₦airaland Forum

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara says it will challenge some elective positions presently being occupied by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

The state Chairman of the party, Alhaji Lawali Liman, disclosed this at a press briefing held at the party’s state Secretariat in Gusau, on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all elective positions from the 2019 general elections in the state were earlier declared for the APC until a Supreme Court ruling nullified it.

NAN also reports that the court ruled over irregularities from the party’s primaries ahead of the general elections and declared the parties with the second highest votes in the elections as winners.

“We held a meeting recently with the party’s National Chairman in Abuja who informed me that our party has a window to challenge the action of the INEC following the Supreme Court ruling that nullified our election in the state.

“Since the matter taken to the court revolved around irregularities of primaries, we had 13 candidates for the state House of Assembly, three for the Senate and two for the House of Representatives”

This were those who contested unopposed and the primaries did not affect them.



Get more here https://thickmatch.com/zamfara-ready-challenge-positions-says-apc/

The National Coordinator of Vanguard of Democracy and Good Governance (VDGG), Comrade Ahmed Ali has called for the arrest and sack of Hajiya Na’ajatu Muhammad from the Police Service Commission (PSC), following her recent alleged outburst capable of destabilizing the unity of the country as well as creating bad blood among the ranks of security agencies.

Comrade Ali in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday made referrence to an article credited to Hajiya Na’ajatu entitled “The Elephant In The Room: A Dent On Its Trunk,” describing it as a calculated attempt by the writer to discredit the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the statement, “we observe with dismay, the calculated attempt by one Hajiya Na’ajatu Muhammad, a Commissioner with the Police Service Commission to truncate our nascent democracy through her unpatriotic article where she tried to instigate the masses against the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Hajiya Na’ajatu, did not only call for anarchy in Nigeria when she brought the analolgy of how 30-year rule of Omar Al Bashir of Sudan was toppled over increase in the price of bread, she wrote off President Buhari’s ability to ensure security of lives and property of Nigerians, while calling on people to take laws into their own hands!”

The statement further stated that, “Hajiya Na’ajatu’s scolding and outright condemnation of the leadership of the Nigerian Police Force and sister security agencies is quite unbecoming of someone of her calibre occupying such a juicy position in the PSC.

“In our candid opinion, Hajiya Na’ajatu’s comments constitute serious security threat and we call on security agencies to invite and investigate her for detailed explanation of the real reasons behind her unpatriotic comments. This is not only necessary, but very important, considering the fact that the country is yet to come out from the blues of the 2019 general elections.”

The statement warned that, “allowing people like Hajiya Na’ajatu to continue with such unpatriotic acts amounts to sitting the peace and unity of our dear country on a keg of powder. It is not in our best interest to allow few unscrupulous elements to plunge Nigeria into avoidable social unrest, particularly, at this time when President Buhari has rolled out plans to take the country to the Next Level.

“It is, indeed, shameful and regrettable that people like Hajiya Na’ajatu who ought to be canvassing for the unity and progress of our great nation, are rather abusing their privileged positions by plotting to bring down a government that give them their daily bread.



Read more here https://thickmatch.com/group-urges-buhari-arrest-sack-naajatu-psc-unpatriotic-comments/

Kingsley Moghalu, presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party, YPP, has mocked the Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar for claiming to have used N2.3 billion for burial.

Moghalu lamented that some politicians steal public funds using the name of the dead.

Recall that the Bauchi Governor, Bala Mohammed had accused his predecessor, Mohammed Abubakar of spending a whopping sum of N2.3 billion to buy shroud (likkafani) and decking wood used in grave (iccen kabari) for Muslim burials in the state.
In an interview with journalists in Bauchi at the weekend, the governor’s spokesman, Ladan Salihu had alleged that the said funds were spent between January and May, 2019.

Salihu had explained that over N900 million of the money was spent in buying Muslim shroud, a white cloth used for wrapping dead bodies, while over N1.4 billion was used to buy the wood for decking graves during burial.

Reacting, Moghalu described the dead people as expensive.

