servants in the country, particularly those in the employ of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), among other agencies.

This much became glaring when the president received the report of the Presidential Technical Advisory Committee on Implementation of National Minimum Wage, which was headed by Bismarck Rewane, at the Presidential Villa, on Monday.

Although the National Assembly was yet to transmit the new wage bill it passed to the president for assent, Buhari had on January 9, 2019 inaugurated the committee, with a clear mandate that it should advise the government on how best to fund, in a sustained manner, the additional costs of implementing the imminent increase in the National Minimum Wage.

Part of the terms of reference he gave the committee was that after the new minimum wage had been passed into law, government would go into negotiations for salary review for all the workers who were already earning above the new minimum wage.

The president had underscored in his remarks that it was important to properly prepare the minds of those public servants involved so that they would not be taken unawares when it was to time for implementation.

In tandem with the grievances of organised labour movement, the president had noted that the last time Nigeria’s national minimum wage was reviewed was in 2011, hence it was evident that a review was necessary, despite the prevailing fiscal challenges.

Although full details of the recommendations were still being kept under wraps by the government, Buhari had while receiving the report from Rewane, commended the committee members for their patriotism, hard work, commitment, and sacrifices.

“I understand that you have worked tirelessly to ensure that you deliver the report before we receive the Minimum Wage Bill from the National Assembly,” the president told the members which included Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Dr. Babatunde Fowler, ex-FIRS boss, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, Dr. Ayo Teriba, Chief Executive Officer, and Prof. Akpan Ekpo, among others.

The membership from the public sector included the Director General of Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, who is the secretary of the committee; representative of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF); Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Richard Egbule; Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack; Permanent Secretary, General Service Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olusegun Adekunle; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Olajide Odewale; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, and Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Dayo Apata.

Others were Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Office of the Vice President, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu; Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Economic Policy, Dr. Joseph Nnanna; Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris; Director General, Debt Management Office, Ms. Patience Oniaga; Director General, National Institute of Social and Economic Research, Dr. Folarin Gbadebo-Smith; Statistician General, National Bureau of Statistics, Dr. Yemi Kale; Mrs. Aisha Hamad, Mamman Garba, and Tunde Lawal.



There were indications that the Federal Government was also mulling an increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) from five percent to about fifteen percent, so as to enable it meet the envisaged wage increase.

“However, we anticipate that after the new minimum wage has been passed into law, we will be going into negotiations for salary review for all the workers who are already earning above the new minimum wage. It is therefore important that we are properly prepared to meet these demands.

“We must therefore look at ways of implementing these consequential wage adjustments in a manner that does not have adverse effects on our national development plans, as laid out in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

“The ERGP sets appropriate targets for levels of capital expenditure, public debt, inflation, employment. It is absolutely important that the implementation of a new minimum wage does not adversely affect these targets, and thereby erode the envisaged gains for the workers.

“It is against this background that I have set up a technical committee to advise government on how best to fund, in a sustained manner, the additional costs that will arise from the implementation of the consequential increases in salaries and allowances for workers currently earning above the new minimum wage,” Buhari had stated.

Prior to the 2019 general elections, government had settled for N30,000 as minimum wage for federal workers, while state workers were to go home with N27,000 after consulting the National Council of State members comprising former presidents, military heads of state, including former chief justices of the Supreme Court.

But with the latest passage, the National Assembly may have pegged the wage bill across all categories of workers at N30, 000.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/fgs-plan-to-cut-salaries-scares-nnpc.html

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State says Nigeria can attain economic greatness if it integrates science and technology into its socio-economic development process.

He made the assertion at the opening ceremony of the maiden Oyo State Science and Technology Summit held on Monday at the House of Chiefs in Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the two-day summit was organised by the State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in collaboration with Office of the Special Adviser on Information, Communication and Technology.

NAN also reports that the theme of the summit is ‘Repositioning the Economy through Science and Technology: A Collective Responsibility.’

Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Moses Adeyemo, said with the integration of science and technology, Nigeria would attain its vision of becoming one of the largest economies by 2020.

The governor said that the integration of science and technology into the nation’s socio-economic development process would guarantee competitiveness within the continent and globally.

Ajimobi, who listed his administration’s effort in the promotion of a technological-driven economy in the state, said one of such efforts was the summit.

“The only form of investment that allows for increasing returns is in building the stocks and flows of knowledge that a country or organisation needs.

“Adopting appropriate technologies leads directly to high productivity which is the key to growth.

“ This summit aims at promoting the values of science and technology to economic growth and diversification,” he said.

Ajimobi expressed the hope that “ the seed being planted’’ would stimulate greater interest among the youths to embrace science and technology as a way of life.

In his remarks, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela, the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, said the summit was in line with the administration’s commitment to further set the pace in the country.

He said that efforts being made was to reposition the state on the modern highway and ensure it becomes the technological hub of the nation.

The lead speaker and staff of the Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, Prof. Ayodeji Oluleye, said the nation’s economy must be repositioned from a mono product one to that which allows science and technology take centre stage.

“The reason why we continue to ask for aid is because the nation has refused to focus on science.

“Our government must prioritise her investment on productive sectors, while Nigerians must begin to ask question.”

Mr Femi Ipadeola, the acting Rector of The Polytechnic Ibadan, said that there was need for involvement of marketers, business-inclined individuals and legal practitioners in the promotion of research in science and technology.

“Technology is good and for it not to be restricted to the workshop, there is need to involve business-inclined person as well as marketers to take the products of technology to the market,” he said.

Mrs Aderonke Makanjuola, the Chairman of Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), said the essence of the summit was to place the state as one of the front liners in the science and technology sector.

NAN reports that the summit featured the exhibition of technological innovations of students from institutions across the state.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/how-nigeria-can-attain-economic.html

The Emir of Akira-Uba in Borno, Alhaji Abdullhi Ibn-Muhammed, said he slept in tent when he returned home after the liberation of his kingdom from the control of Boko Haram insurgents.

Recounting his ordeal, Mohammed, said he was voluntarily returned home and slept for several weeks in tent to build confidence and encourage his subjects to also return home.

Mohammed said this on Saturday when Brig.-Gen. Bulama Biu, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division and Commander Sector 1, Operation Lafiya Dole, paid him a courtesy visit at his palace in Uba.

Ibn-Muhammed said that when the insurgents sacked the town in 2014, his people ran for thier lìves and became Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in various places.


“When the town was reclaimed by the military, I took caurage to return back to my palace along with the members of my traditional institution.

“We returned and saw that most of the structures were razed. They burnt my palace; some of the structures that remain standing are the brick fireplaces of homes.

“Despite all these challenges, we came back and stayed. Some of us were taking shelter in mikeshift tents. I slept in my burnt palace. And sometimes when it rained, we have to put our selves together in one place and cover ourselves,”he said.

The monarch commended the efforts and sacrifices of the military in safeguarding the peace, security and territorial integrity of the country.

