₦airaland Forum

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Phrank Shuaibu, the Special Assistant on Public Communications to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to waste taxpayers’ money by using the presidential jet to campaign.

Shuaibu said this on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme.

He said since Buhari had admitted that the economy had failed under his watch, he should stop wasting tax payers’ money on campaigns and throw in the towel.

Shuaibu said, “He has come out to say he has failed and it has nothing to do with our party. You know as well that here is a man that was sworn in on May 29, 2015 and inaugurated his cabinet after 166 days, leaving the economy in the hands of the Central Bank of Nigeria and he left many things unattended to and we slipped into a recession which we hadn’t seen since 1991.

“So, saying the PDP is his problem is completely out of context.

“Why waste tax payers’ money to go into an election? So that he will spend money junketing from one place to the other? Using our presidential jet and tax payer’s money to fund it? Impossible! Let us leave the country to more serious people to run.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/dont-use-presidential-jet-to-campaign-atiku-spokesman-tells-buhari.html

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About two months to 2019 general elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is yet to formally kick-off its presidential campaigns nationwide, as it battles to resolve the grievances that trailed its highly contentious primary elections across the country.

While the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has not only launched its presidential campaigns with its flag-bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, already campaigning and reaching out to various segments of the society, the ruling APC is still bugged down by internal crisis.

The ruling party is at the moment battling to fix some of the damages caused by its contentious primary elections.

The party is said to be waiting for the peace committee it established to create the right atmosphere for its national campaigns to be commenced.

“We are still having unresolved issues among some leaders of the party, especially with the aggrieved governors and their loyalists who have not withdrawn their court cases against the national leadership of the APC. The reconciliation committee is making efforts to mend fences and hopefully they will soon conclude their assignment,” a source said.

So far, out of the six reconciliation committees set up by APC to go and resolve intra-party disputes arising from party primaries, only the North-east panel has submitted its report, while the other five committees are still engaging aggrieved stakeholders in the North-west, South-west, South-east and South-south zones.

A Source also confirmed that the presidency and the party leadership have been meeting to iron out issues relating to the composition of the national campaign council.

Apart from the delay occasioned by the primary elections crisis, the APC, it was gathered, is also adopting a strategy of buying time by allowing the PDP to exhaust their energy and resources before embarking on massive campaign in the last two months to the elections.

But the APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yekini Nabena, denied that internal disagreement was responsible for the non-commencement of campaigns.

Nabena, who spoke during an interactive session with journalists over the weekend, insisted that the ruling party was keeping to its campaign strategy. He said, “Everybody comes with a different strategy. You are a boxer and you go into the ring, waiting for your opponent; you started fighting even when your opponent is not there.

The PDP has started fighting even when they have not seen anybody to fight. They have gone to three places to campaign and suddenly stopped when they realized that they have not seen their opponent. So, they don’t know from where the APC is coming. Don’t worry about the campaign because we have our own plans.”

Nabena, who had earlier alleged that the PDP was recruiting the services of Russian internet hackers to help in their rigging plans, said APC intended to come up with surprises.

“You have to put them in suspense so that they will be thinking for you and that is what they are doing,” he said.

When asked to comment on the not too successful move to reconcile aggrieved stakeholders, Nabena said the peace committees might be finding things difficult because of the mind-set of some of the party men.

He said while there were those with genuine grievances, some others were merely acting on selfish interest.

He said, “There is no doubt that people are aggrieved, but the good thing about APC is that there are people who loved the party and the president genuinely. But there are people who act purely for their own selfish interest. For those who are acting on selfish interest, what do you want to give to them in the process of this reconciliation?

“You must have something to give to the next person for him to fall in line.

But you have nothing to offer him, what do you expect? So, when you set up peace and reconciliation committee, you must be sure that you achieve results. If I wanted to be a senatorial candidate and I did not get that, I will be looking out for whatever you want to offer me in return.”

Nabena said the reconciliation committees must have a package that can help stop some genuinely aggrieved party men from leaving the APC.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/reconciliation-challenges-delay-apcs-campaign-launch.html

haaaaaa

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Dapo Abiodun, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun state, is enmeshed in allegations of perjury over his post-secondary school qualifications.

According to documents seen, Abiodun declared only his West African School Certificate (1978) in the Form CF001 that he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on October 23, 2018, ahead of the 2019 general election.

However, when he ran as the APC senatorial candidate (Ogun east) in 2015, he claimed to have attended the University of Ife, Ile-Ife (1986) and Kennesaw State University, Atlanta Georgia, US (1989) in his INEC form CF001, backed by an affidavit he swore to at the high court, Abeokuta, Ogun state.

Curiously, while he listed B.B.A. (hons) accounting as the degree he got in 1986 as at then 2015, he was silent on what he studied at Kennesaw State University.

However, in his official curriculum vitae, he claimed to possess another degree, B.Eng (hons) in civil engineering, presumably received in 1989 from the American university.

Also, on the website of Heyden Petroleum Limited where Abiodun is MD/CEO, underneath his name were listed B.Sc Civil Engineering and BBA Accounting.

If he proceeded immediately to Kennesaw after graduating from Ife in 1986, he would not have finished before 1990 as civil engineering is a four-year course in the university.

There are strong suspicions that he did not do the compulsory national youth service, even though he finished his first degree in 1986 — going by the INEC form CF001 he filled head of the 2015 election, supported by an affidavit.