In a tweet, he wrote: An aide to former Bauchi State Gov Mohammed Abubakar has reportedly said Bauchi didn’t spend N2.3 billion for burial materials in a state cemetery as alleged by activists, [“only”] N1.2 billion. Expensive dead people indeed. Some politicians steal even in the name of the dead!”


https://thickmatch.com/politicians-use-dead-people-steal-moghalu-reveals-mocks-ex-bauchi-gov-abu/

This time dubbed MMM Cooperation, the scheme promises as much as 50 percent return on any amount invested in it — 20 percent more than what the extinct version offered.

ust like the previous version, participants are to register, invest a particular amount in the form of “providing help” and “get help” with their investment and interest back after 30 days.

And some Nigerians are falling for it yet again!
Sergei Mavrodi, its founder.

“After much deliberation, we have made the conclusion that continuing the system operation, without our leader and ideological inspirer, is impossible and makes no sense,” a message on MMM Nigeria website had read.

‘A NEW DAWN’

In a surprising turn of events, however, the scheme announced it had re-launched globally since January “to make Mavrodi’s legacy worthwhile.”

“Like sunrise in the morning , MMM Cooperation set the pace on the 22nd of January 2019 all over the world. From negligence by many to fear of unknown by prospective participants at the beginning; we are were we are today being most populous platform all over the world with 6MILLION participants all in space of 4months,” a message on its website read.

On Twitter, one of the guiders, who act as coordinators in the scheme, announced a WhatsApp group for interested persons to join and some have indicated interest.

The Whatsapp group tagged “Guider’s Group 7”, was created on Tuesday. Already, it has 243 participants — with 142 of them joining less than 24 hours after this reporter joined on Friday to monitor proceedings.

From time to time, people share their experience on the scheme, usually ending up with phrases like “no risk, no gain”. More people are joining and investing — and that is just one of the groups of the numerous guiders operating with the scheme.



Get more details here https://thickmatch.com/ponziscam-mmm-ponzi-scheme-returns-promises-50-profit-investment/

In an effort to find a lasting solution to the problem of erosion and flooding across the country, President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his administration’s commitment to addressing environmental challenges across the country.

The president disclosed this in a message while commissioning erosion and flooding control project in Suru Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

President Muhammad Buhari explained that the calamity of erosion and flooding is crippling the socio-economic development of the rural communities.

Earlier in his remarks, Musa Awalu, the representative of the Permanent Secretary, Ecological Fund office, Abuja, pointed out that its office has spent over five billion naira in controlling erosion and flooding in the state.

The contract, which was awarded in 2017 was aimed at controlling the erosion and flooding in two rice fields in Bendu and Aljannara communities in Suru Local Government Area of Kebbi State. Meanwhile, the benefitting communities expressed happiness over the projects.



See more here https://thickmatch.com/buhari-commissions-erosion-flooding-project-kebbi/

ABOUT ten persons are feared dead in Oyibo Local Government Area of Rivers State following an explosion in a pipeline in the area.

The incident reportedly occurred in Kom Kom community of the LGA, about midday yesterday. Sources close to the scene said the explosion sparked off fire which supposedly burnt the victims.

The Police in the state confirmed the incident but could not ascertain the actual number of casualty as at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile President Muhammadu Buhari has asked for a thorough investigation to determine what is responsible for the gas pipeline tragedy in Oyibo Local Government Area of Rivers State in which several fatalities were reported.

The President, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, is extremely pained by the losses of life in the incident and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Rivers State.

Speaking to The Nation on a telephone interview yesterday, the spokesman of the State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said, ‘It is true that there was pipeline explosion in Kom Kom area of Oyibo LGA, but we cannot ascertain the number of casualties now, but our men are there to calm the situation and do the necessity.”

He said the State Police Command has commenced full scale investigation on the incident.

Also, the Executive Chairman of the council, Gerald Oforji, confirmed the incident and put the number of lives lost at 10

Oforji said the bodies of the victims were recovered from the scene after the fire was put out.

He said that no house was destroyed when the explosion occurred.

However, earlier reports said the affected pipeline belonged to SPDC. But the spokesman of Shell, Bamidele  Oladosu, was reported to have denied any report of explosion on the company’s Oyigboland facility.

The Nation later gathered last night that the pipeline that exploded in Oyigbo, Rivers State, that led to the death of ten persons, actually belongs to the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
A source in NNPC, who spoke in confidence yesterday evening, stated that the exploded pipeline was conveying Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) from Port Harcourt to Aba, before vandals tampered with it to steal fuel, leading to the explosion.

The top official of NNPC also insisted that the pipeline was not that of the Anglo/Dutch oil giant, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), as being insinuated.