“It is because of the commitment you have given towards ending the lingering crisis of Boko Haram that we are enjoying relative peace in our community.

We in Askira will always thank you for making it possible for us to come back home.

“It is a well known fact that fighting insurgency is a difficult task. It is very difficult because you dont always know where the next attack will come from but the army has done tremendously well and lived to the expectation.

“War cannot be completely won within the short period of time. It requires continuous efforts of mobilisation, fighting, sensistisation, enlightenment and support from all stakeholders.


“The government needed to continue educating them (insurgents) to drop their arms, embrace peace as well as meaningful reintegration.

Those taking arms should understand that they cannot fight the government.

The emir lamented that the terrorists had inflicted unprecedented damage to people’s lives and property under the guise of Islam, noting that going by thier actions, they have nothing to do with the religion they claimed to be fighting for.

“The group has nothing to do with Islam because most of their victims are Muslims.

The Muslims are the worst affected population of this war. They kill both Muslims and Christians.

“I therefore want to assure you that we will continue to do our best to support you to succeed. To me, I have that vision of what the army required,”he said.

Ibn-Muhammed further appealed to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to establish and deploy a parmanent battalion in Askira-Uba to enhance more security for his people.

Brig.-Gen. Bulama Biu, Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, said he was at the palace to pay homage to the monarch as well as thank him for all the support and cooperation he had been providing to the troops of 28 Task Force Brigade.

Biu said he was on operational trip as part of the effort to boost morale of the fighting troops and to interact with them on some of thier concerns.

“We are in Konduga, Kawuri, Bama, Gwoza, Pulka, Madagali, Michika where we sympathised with the people on the March 14 incident and now we are here.

“We will be going to Chibok, the Headquarters of the brigade and Damboa all in an effort to support our fighting troops,”he said.

The GOC said that the recent attacks, which were mostly repelled, amounted to a kick of the dying horse, noting that the Nigerian Army was committed to ensuring lasting peace and sanity in the entire northeast.

“I will faward the request you made to the Chief of Army Staff for his consideration,”he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/boko-haram-i-slept-in-tents-to.html

When ace Nigerian actor Ramsey Nouah and business man, Charles Okpaleke set out on a mission to possibly remake ‘Living in Bondage’, the Nollywood classic movie of the 90s, it immediately raised a nostalgic feel steeped in excitement. Little did they envisage the project would be entrapped in production technicalities that would take the work more time than required to get to the cinemas.


In a telephone chat with this writer, the famous actor who is on set in Ghana revealed that production of the movie was still on and not in post-production yet, as widely believed. “It’s still in production. Not in post-production yet. We have done 90 per cent of the work,” he said. The work has been in the making for over three years now, although certainly not the first Nollywood production to have taken such time.

The veteran Nollywood ‘lover-boy’ had earlier hinted of a tentative schedule that would see production completed in January and the movie released during Easter season. However, he explained that, “We had to call off production the second time after we picked up in February but was called off again.” He stated that the movie would be released towards end of the year, in September precisely. The reason he attributes to technical issues with the partners that would have given a soft landing to the movie in terms of the budget.

He further confirmed that it’s actually a recreation of the original movie which he was inspired by his love for challenges. “I love challenges… tasks that probably challenges me. The movie project is not new. It’s a sequel. We have been on this now for over three years.” Remarkably, one fears that it just might lose it steam when completed. On board the project is Play Network owned by Charles Okpaleke, Native Films by renowned movie practitioner Steve Gukas, and Ramsey Films by Ramsey Nouah.

Notably, Nollywood is no stranger to sequels. However, creating sequels to nostalgic films from the 90s is new. Most originals are held in such high esteem that many sequels don’t stand a chance. However, it takes a great script, director and actors to ensure that a sequel doesn’t simply recycle everything viewers already know about the original. It was very important that the sequel appeals to a mixed demography of the past and the present.

So when they wrote the story, they felt it was lopsided. They were trying to catch the demography of today who go to the cinemas and those who have not seen the original movie. Trying to use the original to create the same feel for the sequel was not an easy task for him. As Nouah noted elsewhere, “Here’s the issue, at the time we originally shot ‘Living in Bondage’, about 26 years ago, the generation of those who actually saw it, I doubt if they go to the cinemas. So, now the issue is to balance the story.”

First released in 1992, and its half part in 1993, it was the film to beat in that era. The follow-up work to the cult drama thriller of the same name would mark Nouah’s directorial debut after it was announced in 2015 having secured the rights from Kenneth Nnebue, the originator of the epic movie. Just according to Nouah, “In 2015, we went to get the license from the original owner, Kenneth Nnebue. We went to look for him, we got the license and for two years, we were having problems with writing the story.

“To get the demographic of those who originally watched it and the demographic of today. We’ve done over 10 drafts already before we finally came to this last one.” Living in Bondage afforded Nigerians an opportunity to see a homegrown production at the time most of what Nigerians purchased to watch at home were American, Indian and Chinese films.

The new movie which would now come with a sub theme ‘Living in Bondage: Breaking Free’, as Nouah had confirmed, was filmed in Europe and America as well as Nigeria, with a good number of its lead actors like Kenneth Okonkwo, Bob Manuel Udokwu, and Kanayo O. Kanayo in return. The original had starred household names like Kenneth Okonkwo as Andy, Nnenna Nwabueze as Merit, Francis Agu as Ichie Millionaire, Bob Manuel Udokwu as Mike, Ngozi Nwosu as Ego, Kanayo O. Kanayo as Chief Omego, Rita Nzelu as Tina among others.

Additions to the movie include Ramsey Nouah, who would be taking up a villainous role and Enyinna Nwigwe in an unknown role. While it was not the first Nigerian film to be produced, it inspired a passionate following and kickstarted the popular money ritual plot in Nollywood. Many even recognised it as the film that led to the evolution of the movie industry and the home video market boom in the 90s.

The film also shot its lead cast (Kenneth Okonkwo) from relative obscurity to super status.

The original movie told the story of a man who sacrifices his loved wife for wealth. After her death, her ghost returns to haunt him. To a movie critic, 26 years after its release, “Living in Bondage” is still in the pop culture landscape.

And for 28 years, Nouah has steadily made an indelible mark on Nollywood by carving out a great career for himself in front of the camera, which provides him all the experience to cement his legacy with a stint behind it.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/actor-ramsey-nouah-recreates-living-in.html

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday inaugurated the Presidential Implementation Committee on Autonomy of the State Legislature and State Judiciary.


Buhari inaugurated the presidential committee at the State House, Abuja.

The President disclosed that the 16-man committee is to be chaired by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami while the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate), Ita Enang will serve as Secretary, the Nation reports.


The President challenged the committee to be meticulous and diligent in carrying out the assignment.

According to the President, the inauguration is in line with the 4th alteration to the 1999 Constitution.

” The committee has a timeline of three months to complete the assignment. This will ensure proper checks and balances without fear or marginalisation,” Buhari said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/buhari-inaugurates-presidential.html

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has announced the deployment of five Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs), three Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and fifteen Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), to monitor the supplementary elections in five state tomorrow.