Abiodun was born on May 29, 1960 and was 26 in 1986 when he claimed to have finished his first degree. The age limit for national service is 30.

Apart from the possibility of having committed perjury either in 2014 or 2018, there is also the possibility that he skipped the compulsory national service, which is punishable under the law.

SECTION 13 OF THE NYSC ACT STATES:
(1)Any person (b) who refuses to make himself available for service in the service corps continuously for the period specified in subsection (2) of this section, is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N2,000 or to imprisonment for a term of twelve months or to both such fine and imprisonment.
A criminal conviction will also mean the offender is barred from holding public office.

SECTION 182 OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION STATES:
182. (1) No person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a State if – (e) within a period of less than ten years before the date of election to the office of Governor of a State he has been convicted and sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty or he has been found guilty of the contravention of the code of Conduct.
Earlier this year, he was appointed chairman of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In 2012, he was appointed chairman of the Depot and Petroleum Product Marketers Association (DAPPMA), a position he still holds.

Abiodun has been having a running battle with Ibikunle Amosun, governor of the state, and the state working committee of the APC over his endorsement by the national body of the party for the 2019 governorship election, instead of Adekunle Akinlade, the governor’s choice.

The APC candidate had accused Amosun of plotting to upturn the decision of national working committee (NWC) of the ruling party to recognise him as the guber candidate of the state, while accusing the governor of being “desperate to install” Akinlade at all cost.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/just-in-dapo-abiodun-apc-ogun-guber-candidate-in-certificate-scandal.html

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In her article, tiled ‘NIGERIANS WON’T BE RAPED AGAIN BY THE SAME SET OF INCOMPETENT AND SELFISH LOOTOCRATS’, published on her official tweeter handle, Onochie took out time to analyse the sixteen years administration of the major opposition party and the competent level of its presidential candidate.

Shocked with their performance, Onochie averred that Nigerians will not be raped again by PDP.

Her words, “The Atiku Abubakar campaign has made the economy as its central campaign theme. Let us interrogate their capacity and history.

How many jobs did Atiku Abubakar create in Nitel and Nigerian Airways as the head of the Economic team and Chairman of Privatisation Committee between 1999 and 2007.

Despite earning about $1 trillion Dollars, can PDP and Atiku Abubakar explain to Nigerians why they grew the number of extremely poor people from 84 million in 2009 to 112 million extremely poor people in 2014 (according to the world bank), yet believe the Buhari administration took us into poverty with a reduced figure of 87 million poor people in 2018?

Why did Atiku Abubakar and PDP leave Nigeria with over 11 trillion Naira worth of abandoned projects including their Headquarters and are shocked that it is being completed by another Government. Is there an economic value in uncompleted projects Nigerians should know?

Can Atiku Abubakar and PDP tell us what they would have done differently to avoid recession if they had been reelected in 2015, despite the continuous crash of oil prices up to $28-29 per barrel and the fact that they did not save for the rainy day during the bumper years they had when oil prices peaked at $147 dollars per barrel?.

Why was a critical infrastructure like the Niger Bridge left on a paper as a drawing for 16 years despite earnings of about $1 trillion Dollars.

Is Stealing now Corruption or it still isn’t?

Is 72 years still too old for a Presidential Candidate or not?

The good thing about this Campaign is that we all have access for checking every candidate’s service history.

We won’t be raped again by the same set of incompetent, selfish lootocrats.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/nigerians-wont-be-raped-again-by-selfish-lootocratslauretta-onochie.html

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Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, says President Muhammadu Buhari’s letter on the request to present the 2019 budget on Wednesday is yet to be read on the floor of the senate.

The senate president who presides over plenary usually reads the letters from the executive.

Speaking on the importance of the presentation, Ndume pleaded with members of the house of representatives who threatened to boycott the budget presentation to have a rethink.

Some members of the lower legislative chamber had threatened to boycott the budget presentation over a comment credited to Udoma Udoma, minister of budget and national planning, that the national assembly was responsible for the delay in presentation.

The minister later clarified the statement that generated controversy.

But in a chat with NAN on Saturday, Ndume urged the federal lawmakers who issued the threat to reconsider their position in the interest of the nation.

The lawmaker noted that to quicken passage, it was imperative for the budget to reach the parliament before the Christmas break.

“I understand the reactions of the honourable members, is as a result of the unnecessary comment credited to the minister of budget as to who is responsible for the delay,” he said.

“My take on this is that two wrongs do not make a right and I want to appeal to my colleagues in the house of representatives to have a rethink because the president is not responsible for what the minister was alleged to have said.

“I feel national interest should be placed above any individual or group interest. As for the senate, the letter from Mr President as to when to present the budget has not been read.

“I feel the best thing to do is for the president to present the budget, especially before we go on Christmas break so that copies of the budget will be circulated to members to enable them start work on it.

“On resumption immediately after Christmas, we will start working on considering the budget for passage.

“So, I feel the reasonable thing to do is to receive Mr President in a joint session because it is very key to our national interest.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/ndume-saraki-is-yet-to-read-buharis-letter-on-budget-presentation.html

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The vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Peter Obi, caught red-handed for reeling out fake and outlandish figures on Friday night went further low early Saturday: he deleted one of the misleading tweets.