Force Public Relations Officer Frank Mba, who made this known in a statement said the deployment is to aimed at ensuring a safe and secure environment for the conduct of a a free and fair elections in the affected states.

The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), had fixed March 23, for supplementary elections in Adamawa, Plateau, Benue, Sokoto and Kano States where it declared the elections conducted on March 9, as inconclusive.

Mba in the statement made available to Daily Sun in Abuja reads; “In furtherance to his stated commitment towards ensuring hitch-free elections in the Country, the Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP M.A Adamu, has directed the Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police and their respective Commissioners of Police in states where supplementary elections are taking place to ensure that adequate mechanisms are in place towards ensuring a safe and secure environment for the conduct of the elections.

“To further strengthen the security arrangements around the polls, the IGP has deployed five DIGs, three AIGs, fifteen additional CPs to provide supervision, direction and support to the existing security structure already in place in those States.

“The DIGs are deployed as follows: DIG Usman Tilli Abubakar, mni – Adamawa State, DIG Yakubu Jubrin, fsi – Benue State, DIG Frederick Taiwo Lakanu, fdc – Plateau State, DIG Anthony Ogbizi Michael, fdc – Kano State and DIG Godwin C. Nwobodo, fdc – Bauchi State. Out of the fifteen (15) additional CPs deployed, three (3) each were deployed to Benue and Sokoto States, two (2) each were deployed to Adamawa, Bauchi, Kano and Plateau States while Imo State got one.

“While commending the officers for their sterling performances in previous elections, the IGP charged them to remain patriotic, steadfast, professional, neutral and civil, but firm, in their conducts and actions during the make-up elections. He warned politicians not to undermine the electoral process by engaging in untoward practices such as snatching of ballot boxes, vote trading and violence of all kinds, stressing that violators would be made to face the full consequences of the law.


“The IGP also enjoined the public to cooperate with security operatives, noting that a total number of Seven Hundred and Ninety Six (796) suspects were arrested for various electoral offences across the nation. These latest arrests bring the total number of all the suspects arrested in the two last rounds of elections to One Thousand, One Hundred and Nineteen (1,119). The IGP pledges wholesome investigation and diligent prosecution in concert with INEC”.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/supplementary-polls-igp-deploys-5-digs.html

In a bid to stem the tide of cyber crime among youths, especially undergraduates, acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has stressed the need to include anti-corruption studies in the curricula of institutions of higher learning in the country.

Magu, who fielded questions in Hausa during a special programme on Bond 92.9FM, in Lagos, said the commission has opened talks with the National University Commission (NUC) on the possibility of introducing anti-corruption courses in the curricula of higher institutions in the country.

“If we realise that corruption and economic and financial crimes can hinder a nation, then, it is not out of place to introduce this kind of course in our tertiary institutions, as an impetus to our drive to change the narrative on our campuses, as the undergraduates constitute the major actors in Internet crimes.

“By so doing, we would have literally opened the eyes of these students, who will, someday, hold positions of leadership in the affairs of the nation, to the inherent dangers in the vice. And in the end, they will turn out to be crusaders of anti-corruption war, with the nation being the overall beneficiary,” he said.

The anti-graft chief, who was represented by the commission’s Zonal Head in Lagos, Muhammed Rabo, assured that the commission is winning the war against the infamous Yahoo boys

“In fact, Internet fraudsters now know that it is no more business as usual. I can say this with all confidence.

“The clampdown is not only in Lagos; it is across the country, especially as we have now opened more offices,” he said.

He further said as part of efforts to discourage youths from engaging in the criminal practice, thecommission had been carrying out public advocacy and education against the commission of economic and financial crimes.


“We go into secondary schools to educate them about the consequences of crime, while also warning them to shun all forms of criminality, because it will always end in pains and sorrow,” he said.

Magu also described as untrue, the claim by some members of the public, that the commission had been selective in its operations.

He said the commission has always given equal attention to all petitions it received, adding that, “our doors are open to all Nigerians with genuine complaints that can be substantiated in law.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/efcc-boss-magu-wants-inclusion-of-anti.html

Borno State Primary Health Care Agency (BSPHCA) has confirmed infection of 4,693 and death of 13 children by measles.

Its Director of Disease Control, Babagana Abiso, told reporters yesterday in Maiduguri that efforts were ongoing to contain the spread of the airborne ailment to 25 council areas.

He said: “Thirteen councils are most affected by measles in 33 wards.”

Consequently, 1.7 million kids are to be immunised against the disease.


Abiso added that the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) would provide technical support for the 10-day exercise.

He clarified: “The vaccination exercise will be conducted in two phases, commencing March 21 to 25, 2019 in eight wards of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC).”

The second phase, according to him, holds from April 6-10 in 25 wards of 12 councils.

To be immunised are children of ages six months to 10 years.

“Immunisation remains one of the most effective ways to protect children from killer diseases,” the director submitted.

The 2017 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey had observed that only 65 per cent of eligible children receive their first dose of vaccine yearly.

The UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Geoffrey Ijumba, pledged the agency’s continued support for the Federal Government in its quest to vaccinate every child against measles.

Urging Nigerians to make their kids available for immunisation, Ijumba added that the disease was the most contagious infections known to humanity and one of the top four child killers worldwide.

In a related development, the Executive Director, Kogi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency
(KSPHCDA), Dr. Abubakar Yakubu, has decried the apathy to immunisation, fearing that the development might make children vulnerable to diseases in the future.

Kicking off the second round of the 2019 Local Immunisation Days (LIDs) yesterday in Obeiba, Okehi Local Council, Yakubu regretted that the huge number of parents and caregivers that began the first leg of the exercise in January refused to complete it.

Also yesterday, the Gombe Project Manager of Save the Children International, Altine Lewi, expressed concern over the high infant mortality rate in the state and the entire North East.

Rounding off the group’s centenary anniversary celebration in the capital, she noted that a 2017 multiple indicator cluster survey showed that the region ranked second to North West in neonatal infant and under-five mortalities nationwide with 33.62 and 115 per 1000 live births.

According to her, Gombe is the chief culprit in the zone even exceeding national averages through its unenviable statistics of 35.62 and 162 per 100 live births.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/measles-infects-4693-kills-13-in-borno.html

A Federal High Court in Abuja, has struck out a suit that sought to compel the Federal Government, to prosecute some persons accused of assisting Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to escape from Nigeria.


Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode; and two other persons that stood as sureties for the IPOB leader, Tochukwu Uchendu and Emmanuel Shallom Ben, are those the suit prayed the court to order their arrest and prosecution.

The plaintiff, Isiah Ayugu, who secured leave of the court to commence the action, in his suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1254/18, insisted that the respondents had a case to answer.


Ayugu prayed the court to issue an order of mandamus to force relevant security agencies, to initiate criminal action against those he accused of complicity in Kanu’s escape.

However, the court, in a ruling that was delivered by trial Justice John Tsoho, struck out the case for want of diligent prosecution.

Justice Tsoho noted that the plaintiff failed to appear for hearing of the matter, even though his lawyer was present when the case was adjourned.

“I, therefore, agree with other reasons adduced by the learned silk and hereby strike out this suit for want of diligent prosecution,” Justice Tsoho held.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/nnamdi-kanu-court-takes-decision-on.html

Twenty political parties on Wednesday called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withhold the Certificate of Return of the Imo state governor-elect Emeka Ihedioha.

They strongly contended the declaration Ihedioha, who was the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate as governor-elect, was not in tandem with the provisions of Constitution.

At a press conference in Owerri, the state capital, the governorship candidate of Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), Jerry Iheanacho, who spoke on behalf of others, said they had individually decided to challenge the outcome of the governorship election at the election Petitions Tribunal.

Iheanacho noted that the declaration of Ihedioha as the winner of the election was “a rape of our Constitution”.


The governorship candidate said: “It is not about Ihedioha but it is about what the Constitution says. From the results as announced by INEC, the PDP candidate didn’t meet the constitutional requirement to have been declared the governor elect.

“He did not get the needed spread and we have decided to pursue this injustice up to the Supreme Court.

“He did not get the required 25 percent of two-third of the LGAs.”

Chinedu Ukadike of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) said the declaration of Ihedioha as the governor-elect was in contrast with the electoral guidelines presented to them by INEC.

He vowed to petition the electoral umpire at the Tribunal even as he alleged that the declaration of a governor elect was done to undermine the constitution.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/20-parties-to-inec-withhold-iheodiohas.html

The Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has declared that the Saturday’s governorship supplementary election is not a do-or-die affair.


A statement signed by the state Chairman, Publicity Committee of Kano APC Campaign Organization, Malam Muhammad Garba, said Governor Abdullahi Ganduje is a peace loving person.

Garba stressed that the modest achievements of the Ganduje’s administration was enough to win the Saturday’s supplementary election.


The statement reads: “As a responsible party, the APC believes that election is not a do-or-die affair. Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje remains a peace-loving leader who would not want any blood to drop because of election.

“Governor Ganduje believes that power belongs to God and only Him can give and take away power.

“The modest achievements recorded by his administration are enough to give him victory.


“We wish to call on Kano stakeholders to delve into the situation and call the agents of violence to order.

“The Ganduje administration since its inception has continued to record and maintain peace.

“We have enjoyed peace and development in the state all this while, and it will not be to anyone’s interest to allow few elements to destabilize this peace because of their selfish interest.


“To this end, the ruling APC in Kano remains hopeful of victory at Saturday’s rerun election.

“We call on all our teeming supporters and the good people of Kano state to remain calm, and continue to maintain peace and order for the overall interest of our dear state.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/kano-guber-apc-speaks-on-governorship.html

Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, yesterday, told the Senate Committee on Finance that some slight adjustments had been effected on the 2019 Medium Term Fiscal Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) between when it was approved by the Federal Executive Council and the finalisation of the 2019 budget proposals.

The minister disclosed this when he briefed the committee on this year’s Revenue and Expenditure Projections.

In a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Communication), Akpandem James, the minister said the adjustment only affected the expenditure levels as it was done to reflect some unanticipated expenditure items and the consequences of those adjustments.

The key assumptions and macro-framework of the 2019 Budget targets 2.3mbpd of oil production at an oil benchmark price of $60 per barrel; exchange rate of N305 per Dollar, Inflation rate at 9.98%, Nominal consumption of N119.28 trillion, Nominal GDP at N139.65 trillion and GDP growth rate of 3.01%

Before giving an overview of the 2019 Expenditure Framework, the minister briefed the committee on the 2018 expenditure out-turns. He stated that of the total appropriation of N9.12 trillion, N7.24 trillion had been spent, as at December 31, 2018; representing 79 percent performance. He indicated that Debt Service and the implementation of Non-debt Recurrent Expenditure, including payment of workers’ salaries and pensions, were on track.

He explained that Capital releases only commenced after the signing of the 2018 budget on June 20, 2018; and, as at January 11, 2019, N1.226 trillion had been released for capital projects.

Spending on Capital, senator Udoma explained further, was prioritised in favour of critical ongoing infrastructural projects in the power, roads, rail and agriculture sectors. “Implementation of the 2018 Capital budget will continue into 2019 until the 2019 budget is passed into law,” he pointed out.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/govt-adjusted-mteffsp-for-2019-budget.html

The federal government has earmarked N43.5 billion for routine immunisation programme in 2019.

The Director General Budget Office of the Federation Ben Akabueze made this disclosure in Abuja at the Nigeria Value for Money in the Health Sector Workshop.

In his presentation, the DG budget said there was a need to scale-up allocation to primary health care and also called for equity in the allocation of funds to different areas in the health sector.

Akabueze explained because Nigeria was operating a deficit budget, it has become very difficult for the country to further borrow to fund projects in the health sector.


According to him, this has placed a limitation on “how much we can borrow.”

To change things, he said Nigeria must seek ways to attract other sources of funding.

Minister for Budget and National Planning Senator Udoma Udo Udoma assured the federal government will prioritise health expenditures in the 2019 budget cycle.

The Minister also disclosed the government was working to improve the country’s mortality rate which is among the lowest in the continent.

The interest in allocating more funds to health was triggered by “the constrained fiscal space occasioned by drop in oil price and disruption to crude production continues to reflect on revenues.

“The present administration came to meet a very constrained fiscal space. Revenue dropped from N10.07 trillion in 2014 fiscal year to as low as N5.68 trillion in 2016.

“Even though it recovered somewhat to N7.17 trillion and N9.17 trillion in 2019 and 2018, it is still low compared to the amount in 2014,” Udoma said.

He also lamented “dwindling donor funding has further compounded the matters with the country’s transition from the status of a poor country to a developing economy.”


He noted that notwithstanding government’s tight revenue inflow, “there is need to increase expenditure in the health sector and collaborate with governments at all levels on the need to maximise value for allocation to the sector.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/fg-earmarks-n435bn-for-immunisation-in.html

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has advised tertiary institutions against engaging in sharp practices by admitting unqualified candidates into their institutions.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, gave the warning yesterday during a meeting with critical stakeholders on the board’s strategic planning and preparation for the supervision and administration of the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Abuja.

According to him, these institutions engage in fraudulent activities to pave way for their preferred candidates in place of qualified ones.


He said such fraudulent methods included denying candidates screening scores to disqualify them, warehousing candidates for pre-degree, stratification of candidates into programmes before summation of scores and lowering of merit aggregate cut-off marks to jump others.

He added that institutions also abused the catchment area policy to admit unqualified candidates.

Oloyede, therefore, advised institutions to desist from such acts, noting that the 2019 admission process would be done purely on merit.