Obi had claimed during the live TV debate on Friday in Abuja that Nigeria attracted $41 billion Foreign Direct Investment in its economy in 2015 and that the value of the FDI fell to to $12.5 billion under the Buhari administration, to justify why Buhari must leave looters alone and mind the economy.

Obi, who told many lies during the debate, was fact-checked and his figure for 2015 was found to be wide off the mark.

Apparently embarrassed, he deleted the tweet and replaced it with another.

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The forum of the 36 state chairmen of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has rejected the court order issued by Justice Hussain Yusuf which declared Prof. Jerry Gana as the presidential candidate of the party and sacked an ex-governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, as the SDP standard bearer.

In a statement made available to journalists on Saturday in Abuja, which was signed by the forum’s Chairman; Hon. Oke Idawene and Secretary, Abubakar Dogara, they described the court ruling as “an act of gross injustice unconstitutional, and null and void”.

The statement reads in part: “the Party shall abide by the unanimous decision taken by the party’s delegates and the mandates of the 36 State Chapters and the FCT when they convincingly and overwhelmingly voted for Mr. Donald Duke in the October 6th October 2018 national presidential primaries of the Party.

“That mandate given to Donald Duke as the party’s presidential candidate is sacred, supreme and so remained sacrosanct as the will and ultimate decision of party members and leadership which no court can abort.

“The Forum said it will use all available legal and judicial process to protect its mandate and ensure that the will of the people prevails.

”We wish to use this medium to assure the general public, especially party members to remain calm and steadfast in their support and goodwill for the party and its presidential candidate towards the actualization of the vision of the Party to rescue Nigeria through the 2019 General elections.

“The SDP is working within the ambiance of the law to vacate the order of the Abuja court where Prof Gana is trying to pervert and arrest justice through his unlawful claims.

“Against this backdrop, our legal team has filed an appeal against the order of the High Court at the Appeal court in Abuja.

“Therefore, we want to appeal to all party members across the country to continue with their party activities and campaigns with utmost decorum, decency and orderliness.

“We shall communicate to all our members, details of our campaign programmes in the days ahead.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/2019-presidency-sdp-chairmen-reject-jerry-gana-vow-vacate-ruling-donald-duke.html

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Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has travelled with a delegation of other lawmakers to the United States of America to attend President Donald Trump's 'Strategy for Africa' to be unveiled on Thursday, December 13, 2018.

In a statement signed by the Senate President's spokesperson, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the US president's new strategy for Africa gives room for more effective utilisation of existing U.S. resources on the continent.

"The Trump plan, according to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs, Tibor P. Nagy, Jr, will focus on bringing more foreign direct investment into Africa and is in line with the Legislative Agenda of the 8th National Assembly which is aimed at reforming the Nigerian economy through strategic legislation that will help promote increased participation of private sector actors," the statement read.

Other members of the National Assembly that accompanied Saraki are the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affair, Senator Ben Bruce; Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu; and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Honourable Nnenna Ukeje.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/saraki-jets-to-us-to-attend-launch-of-trumps-africa-strategy.html

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President Muhammadu Buhari will present the 2019 budget proposal before the national assembly on Wednesday.

This was announced in a letter read on the floor of the house of representatives by Yakubu Dogara, the speaker, on Thursday.

“May I crave the kind indulgence of the House of Representatives to grant me the slot of 11 hours on Wednesday, 19th December, 2018 to formally present the 2019 appropriation bill in a joint session,” the letter read.

After reading the letter, some lawmakers threatened to boycott the budget presentation over the recent comment of Udoma Udoma, minister of budget and national planing.

At the end of the federal executive council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, the minister had said the 2019 budget proposal was ready but the national assembly is yet to fix a date for its presentation.

“As you already know, the budget is ready. We are liaising with the national assembly because they are to give us a date. If they say today, we will go. The budget is ready,” he had said.

Chika Adamu from Niger state had Adamu alleged Udoma told a lie on national television, and called on his colleagues to demand an apology from the minister.

Mark Gbillah from Benue state corroborated his claim, saying “it is a statement he (Udoma) made categorically.”

“He lied against this honourable house on national television. I want to join my colleagues to request a formal apology on TV, else we will refuse to attend that budget session with Mr President,” he said.

Mike Adeniyi from Ogun state also supported his submission, saying “the executive arm has always portrayed the parliament in bad light.”

“The minister must come and apologise. If not, the president will come to meet an empty house,” he added.

However, Femi Gbajabiamila, majority leader of the house, accused his colleagues of determining the minister is guilty without proper check.

He said: “The minister called me this morning; he was alarmed and upset and shocked. He said he was just reading something in the papers ascribed to him and that he never said such a thing and he is writing a rejoinder as we spoke.”

“So I think we should tarry a while because you are accusing someone of lying. Let us not turn this house into a partisan house.”

But Muhammad Soba immediately accused him of “sycophancy”.

“We have seen how sycophancy has been taken to the next level. That is the APC government for you,” the lawmaker retorted.

Thereafter, Dogara called on his colleagues to give the minister sometime “to see if he will truly issue a rejoinder.”

“But if we don’t see that (a rejoinder), then we have an issue because we will not allow this institution to be blackmailed. If nothing is done, we will take a concrete action on it,” he said.

In October, the council had approved the 2019-2021 medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) and fiscal strategy paper (FSP), and forwarded same to the national assembly for its consideration and approval.