Besides, the board has warned candidates who registered for the 2019 UTME to be wary of tutorial centres in the country, saying that some of them are breeding grounds for examination malpractices.

He said: “Tutorial operators are causing damages to education because parents are just there because of the results (they churned out) in previous years. So, they go to any extent to get good results. They are not teaching these students anything, they are faking results for them, their work is to corrupt the system.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has called for the prosecution of parents who fail to enrol their wards in the free compulsory basic education programme as provided by the UBE Act 2004.

Adamu, who disclosed this at a ministerial press briefing yesterday in Abuja, said 13 years after its passage, no state in Nigeria had fully implemented the UBE Act with regards to free and compulsory basic education.

He said until government starts prosecuting parents who refuse to send their wards to school, the country may never achieve the goals of UBE.

However, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has approved N2.7 billion to bring about further improvement of universal basic education through grassroots participation, support and the eventual ownership of basic education by the communities.

Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, represented by Director, Social Mobilisation in the ministry, Alhaji Bello Kagara, stated this yesterday at a master-trainers workshop on the implementation of School-Based Management Committee – School Improvement Programmes (SBMC- SIP) in Lokoja, Kogi State.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/do-not-admit-unqualified-candidates.html

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said, yesterday, it would begin prosecution of outgoing governors who prima facie cases of corruption have been established against them following investigations by the Commission.

The commission said the prosecution will begin as soon as they hand over on May 29.

It revealed that steps have been taken to ensure that any of them who have question to answer regarding corruption does not escape.

It, however, did not reveal identities of the governors involved.

Acting spokesman of the anti-graft body, Tony Orilade also disclosed that governors who have been found to be involved in vote buying during the recently concluded election would be made to face the music.

Governors who will be leaving office by May 29 include Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe) and Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe).

The outcome of supplementary elections and collation of governorship elections in Sokoto, Adamawa , Bauchi, Plateau, Benue, Kano, Rivers billed for this weekend will determine the fate of Governors Aminu Tambuwal, Bindo Umaru Jibrilla, Mohammed Abubakar, Simon Lalong, Samuel Ortom, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Nyesom Wike.

According to Orilade, “we will go after them when they no longer enjoy constitutional immunity. That will be after May 29. Any person who has a question to answer will be invited to answer the question.”

On governors accused of withdrawing large amount of money for vote buying, he said: “We have already gone after them. But don’t forget that the extent of their involvement will be determined by the investigation that is ongoing. And until that investigation is concluded we cannot come up to say this is what the true position is on the matter.”

Asked to state specifically the governors who have been investigated and who cases of corruption have been established against, the EFCC spokesman said: “Just wait and see. We are doing our job here. Although the constitution provides for immunity for governors, it does not stop investigation of them. What I can I tell you is that after May 29, some of the former governors will answer to some of the things they did.”

Meanwhile, the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has warned banks and other financial institutions not to succumb to threats and pressures from outgoing governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to obtain last-minute loans, overdrafts and other financial instruments barely two months to the end of his tenure.

In a press statement issued in Abeokuta, yesterday, APC Caretaker Committee’s Publicity Secretary, Tunde Oladunjoye, warned that any institution that grants such requests “does so at its own risk.”

The press statement read:

“It has come to our notice that the outgoing governor has been exerting pressures on banks and financial institutions to grant frivolous loans, overdrafts and other instruments immediately Dapo Abiodun was declared governor-elect.”

“We are equally aware that files and other sensitive governments documents are being moved out of government offices on the order of the outgoing governor, His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.”

“It is, therefore important to let it be known to the concerned public officers that it is part of their duties to protect public properties, including files, documents and information at their disposal. As anything contrary to this will be running foul of the laws and their oath of office. The allegiance of the civil servants is to Ogun State and not to any individual, no matter who.

“As for the banks, we want to state categorically that the incoming administration believes so much in the the rule of law and due process. Therefore, the administration will not honour any obligation that did not follow due process or any loans that did not receive the prior approval of the State House of Assembly.

“According to the Federal Bureau of Statistics, Ogun State’s Internally Generated Revenue has increased by 590 per cent in eight years totaling N74, 835, 979, 000.51. Why the outgoing administration still wants ‘injury-time’ loans despite those already incurred, beats one’s imagination and leaves much to be desired. The incoming administration will not honour such shady loans.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/efcc-clamps-down-on-outgoing-govs.html

The Lagos State Government has debunked claims that a building on 57, Egerton Square, Oke Arin area on Lagos Island collapsed, yesterday, with people trapped.

General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Adesina Tiamiyu insisted no building collapsed on Lagos Island, yesterday.

He said what happened was that officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, (LASBCA) were demolishing the building on Egerton Square and that a scavenger got injured while trying to pick up something from the building.

Also, LASBCA officials, who were at the scene, said there was no collapsed building and that they were only pulling down a structure when a scavenger tried to pick up something and was injured.

LASBCA Public Affairs Officer, Titi Ajirotutu, denied that a building collapsed on Lagos Island, saying the building was under demolition and that one person who was trying to pick up something from the building was seriously injured.

Regardless, a witness insisted the building did not collapse on its own, but that it was being demolished and that four scavengers were injured.

“The four scavengers sustained minor injuries and had been taken to the nearest hospital before the arrival of the Lagos Response team (LRT), LASEMA said on its Twitter handle.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/no-fresh-collapse-on-lagos-island-govt.html

The suspended Chief of Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen has told the Code of Conduct Tribunal that his assets declaration forms before the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) appeared to have been tampered with.

He made the observation after his assets declaration forms were tendered and admitted ‎in evidence by the tribunal.

The Federal government opened its case on Monday 18. Onnoghen returned for his trial after 72-hour bed rest.

A medical report tendered by his counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), before the tribunal at the last adjourned date indicated that Onnoghen was suffering from toothache and high blood pressure and was advised by his doctor to observe a bed rest for 72 hours.

The tribunal led by its chairman, Danladi Umar, had then adjourned till Monday (today) for the commencement of trial.

When the matter came up, the Federal government opened its case by calling on its first witness, ‎Mr. James Akpala.

The prosecution was led by Aliyu Umar (SAN), who invited Akpala, Senior Investigation Officer of the Code of Conduct Bureau into the witness box.

In the course of his testimony, Akpala ‎tendered some documentary exhibits which were admitted as evidence.

The exhibits tendered by the witness were the petition written by a civil society group which informed the six counts preferred against the suspended CJN and two assets declaration forms (Forms CCB1) submitted by the defendant in 2014 and 2015.

‎The petition dated January 7, 2019, was sent to the Code of Bureau by Anti-Corruption and Research-Based Data Initiative and was admitted by the three-man bench of the CCT as Exhibit 1 without any objection from the defence.

Although Onnoghen’s counsel, Awomolo did not object to the assets declaration forms, he noted that the forms were “in loose form and appeared to be tampered with,” adding that he would address the issues at the final stage.

In his ruling, the tribunal chairman, Umar, admitted the forms as exhibits with a caveat that the defence would have the right to address the issue in their final address.

Akpala had told the tribunal that “on January 9, 2019, I was in my office at the Code of Conduct Bureau that morning when I received a call from my superior, Samuel Madojemu, who happens to be a member of the (investigation) team.

“He directed that I investigate a petition.

“Having done the required processes – routine investigation – case file was opened and investigation plan was drawn.

“The petition was authored by Chief Dennis Aghanya of the Anti-Corruption and Research-Based Data Initiative, alleging breach of Code of Conduct for Public Officers, including non-declaration of assets and false declaration of assets, against the Hon. Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, GCON, the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

“Thereafter, the team ‎wrote to the Federal Political Officers Unit (of the bureau), Asokoro, requesting the defendant’s asset declarations received from 2000 to 2009.

“The department responded. The two asset declaration forms were examined and filed in the case file.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/my-assets-declaration-forms-tempered.html

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, has accused the governor-elect, Emeka Ihedioha, of being interested only in the state treasury, even as he said that his successor has no constitutional powers to issue directives to banks when he has not yet been sworn in as governor.

Okorocha, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary on Friday in Owerri, said the governor-elect was “behaving like a typical member of the Peoples Democratic Party;” and that he is “only interested in the state treasury.” Okorocha asked Ihedioha to exercise patience until May 29 before he starts issuing directives to banks on the state’s financial dealings.

He said, “Emeka Ihedioha, who was declared winner of the governorship election in Imo State by Prof. Francis Ezeonu-led INEC in Owerri, does not have the right or locus yet to harass or give directives to the financial institutions in the state over their dealings with the state government.

‘The media report quoting Ihedioha as having given such directive is unfortunate and a sign of ugly things to come. Otherwise, Ihedioha should not have been the first of all the governors-elect in the country to issue such directive.

“We are also not surprised at his issuing the directive because as a PDP man, his interest, first and foremost, will be the treasury of the state, and the policy or the slogan of ‘Share the money’ will soon come back. But he should exercise patience and wait till he is sworn-in. He shouldn’t be in a hurry. There is a government in place and until May 29, 2019, that government should continue.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/okorocha-ihedioha-fight-over-imo.html

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi on Friday called on members of the Presidential Campaign Organisation, Ekiti State Chapter, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure total dominance of the state in all future elections.

Fayemi spoke in Ado-Ekiti during a meeting to appreciate members of the Ekiti State Council of the PMB/PYO Presidential Campaign Organisation and leaders of the party, for the success during the Presidential, National Assembly and State Assembly elections in the state.

He said the hard work and unity of purpose that earned the party victory during the just-concluded general elections must be sustained, especially ahead of the 2022 governorship election in the state.


A successful outing for the APC in the 2022 governorship election in the state, according to him, would confirm the party’s dominance in Ekiti politics.

Fayemi said it would also ensure continuation of good governance that would put the state firmly on the path of irreversible development.

The Governor, who lauded the members of the campaign organisation for their dedication and commitment to the success of the party, said the credit for the peaceful conduct of the election in Ekiti State should go to them.


He said the unity of purpose demonstrated by both the council and the party leaders during the elections made the party record an enviable result.

Fayemi said the next task was to ensure that the influence of the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was reduced to the barest minimum.

The Governor, who also conveyed the appreciation of President Muhammadu Buhari to the members, later presented letters of appreciation to the council members.


Fayemi said: “When we inaugurated the Council, I was very clear the job the council would do in conjunction with the party leadership would produce a report that everyone would be proud of, and that is exactly what the council has done as the results have shown.

“I remember I was with Mr President a couple of days ago, to discuss some challenges facing our state, and as soon as he came into the meeting, the very first thing he said was Mr 100 percent.

“That credit really goes to the work that we all did, and I think it leads to what happens when we have unity of purpose.


“We all started on this journey from different points, but ultimately, we came together, we decided that we needed to give the election all the attention it deserved, and everybody pulled in their weight to ensure that we succeeded.

“However, the outcome of the election tells us some things, that we cannot be complacent about this issue.

“We still have to work to completely crush the PDP in all our local government areas and state to a point where they are a minute fold rather that a sizeable number that can threaten the consolidation of our gains in the course of next couple of elections.


“The only way to guarantee this effort you have all put in this election is to ensure that the 2022 governorship election in Ekiti goes to APC.

”That’s the message we have to take from this exercise, we would put in every effort to ensure that this happens.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Fayemi explained that after the heat of election, there was need to focus more on governance.


He said that he would soon appoint more people into positions for ease of governance as well as make them more useful for the services of the state.

“By now, we would have a respite to now focus on governance, which is really the reason why our people have put us in charge of the state.

”Yes, we started that process and we have to invigorate it now; we have to energize by putting more people in positions, so that they can be of service to our party and the state.

“As much as our resources can carry us, we must put our people first in the ‘Project Ekiti’ via empowerment programme or appointments.

”Not everybody can get appointments, but everybody can have access to feeling that they are also major contributors to the party’s success,” he said.

Speaking earlier, the Director General of the Campaign Organisation, Oluomo Segun Osikolu, appreciated Governor Fayemi for giving them opportunity to serve in that capacity.

Osinkolu said the party’s successful outing at the polls was as a result of the commitment and hard work of members of the council as well as party leadership.

He commended members of the council for their cooperation in the course of the election.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/election-crush-pdp-gov-fayemi-tells-apc.html

The Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against disrespecting the Ijaw National Leader, Pa Edwin Clark and other leaders of South South and Middle Belt regions.

The State secretary of PDP, Chief Godspower Keku, in a statement on Friday in Yenagoa, also condemned the “despicable display of disrespect” for the person of Ijaw National Leader, Pa Edwin Clark and other elder statesmen and leaders in the South South and Middle Belt regions by the leaders of APC in the state.

Keku also berated a comment by the State Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr Diofie Buokoribo for casting aspersions on the integrity of Pa Clark and other leaders in the regions, regarding their views about the election-related violence in Rivers and Bayelsa states.

He said that it was as immoral and sickening for a son of the South South to make such a disparaging remarks about the elders and leaders of his people for saying the truth about issues of grave concern to them.

According to him, the statement attributed to Buokoribo, where he described Pa Clark and other leaders as a disgrace, fits perfectly into APC’s language of desperation and culture of violence in Bayelsa.

He advised the state APC, led by Chief Timipre Sylva and Senator Heineken Lokpobiri to apologize to the people.

He stressed that in spite of the massive deployment of soldiers to aid the evil plot of the APC to rig the election in Bayelsa, the people roundly rejected them with the PDP clinching 17 out of the 21 declared results of the 24 House of Assembly seats.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdp-warns-apc-against-disrespecting-south-south-middle-belt-leaders.html

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him certificate of return as winner of the Imo West Senatorial District election in the February 23 presidential and National Assembly polls.