In the following month, Udoma announced that the government was considering a reduced budget of N8.6 trillion, compared to the N9.1 trillion approved by the national assembly for 2018.

He said the decision was due to reduced government revenue projection for the year.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/buhari-to-present-budget-2019-on-wednesday-but-reps-threaten-boycott.html

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The APC has asked the Supreme Court to sack Governor Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State on the ground of alleged irregularities in the 2014 primary election that produced him as the party’s candidate.

The APC in a dramatic twist, now backed the appeal earlier filed by Senator Umar Dahiru and Aliyu Abubakar Sanyinna, who both contested the primary with Governor Tambuwal for the governorship position.

A new counsel, Abduganiyu Arobo, yesterday, announced appearance for the APC in place of Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), who had in the past represented the party in the matter.

Okutepa, who acknowledged the change of counsel by the APC, however, declined to change the argument of the party, which he had canvassed at both the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal for the party on behalf of Governor Tambuwal, who recently defected to the PDP.

Counsel to the aspirants, Roland Otaru (SAN) had argued at the Court of Appeal that the delegates accredited for the primary in 2014 were not authentic delegates, and therefore the outcome should be voided by the court.

Meanwhile, presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Dattijo, had fixed January 25, 2019 to decide the preliminary objection by Tambuwal against the suit, while March 5, 2019 would be used to hear the main appeal.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/drama-as-apc-begs-supreme-court-to-sack-tambuwal.html

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President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed the Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Suleiman Hassan to take charge of the Environment Ministry following the resignation of, Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Jibril.

It was gathered that Hassan who hails from Gombe state, was mandated to takeover the Environment Ministry at yesterday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

A presidential source told Daily Trust last night that Hassan has been asked to immediately take charge of the Environment Ministry.

“Yes, it is the Minister of State Power, Works and Housing II, Suleiman Hassan that has been asked to takeover the Environment Ministry,” he said.

Recall that Jibril’s resignation came days after his emergence as Emir of Nasarawa.

Jibril was appointed as the Minister of State for Environment in December 2015 when the council was constituted after a senate screening and confirmation.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/buhari-appoints-hassan-replace-jibril-fec.html

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Lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives, yesterday, vowed to block any move to override President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto of the Electoral Act (Amendment) bill.

On the other hand, PDP lawmakers will today decide whether or not to go ahead with the process of overriding President Buhari’s veto a member of the caucus told Daily Trust.

Briefing newsmen at the National Assembly in Abuja, the APC caucus leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, insisted that the “APC lawmakers have more than the two-third number to stop any veto.”

According to him, President Buhari declined his assent to the bill because of its imperfection and inherent potentialities to disenfranchise millions of eligible Nigerian voters.

He said the bill’s insistence on the exclusive use of card readers for accreditation had “foreclosed all forms of manual accreditation should the electronic method fail.”

“Let me say very quickly that many people don’t understand the implication of signing an imperfect document. What the National Assembly should do is to perfect the document and send it back, then the President (Buhari) will sign it,” he said.

The House Leader said no law mandated the president to disclose his reasons for rejecting a bill, adding that by vetoing the bill, the president had sought to protect Nigerians.

“The constitution is very clear; it does not require the president to give a reason for veto. All he has to do is to say ‘I am not signing’. However, what the president has done is to protect all Nigerians. He wants all votes to count in 2019.

“We have seen instances where the card readers have failed. What Mr President has done is to protect everybody in Nigeria. That means, you can do your electronic accreditation, but also give room for the manual alternative where card reader fails,” Gbajabiamila submitted.

The House required the votes of at least two-thirds of its 360 members to override the president’s veto.

Some PDP lawmakers in the House, led by Ali Madaki (PDP, Kano) attempted to initiate debate on the president’s letter informing the House of the veto.

In his letter to the National Assembly, President Buhari had pointed out certain sections of the bill that needed clarification to avoid “creating legislative uncertainty” ahead of the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

Both chambers of the National Assembly including the Senate and House of Reps have only four days to sit at plenary and override the president before they proceed on their Christmas break next Thursday, December 20.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/electoral-act-apc-pdp-reps-set-for-stormy-session-today.html

kkkkkkkk.. continue fighting

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The Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has lambasted his critics, insisting that God deserves money.

Mbaka said this while responding to the criticisms he received over a video that went viral wherein he was seen trying to compel the vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Peter Obi, during the annual harvest and bazaar celebration of the church to disclose how much he would donate to his church project.

The cleric had told a reluctant Obi that God hated stinginess and if he continued to act in such a manner, he and the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, would lose the 2019 election woefully.

In a new video which was posted on Youtube by Dave Partner and had been viewed over 11,000 times as of the time of filing this report, Mbaka, who spoke in English and Igbo interchangeably, said God deserved money and there was nothing wrong with him asking for donations.

The cleric explained that the bazaar day was strictly for raising funds and that it was the only time his church asked for donations.

Mbaka said, “There are some people who are ingrates. These are people from the kingdom of succubus and incubus. I want to tell you that all these things are caused by jealousy and envy. They are not fighting Mbaka for anything wrong.

“Everyone who came was blessed but they turned it against me, saying I am after money. God deserves money. If you don’t want to bring your own in your stinginess, hold it. I will give God all that I have and even if anybody wants to join them, you are free to join them.

“Where God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are, there Fr. Mbka will be. I will build this place for the church. Whoever felt insulted, I apologise. But I didn’t come to your house. It was you who came for the bazaar.”