Ruling out possible recourse to the court to obtain the certificate, he said he still had confidence in the integrity of National Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, and his willingness to do the right thing.

He cautioned Prof. Yakubu not to lend himself to those he said were poised to truncate his future political ambition.


The outgoing Imo governor said he was still in the dark as to why the election umpire was withholding his certificate of return after being duly elected in a free and fair election.

He expressed doubts over the source of the power the commission was exercising to withhold his certificate of return.


Okorocha said: “Gentlemen of the press, I’m sure I was conspicuously absent in the certificate issuance ceremony.

“I was not there because INEC has removed my name from the list of senators, having been declared the winner by the zonal returning officer.

“I’m told that my name is no longer there. So, I’m actually waiting to hear why and what was the reason INEC is not letting my name in.

“I think probably INEC must be trying to do something special to give me my certificate because I understand that once result has been declared and you have won, you are entitled to your certificate of return.

“But to have exempted me, and I am in the dark as to the reason I was not invited to collect my certificate of return, maybe INEC wants to organise a special ceremony to handover this certificate to me.

“But clearly I have won, I have won, and it was a peaceful, peaceful, free and fair election. The best you can think of.”


Asked to hazard a guess why he was overlooked by INEC, he said grapevine information had it that he was accused of getting the result by duress which, he said, was a criminal matter.

“Again, I don’t understand what that means because there was nothing of such.

“How can you then put somebody under duress to declare you winner when you have actually won?

“Look, they did not say I didn’t win, they did not say the other gentleman won the election, and we are forcing them to give it to a person who did not win.

“So, I don’t understand why I will be the one doing something wrong forcing someone to give me victory. It is not true.”

Okorocha said the entire episode was a game being orchestrated by some politicians in Abuja working in cahoots with INEC to thwart his political ambition, but he vowed to succeed in the face of the obstacles.

“I think it is game being played here, and I must let the world understand that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo State is playing a script, already written script for a very long time, and the script is so funny, so cruel, and so crude and they are executing it in a very funny way,” he said.

Narrating what happened, he said the collation officer in his election had collated nine local government areas and suddenly changed his mind to continue the process after receiving a phone call, and instead opted to go to Owerri to declare the rest of the senatorial result.

“So, when the young men there (in Orlu) suspected something foul, they said finish it here and there was no quarrel, and the DSS was there, police was there, international observers, agents were there, even the INEC staff from Abuja were all there. It was very peaceful,” he added.

Okorocha, who alleged that the returning officer had been found to be an in-law of the PDP candidate, maintained that the whole game was scripted by persons in Abuja and executed by the Imo State REC.

Against all provocations, he said, he had calmed frayed nerves in Orlu in the hope that justice would prevail.

He, however, asked the commission to, as a matter of urgency, address many electoral infractions noticed during the governorship and state Assembly elections conducted in the state that led to the declaration of PDP candidate, Emeka Ihedioha, as governor and non-declaration of result of polls in Okigwe Senatorial District, which he described as a show of shame.

According to him, some of the shameful conduct of the various players in the election were not something to expose to the world, else Nigeria would become a laughing stock.

Besides his election, he said, the burning issue now was the election in Okigwe Senatorial District which he claimed was won by the candidate of Action Alliance, Emenike, but which INEC refused to declare.

Okorocha, who claimed that the governorship election in Imo was won by Uche Nwosu, noted that the returning officer of the election went ahead to declare candidate of the PDP, against constitutional provision in respect of spread, all in an effort to ensure that he was done in.

He said: “As I’m talking, the image of Nigeria is at stake in Imo State if they hear the dirty things that took place in Imo State in this election.

“You might think we are still in the primitive days, the issue of governorship election. That guy (Ihedioha) never won the election.

“The three local government areas he padded, you cannot become governor with results from three local government (areas) in Imo State.”

Okorocha, who said he had been receiving knocks from a direction, described as laughable his purported suspension from the APC, a party in whose formation he claimed to have played a leading role.

“I’m told that I have been suspended from the party, I am getting bashing from all over.

“I am taking the bullets as much I can take. I am told that I have been suspended. APC that I founded, I’m a major stakeholder, and you can’t count the first ten persons in APC without counting Rochas.

“It is an aberration. Then somebody said I have been suspended from the party, for what offence?

“They keep making the same mistake. If they say they have sacked me, I have sacked them.

“Simply put, there’s a court judgment, we foresee this coming and the exco of Imo went to court and obtained a judgment not order, that the NWC and NEC of the party would have no power, cannot dissolve the present exco unless by the national convention. You went and set up an illegal caretaker committee to try Rochas.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/okorocha-urges-inec-to-release-his.html

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Saturday, February 23 election, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday held a close a closed-door meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta.

A statement issued by Media Aide to the former President, Kehinde Akinyemi, disclosed that Atiku went into a meeting with Obasanjo and came out at about 1.00pm before having lunch with his host.

The details of the meeting were not disclosed as Abubakar as at the time left at about 2pm.


After Atiku’s visit, Oyo State Governor-elect, Seyi Makinde also visited Obasanjo.

Makinde, who was elected on PDP’s platform, was accompanied by his Deputy, Akeem Ademola, Oyo State PDP Chairman, Kunmi Mustapha, Senator Hosea Agboola, Bose Adelabu and Lagos State PDP Chairman, Dominic Agboola, among others.

Obasanjo tasked Makinde to jettison the type of democracy, which would only target selfish interests of the few.

However, Chairman, Anambra State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council, Oseloka Obaze has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be mindful of election results it churns out.

Obaze, who headed the Atiku Abubakar/Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Organisation in the state, reminded the electoral body that posterity would judge the commission accordingly.

He also reminded the electoral umpire that the world was watching Nigeria and would judge the commission in due course.

The PDP candidate for the 2017 Anambra State gubernatorial election said, “We are watching with utmost concern and disgust, developments in Rivers State. The development there represents the rise of illiberal democracy.

“The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government must not allow the governorship election in Rivers State to become a tripwire to a national crisis.


“INEC must be allowed to expeditiously conclude the Rivers State governorship election as it has done in APC-controlled states.

“The will of Rivers people must be respected and the unconstitutional engagement of the military there should be brought to an end forthwith.”

Meanwhile, a market executive in Anambra State, Jude Nwankwo, has charged House of Representatives member-elect, Okwudili Ezenwankwo, to always protect the interest of traders while enacting laws in the Green Chamber.

Nwankwo, who made the call in Onitsha yesterday, expressed joy that Ezenwankwo’s victory has brought glory and pride to traders in the South East, who were only known for their commercial ingenuity and to all traders in the country.

He noted that the success of Ezenwankwo, a crayfish seller and former Chairman, Ose-Okwodu Market, who became Chairman of the market, rose to become President-General of Anambra State Markets and Amalgamated Traders’ Association (AMATAS) and South East Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association (SEAMATA), was a positive development.

“He rose through popular elections, which is a combination of sheer determination to succeed in one’s venture in life and fortune.