The cleric said all those fighting him were fighting God. He subsequently asked God to punish his detractors and those “firing arrows at him”.

Although he did not mention any name, Mbaka said any politician who had donated money to his ministry was free to send their bank account number and he would gladly return the donation.

He added, “As for me, I am in high spirits. I want to assure you, those who are thinking that it is their money we will use to build this ministry, before the end of tomorrow, I will send all their monies into their accounts.”

On why he demanded money from Obi publicly, the cleric said he wanted the process of donation to be open and transparent so that no one would accuse him of diverting funds.

Mbaka said every person who made donation on the day the bazaar held did so publicly.

The cleric insisted that he was not partisan, adding that every person, regardless of their political leaning, was free to come to him for blessings.

In a related development, an Anambra State-based prophet, Daniel Udoka, has tipped Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Obi, to win the 2019 presidential election.

Udoka, who spoke with journalists in Awka, the Anambra State capital on Friday, faulted Mbaka who had, on Sunday, declared that Atiku and Obi might not win next year’s presidential poll.

While saying Atiku would record a landslide victory in the poll, Udoka said Atiku’s government would heal the country’s wounds, adding that his administration would be better than all past governments.

Udoka had in 2017 predicted the victory of Willie Obiano in the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State.

“And God said that Atiku’s administration will be better than the four administrations before him put together,” he added.

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The Atiku Door-to -Door Connect Campaign team, yesterday, harped on the need for a corruption free nation, stating that Nigeria needs liberation now.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the team to Vanguard newspapers head office in Lagos, National Coordinator, Atiku Door-to-Door Connect Campaign, Mrs. Helen Fred-Dim, said: “We need freedom in Nigeria, and if someone does not start it, it will still continue to be the same story.

“Our team is currently creating awareness as well as educating Nigerians, especially the youths, on the importance of Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, because that is our power.

“Our attention is more on people that are above 18 years. We are also attracting people that are less than 18 years so that by 2023 they will be either 18 or above and be eligible to vote. We are doing everything possible to ensure they get their PVC.”

Also, the Coordinator of the team, Olumide Akomolafe, said: “As we all know, charity begins at home, if you have to start from somewhere, you will have to start from the grassroots. The grass root is the future of this country.

“We are currently working on bringing young minds into our platform that are 18 years and above to educate and encourage them on how best to end corruption in the country.

“We are also bringing those lower than 18 years, we understand that they are minors, so we are grooming them for 2023 as we believe that by then, most of them will be eligible. We are also organizing a series of workshops to improve their moral.

“We have a software application where they collate the documents of youth. The application can easily be completed on a mobile phone; you can download the website, install it and go in and register.

“While we are doing that, there are so many things that we are bringing up on this platform. Number one is to mitigate rigging.

“We created the platform in such a way that we can control and minimize rigging. Right now, we based our operation on the number of polling units for the coming election, from our report we have 119,973 polling units.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/we-need-to-free-nigeria-from-corruption-atiku-door-to-door-connect.html

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The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress says it had always known that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s commissioner, Wasiu Oluwo, who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday, was a mole for the opposition party.

The party’s position was contained in a statement on Thursday by the state Publicity Secretary, Mr Joe Igbokwe.

It said Oluwo, who had since resigned from his position as the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, was a traitor.

The party said the former commissioner who was an ally of former lawmaker, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, had gone with Afikuyomi when the latter dumped the party to pursue his failed governorship bid in 2007.

It said when Afikuyomi returned to the party, he and Oluwo were reabsorbed into the APC and were given appointments under the former Governor Babatunde Fashola.

It said rather than remain loyal to the party for its magnanimity, Oluwo decided to return to his old ways.

The statement read in part, “It is necessary to put this in true context so as to dismiss the false and capricious insinuation that his resignation was in principled objection to the party’s last primaries. Far from it!

“He was only playing true to type, seeking as he had done in 2007 to reap from the primaries.

“He has further shown that he has been a mole of the PDP and has been working to undermine the APC. His exit is a signal to other like minds who may wish to follow his trail.”

The party described Oluwo as an opportunist who only used the APC to achieve his selfish motives.

According to the APC, the former commissioner attempted to install his wife as a local government chairman by all means but was stopped by the party leadership.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/ambodes-commissioner-was-pdps-mole-in-our-party-apc.html

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Former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, has warned that there will be consequences if the 2019 election is rigged.
The former minister, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleged, in the November edition of TELL Magazine, that the rigging in Ekiti and other governorship elections will not be allowed to repeat itself in 2019.

He said, "Everybody knows what happened in Ekiti; it was a stolen victory. And so it is in some other areas. We have been talking to our people to have patience. What has been happening in those elections can’t take place in February 2019. It can’t happen."

According to him, no one will obstruct the liberty of Nigerians to choose their next president in the 2019 general elections.

Orubebe stirred up controversy during the collation of 2015 presidential election results as he accused then INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, of being partisan in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/you-cant-rig-2019-election-like-2015-orubebe-warns-apc.html

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The House of Representatives has asked the Federal Government to cancel the privatisation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and revive it with the loot recovered from a former military dictator, the late Gen. Sani Abacha.

Also, the lower chamber of the National Assembly asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate and prosecute owners of the privatised company, asking the Federal Government to bar them from further conducting businesses in Nigeria.

These were part of the recommendations in the report by the House’s Ad Hoc Committee on Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited on the failure of the Ajaokuta Steel Company to commence operations since inception.

The lawmakers unanimously adopted the report at the plenary on Thursday.

They asked the Federal Government to “demonstrate a strong political will, just like the United States President did recently in the steel sector, to resuscitate the Ajaokuta Integrated Steel plant by direct sourcing and disbursement of about $2bn needed to revamp and complete the 2 per cent external aspects of the integrated project.”

This, the lawmakers said should be done along with the revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Company and the National Iron Ore Manufacturing Company, Itakpe, completing the various external rail track system and access roads linkages, as well as the development and optimal functioning of the various mining sites for steady supply of raw materials.

According to them, this will guarantee an uninterrupted steel production when the blast furnace would be started.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/reps-approve-reversal-of-ajaokuta-privatisation.html

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The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Thursday hinted that some of the newly promoted senior officers will be moved to the North East to strengthen the ongoing counter-terrorism operations.

Buratai gave the hint on Thursday in Abuja, after he decorated the 29 newly promoted Major Generals and some of the Brigadier Generals with their new ranks.

“Some of you that have been promoted and decorated today; we are only waiting for today and by tomorrow, I expect you to pick your bags and start heading towards the North East.

“Some of you have no option than to move in straight there – North East.

“The posting is already out,’’ he said; and directed the Military Secretary to read it to the affected officers.

Buratai, therefore, appealed to the wives of the officers due to deployed to the theatre of operation to keep the home front well while their husbands would be there.

He described the promotion as well deserved; adding that that it was a journey they begun several years and had culminated current enviable ranks of major generals and brigadier generals.

“The promotion is strictly on merit, there was no any influence from outside.

“We must ensure that we get the right people at the right time.

“You must be committed; your loyalty should remain unshakable,’’ he added and charged the officers to be responsive and professional in the discharge of their duties.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Army Council on Monday approved the promotion of 231 senior officers to the next ranks.

The breakdown shows that 29 Brigadier-Generals were elevated to Major-Generals, 95 Colonels to Brigadier-Generals, 106 Lieutenant Colonels to Colonels and one Major to Lieutenant Colonel.

The army had the promotion was to re-energise the beneficiaries toward the discharge of their tasks and responsibilities.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/newly-promoted-officers-to-move-to-north-east-says-buratai.html

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The house of representatives has rejected a bill that sought to check public officials from sending their children to study abroad.

The lawmakers argued the bill breaches fundamental rights of Nigerians, especially with respect to freedom of movement.

Introducing the bill during plenary on Wednesday, Sergius Ogun from Edo state, said it is aimed at regulating the practice of public officials sending their wards overseas for studies hampers the development of the nation’s education sector.

But most of his colleagues argued the bill should be stepped down as it “infringes on people’s rights.”

Uzoma Abonta from Abia state said a similar bill had been discussed and stepped down on legal ground.

According to him, “it offends fundamental human rights. Although a well intended bill, it has lots of legal impediments.”

Femi Gbajabiamila from Lagos state also argued the bill is against the principles of democracy “especially as it relates to freedom of choice, freedom of movement, freedom of assembly, right to public and private life.”

“I think it is wrong for us to be curbing people’s right. The issue to address is the quality of public education, the question then remains; is banning people’s rights from wherever they choose to school going to cure the problem?” he asked.

“I don’t think that will do that. If someone should get scholarship abroad, a full paid scholarship, are we going to say because of law, we will prevent such person? Then there is the issue of discrimination.”

Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house, thereafter suggested the bill should be referred to the committee on rules and business to look into it and address issues of human rights therein.

The bill was subsequently stepped down.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/reps-reject-bill-seeking-to-regulate-overseas-education-for-children-of-public-officials.html

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A mammoth crowd of protesters turned out in front of the US Embassy Wednesday , in Abuja asking the United States government not to grant American Visa to Atiku Abubakar , Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The protesters under the aegis of Forum of Non – Governmental Organisations In Nigeria , besieged the Embassy as early as 9:30am calling on the Embassy officials not to accede to the request of the former Vice President.

A source in the crowded gathering however hinted that the protest was sponsored by chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ( name withheld).

The protesters said that granting American Visa to Atiku would negate the Patriot Act which makes acceptance of foreign corruption proceeds an offense before the U.S money laundering law.

Addressing the placards carrying protesters the Convener and National Chairman, Comrade Wole Badmus said that the group has formally written and advised the United States embassy against granting the visa request by the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar adding that doing so would amount to endorsing him for the 2019 general elections.


” This is apart from the tacit and covert electoral gain such can confer him as the general correct perception in our country now is that an Atiku is being denied American Visa because of proven cases of money laundering and financial crimes against him.

“Sir, you may recall the outcome of the U.S Senate permanent sub- committee on investigations , Chaired by Carl Levin . The committee submitted its report on 4 February 2010 . It is equally interesting to note that the probe was motivated by U.S government concern about corruption in the Third World and its corrosive effects on the development of honest government, democratic principles and the rule of law ” Badmus stated.

He stressed that corruption is responsible for distorting market, deterring investment, deepening poverty and undermining international aid efforts. He also urged the United States not to interfere with the internal politics of the country.

Badmus explained that there is a nexus between corruption and failed state stating that World Bank has estimated that $1trillion in bribes alone exchange hands worldwide each year.