“Having emerged victorious under the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), his victory has become a rare feat and having emerged from traders’ circle, his primary constituency, his emergence has attracted commendations from fellow traders in Anambra,” he added.

Also speaking, Sunday Obinze attributed Ezenwankwo’s success at the poll to his managerial and political sagacity, adding, “The victory has further exposed traders as enlightened people who could also contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s socio-economic and political development.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/atiku-makinde-visit-obasanjo-pdp.html

Over the past days, telephone calls from various individuals have jammed Kaduna State airwaves as rumours made the rounds that the state governor, Nasir El-rufai, was involved in a fatal accident in the early hours of Thursday.

The rumour had it that El-rufai’s driver died in the accident, while the governor himself sustained serious injury.

However, contrary to the rumours, Governor El-rufai is hale and hearty and was not involved in any form of accident.

El-rufai’s Senior Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye, confirmed that the governor is in good health in a tweet on his official handle.

Adekeye wrote, “While Malam Nasir @elrufai was at post-election reception in Kaduna on Sunday night, some liars placed him in Kano. Now they are spreading tales that he was involved in a fatal accident. Hatred is not a political strategy.

“The hatred that moves people to peddle lies, concort rumours of accident and try to pass off their ill-will as God’s doing is a burden on those who have permitted reason to exit their minds and have given their hearts to a constricting narrowness.”

Before now, rumours that the governor was involved in an accident were all over town; this people kept discussing in hush tones. However, Adekeye’s tweet has laid to rest all that.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/el-rufai-not-involved-in-accident-aide.html

A coalition of INEC accredited election observers who monitored the just concluded governorship election in Yobe State has rated the exercise as free, fair and credible.

A statement signed and issued, yesterday, in Abuja by the coalition’s group leader, Okoi Tina, said despite the belief that Yobe State was an insurgency prone state, the exercise “went well and credible.”

The observers lauded the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its neutrality during the poll.

According to the coalition, the turnout of voters was commendable and the state seemed to have enhanced voter education.

“As a coalition of INEC accredited election observers to Yobe State, we the undersigned, having duly performed our duties as INEC accredited observers through and thoroughly in Yobe State, undertake to address this world press conference on the true situation of the general elections in the state.

“We take this as a duty to inform the general public that the elections held in Yobe State were free, fair, smooth and rancour free in all of its ramifications.

“As against the initial public opinion and general belief that Yobe State, having been an insurgency prone area, could pose a major threat to peaceful, free, and fair elections, the state was quite in a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere throughout the elections.

“Except for the insignificant skirmish that took place at the outskirts of Gaidam area, of which the Nigerian military quickly nipped in the bud, there was no incidence of any fracas or election related violence whatsoever.

“Electoral rules and guidelines were adequately followed. The usual party agent rancour that had always been the situation in any well contested election was totally absent as all party agents seemed to have known what they were expected to do at all times,” read the statement.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/observers-hail-inec-declare-yobe.html

A multinational naval maneuver sponsored by the United States Military Command in Africa, aimed at uniting African, European, South American, and US naval forces to enhance cooperation and expertise in maritime security operations, has commenced within the Gulf of Guinea.

The purpose of the exercise, Daily Sun learnt, is to test multinational maritime forces in a broad range of naval operations in order to increase capability and capacity as a collective whole for Gulf of Guinea nations to deter piracy, illicit trafficking, and other maritime threats.

The exercise will take place throughout the Gulf of Guinea, and will have land-based maritime operations centres throughout the region.

Addressing defence correspondents in Lagos on the exercise, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Obed Ngalabak, said the exercise, code-named “Obangame Express,” has benefitted the Nigerian Navy, especially in the fight against sea robbers and pirates.

He said 20 African countries and 11 allied countries would converge on the Gulf of Guinea to work towards improving regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness, information sharing and enhance the collective capabilities of West African nations to counter illegalities in the maritime domain.

The Nigerian Navy is hosting the 2019 edition of the “Obangame Express.” Eight Nigerian Navy ships, including two offshore patrol vessels, NNS Centenary and NNS Unity, two helicopters and one ship each from the US, Portugal and Morocco would be participating in the Lagos area.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/navy-commences-operations-to-check.html

The Directorate of the Lagos Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) has dismissed rumors of price increase for the issuance of Road Worthiness Certificate.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Director of the VIS, Abdul-Hafeez Gbolahan Toriola, told motorists not to nurse any fears over rumoured increment.

Such fears, he said, are unfounded and without any substance, reiterating the stance of the government to ensuring that Lagosians are able to process Road Worthiness Certificates (RWC) seamlessly.

According to him, in spite of the cost of invested substantially in establishing 10 computerized centres across the state, the government is not considering increasing the price for the processing of Road Worthiness Certificate.

Toriola however enjoined motorists wishing to process their RWC to shun touts and visit any of the 45 VIS work stations or the 10 Lagos Computerized Vehicle Inspection Service (LACVIS) centers.

The Director equally urged motorists who processed their RWC in VIS Zonal offices without a computerized centre are to visit any of the LACVIS centers across the state with their referral note for a free computerized inspection.

He stated after the inspection, they will be issued an Inspection Report.

He assured motorists that officers of VIS and LACVIS have been trained and positioned to attend to customers’ enquiries and concerns in a professional manner.

The Director equally stated that the CIV will also help vehicle buyers from buying imported vehicles with mechanical faults which are usually hidden by unscrupulous sellers.

According to him, a valid safety check is required before a vehicle can be registered.

These tests, which include the automobile vehicle inspection number (Autovin), are carried out at the LACVIS centres to know the history of the vehicle and all the modifications and alterations done on the vehicle, if any.

He also called on all insurance companies, vehicle documents processing agencies, car dealers/ importers and all safety agencies to cooperate with the government to actualize the objectives of total safety on the roads by insisting that the Autovin exercise is carried out before vehicle purchase and registration is completed.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/no-plans-to-increase-cost-of-road.html

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Nigeria’s active mobile subscribers increased to 172,824,239 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 from 162,032,481 million and 162,522,772 million recorded in the third and second quarter of the same year respectively. The NBS disclosed this in its “Telecommunication Data (Q3 and Q4 2018)” released on its website.

According to the report, the active voice subscriber base increased by 6.66 per cent in the quarters under review.

It said a total of 106,420,858 and 112, 065,740 were active on internet in the fourth and third quarter as against 103,514,997 in second quarters, 2018.

This according to the bureau, represents 8.26 per cent growth in internet subscriber base in the period.

The report said Lagos had the highest number of subscribers in terms of active voice per state in the fourth quarter, 2018, followed by Ogun and Kano States while Ebonyi had the least subscribers.

“Similarly, Lagos State has the highest number of subscribers in terms of active internet per state in fourth quarter, 2018 followed by Ogun and Kano States.

“Bayelsa and Ebonyi States have the least number of subscribers in the period under review,” it said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/nigerias-active-mobile-subscribers-hit.html