According to him ” A summary of the report indicates that between 2000 and 2008 , Jennifer Douglas a U.S citizen and the fourth wife of Atiku Abubakar, helped her husband bring over $40million in suspect funds into the United States through wire transfers sent by offshore corporation to U.S bank account.

In a 2008 civil complaint , the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission alleged that Ms. Douglas received over $2million in bribe payments in 2001 and 2002 from Siemens AG , a major German Corporation ”

He added that Ms. Douglas owned up when the banks began to question the offshore wire transfers that all the funds came from ( Atiku Abubakar ).

He further explained that granting American Visa to Atiku would amount to negation of the Patriot Act which makes the acceptance of foreign corruption proceeds a U.S money laundering offense.

Badmus added that acting contrary to the request would make a mockery of United Nations Convention against Corruption enacted in 2003 in which USA played an active role in its enactment and presently ratified by over 140 countries.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/breaking-nigerians-protest-issuance-of-visa-to-atiku-at-u-s-embassy.html

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The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, has said with the popularity of the APC in Imo and Ogun States, the party would win the 2019 elections despite the alleged anti-party activities of their governors.

He described the governors as poor students of their own history who had forgotten they lost elections before winning on the platform of the APC.

Oshiomhole spoke after receiving the APC women leaders from Edo State and Abuja, who paid him a solidarity visit in his office in Aso Drive, Abuja.

Okorocha, Amosun and Governor Abdul-Aziz Yari of Zamfara State are at loggerheads with the national chairman for not recognising their preferred governorship candidates.

The preferred candidates in Imo and Ogun and some aides of the governors had since defected to other political parties to pursue their ambitions.

Oshiomhole said, “Those who think our political future is tied to them; they are poor students of their own political history. Some of these people who talk as if they are invincible, they have forgotten that they have run elections in the past and lost until they abandoned their parties and joined us. So if they return back, history will repeat itself.”

“Whether you are a big or small man, the rules are not supposed to discriminate. Our popularity in Imo and Ogun today is much higher. It is not that once you are a governor you have high electoral value.

“Yes in APC, our governors have high electoral value but we also a few who are electoral liabilities.”

The former Nigeria Labour Congress President said Nigeria needed to go back to the era where institutions were respected and protected and not powerful individuals.

He added that the actions of the two governors would not affect the fortunes of the party in the elections.

“In Imo state today, APC will win more votes. My focus is on ordinary Imo voters because on that day, the governor would have only one vote, his son-in-law would have only one vote while his Commissioner for Happiness would have only one vote.

“But artisans, traders, teachers and workers whose salaries are not being paid have the same weight of vote and they are excited about the renewed possibility of a new government coming with fresh ideas free of all the encumbrances of the present system. So in Imo I’m very confident.

“Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is from Ogun State. The state is one of the most enlightened States in Nigeria. They have a huge history; they are not in a political kingdom headed by one person.”

“If they were looking for true reconciliation, they wouldn’t have done what they did (defection of aides). That is not how democracy works. Nigeria must grow beyond this syndrome ‘I’m the governor, I will decide.’ You have only one vote. With due respect, I was once a governor. Overall APC is much stronger now.

Stating that the party would review if any of its rules had been breached, Oshiomhole added that the real sanction was with the electorate.

He, however, said the efforts of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee were already yielding fruits in some places while those with negotiable grievances were being sorted out.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/apc-ll-win-ogun-imo-without-amosun-okorocha-oshiomhole.html

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Gabriel Onyewife, a house of representatives member from Anambra state, has defected from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Onyewife defected to the PDP at plenary on Wednesday.

Reading his defection letter, Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house, quoted the lawmaker as saying he left APGA as a result of the division in the party.

Meanwhile, Dogara has sworn in three new members of the lower legislative chamber.

The members, all of the All Progressives Congress (APC), took their oath of office to fill the vacant seats in the house.

The lawmakers are Yusuf Nuhu of Toro federal constituency in Bauchi state, Tunji Olawuyi of Irepodun/Isin/Oke Ero/Ekiti federal constituency in Kwara state and Abubakar Kusada of Kankia/Kusada federal constituency in Katsina state.

Those representing the Bauchi and Katsina constituencies had moved to the senate, rendering their seats vacant while Funke Adedoyin who had occupied the Kwara seat died.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/anambra-rep-defects-to-pdp-as-dogara-swears-in-three-lawmakers.html

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Protesting National Assembly workers have told the leadership of the chambers that they would not allow the legislators to sit unless they were paid the salaries they were being owed.

They said they would only allow the lawmakers inside the chambers when they receive notifications from their individual banks that the money being owed them has been paid.

They said this on Tuesday to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; as well as the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who had led the leadership of the National Assembly to address the workers who are picketing the chambers in protest.

Saraki, who addressed the protesters, could hardly be heard as the noise from the workers overwhelmed the public address system he was using.

The workers rebuffed the pleas from the NASS leaders, chanting, “No alert, no sitting!”

They were later asked to move to a hall where both sides could address the issues.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/no-alert-no-sitting-protesting-nass-workers-tell-saraki-dogara.html

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Ejike Mbaka, spiritual director of Adoration Ministry Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN), says Buhari will go no where if he remains ungrateful to the ministry.

In a video clip, trending on the social media, Mbaka accused the president of abandoning the ministry despite the support and the prophecy about his victory in 2015.

He said he was almost killed for supporting Buhari, adding that even now, his attackers are waiting to see if he would declare support for Buhari again.

Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano state, represented Buhari at the ministry’s 2018 harvest and bazaar celebration on Sunday.

“We were chased away because of Buhari… No one person has been employed by Buhari after Fr. Mbaka almost died for his sake,” he said.

“Supporting Buhari is almost becoming a curse, we will not tell you that we will not support him, even if not for the sake of his good wife. She has been sending some little charity… for his (Buhari’s ) sake, I was almost assassinated because we stood for him.

“APC was down till the prophecy came up that Buhari was going to be the president. After that, we were forgotten…
If you know what this ministry is going through because we are supporting Buhari, the attackers are waiting to hear me say that I will support him again attack; and Buhari will remain in Aso Rock, being somebody who cannot give money, what does that mean?

“ I want to remind you that if Buhari will remain ungrateful to this ministry he is going no where…
“One thing that is holding him (Buhari) is spiritual, how many times has he almost died? And he should not take it for granted that he is healthy.

“Anything can happen and his health can collapse. Atiku is waiting for him somewhere and the only thing that can stop Atiku is spiritual. You people should go and come back, you people should not take us for granted, I am speaking with spiritual mandate.

“Even if you don’t want to do something for us, look at the poor masses that almost die for you people, not even a job was given to anybody.”

Mbaka had also tackled Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Peter Obi, his running mate, for “refusing to donate to his church”.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/mbaka-threatens-buhari-youll-go-nowhere-if-you-remain-ungrateful-video.html

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The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has accused governors serving under the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of stealing money from their states to fund 2019 campaigns.

Sowore also alleged that the main political parties have already spent beyond the threshold for presidential election during primaries.

Sowore made the allegation during his appearance on Channels Television political programme on Sunday.


“They have already spent a billion naira during primaries, or more.

“What they spent in Port Harcourt alone was $25 million in one day. All the Bureau de Change operators in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja all relocated to Port Harcourt.

“I am an investigative reporter before I came into this job of running for office and I can tell you that they are not allegations. They are proven, we have evidence of them doing it (and) they haven’t disputed them by the way.”


“You know that governors are stealing from their states to buy campaign vehicles; otherwise, let them tell us – the APC and PDP how they are raising funds for the election because none of them has done any funder raiser known to anybody since we started the election circle,” Sowore said.

He, thereafter, called for transparency on the part of the political parties and asked Nigerians to hold them to account.

On the other hand, Sowore explained that his campaign group was raising funds to finance his ambition of becoming president in 2019.

He further challenged other presidential candidates to come forward and explain to Nigerians how they have been raising funds for their campaigns.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/your-governors-stealing-public-funds-for-campaigns-sowore-attacks-apc-pdp.html

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President Muhammadu Buhari has promised that his administration remains committed to ensuring the safe return of the remaining Chibok girls who were abducted by terrorist group, Boko Haram, over four years ago.

112 girls are still in Boko Haram's custody after militants invaded Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok and kidnapped 276 female students in April 2014.

While speaking during a bilateral meeting with Swiss president, Alain Berset, on the sidelines of the United Nations' Climate Change Conference in Poland, on Monday, December 4, 2018, Buhari renewed his commitment to making sure the return of the remaining girls.

According to a statement signed by the president's Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, he thanked the Swiss Confederation for its efforts and important role as intermediaries to secure the release of some Chibok girls in the past.

He also assured him that the issue of the remaining kidnapped girls and other abducted persons will remain a key priority for the Nigerian government.

''We will continue to make the safe release of the remaining Chibok girls a priority and will welcome any kind of support from any quarters to make this happen,'' he said.

The president also discussed joint strategies to ensure the safe return of the girls with Berset, as the two leaders also discussed building on the past successes of securing the release of some of the Chibok girls and other abducted persons in the North Eastern part of Nigeria.

"The President also welcomed the Swiss President's commitment to continue providing humanitarian assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria and to ensure the safe release of the abducted school girls," Shehu said.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/buhari-vows-to-rescue-112-chibok-girls-left-with-boko-haram.html

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Members of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria are currently picketing the Senate and House of Representatives chambers at the National Assembly.

The action is in protest against non-implementation of the Consolidated Salary Structure and unpaid allowances.

The protesting workers, who are carrying placards with various inscriptions, have vowed to frustrate legislative activities today.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr Mohammed Sani-Omolori, had written to PASAN to urge its members not to picket the legislative house.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/workers-picket-national-assembly-chambers.html

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Three more members of the House of Representatives on Thursday dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress, while another lawmaker defected from the Peoples Democratic Party.

They are Messrs Abdulkabir Akinlade (Ogun State), Rabi’u Kaugama (Jigawa State), Mohammed Ajalah (Kogi State) and Salisu Koko (Kebbi State).

Akinlade moved to the Allied People’s Movement, Kaugama to Social Democratic Party, Ajalah to PDP, and Salisu to SDP.

Akinlade is the choice governorship candidate of Governor Ibikunle Amosun for the APC in Ogun State but the party had recognised Mr Dapo Abiodun as its candidate.

Four members of the House had last week dumped the APC for various parties.

https://all-gists..com/2018/11/breaking-three-more-reps-dump-apc-one-dumps-pdp.html