While later speaking last night through the telephone from Lagos, the Media Relations Manager of SPDC, Bamidele Odugbesan, stated that officials of the oil firm had properly checked the Oyigbo area and confirmed that no pipeline of SPDC was affected by explosion yesterday.

A resident of the area, Jude Nwanma, said that residents of Izuoma where the incident occurred were woken up today by a very loud explosion on a pipeline.

He said that the explosion caused pandemonium in the area just as residents scampered to safety.



See more here https://thickmatch.com/10-feared-dead-pipeline-explosion-rivers/

seun lalasticlala mynd44

President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with people and government of Rivers State following the death of some workers in a gas pipeline tragedy in the state.

It was reported that dozens were on Saturday feared dead when a gas pipeline exploded at Kom Kom in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.

An eyewitness had told newsmen that, “We were just waking up when we heard a very loud sound. We knew it was an explosion but did not know the kind of explosion. We later traced the thick smoke to the gas pipeline.”

Reacting, Buhari in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu in Abuja on Saturday, also condoled with the families of the victims.

He said he was extremely pained by the loss of lives as a result of the incident.

He, therefore, asked for ”a thorough investigation to determine what was responsible for the gas pipeline tragedy in Oyibo Local Government Area of Rivers in which several fatalities were reported.


Read more here https://thickmatch.com/buhari-reacts-rivers-gas-explosion/

The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has condemned any attempt to pay the legislators of the 9th National Assembly a whopping sum of 19.8 billion naira as welcome package.

It said described it as an unpatriotic act that undermined the present reality of the country and the poverty ridden citizens.

A statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim Biu,
said, “ACF does not want to believe the media reports that N19.8b is to be paid to the new National Assembly members as a welcome package.

“This is because the reported amount is beyond the fiduciary mark, as it does not take into account the reality of the national economy that has just been exited from recession and struggling to thrive amid myriad of socioeconomic challenges that include poverty that comes with unemployment.”

ACF described the huge payment of a welcome package of N19.8bn to the new legislators of the 9th Assembly at this time as morally preposterous “as it makes politics to be the only trade in town which is not helpful.”

The forum said, ”We must blame the system and the ill-conceived policy of the previous administrations that monetized entitlements of law makers and other political appointees and sold the nation’s landed properties meant for the legislators and other political appointees to themselves without considering the aftermath effect.

“The past military administrations were wise enough to build customized Apo Quarters and Ministers houses in Abuja, which were meant to take care of legislators and political appointees in order to enhance both effectiveness and efficiency in governance.

“Unfortunately, the political leaders in our present democratic system sold these landed properties to themselves, thereby forcing the nation to pay jumbo package to not only new legislators to settle for legislative session but to all other political appointees every tenure.

“This has in turn forced some of the legislators and other political appointees to live outside Abuja in view of the ensuing high cost that makes it impossible for the nation to get value for the money paid to them.

“ACF therefore wishes to appeal to the political leaders at all levels of government to consider the interest of the suffering masses in appropriating national and state resources needed for improvement of the economy and development for the good of all, rather than for enrichment of few.”




See more here https://thickmatch.com/acf-condemns-alleged-n19-8bn-national-assembly-welcome-package/

See more here https://thickmatch.com/neymar-visits-brazil-squad-sao-paulo-support-nationpicture/

See pictures here https://thickmatch.com/neymar-visits-brazil-squad-sao-paulo-support-nationpicture/

With Zimbabwe goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda in fine form, Egypt had to settle for a 1-0 win in the opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations
Egypt got off to a winning start at the Africa Cup of Nations thanks to Mahmoud Hassan's first-half goal against Zimbabwe.

The tournament hosts would have been looking to Champions League winner Mohamed Salah for inspiration but in fact it came through a different source in the 41st minute.

24-year-old midfielder Hassan fired home the only goal of the game by cutting in from the left before curling a fine effort into the bottom corner of the Zimbabwe net.
His 41st-minute strike proved decisive as Egypt spurned a number of chances to make a bigger impact but they will be satisfied with picking up maximum points from their opening game.




See more here https://thickmatch.com/egypt-1-0-zimbabwe-salah-far-impressive-hosts-neat-afcon-opener/

The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) was heralded with a spectacular and colourful opening ceremony inside the jam-packed 75, 000 capacity Cairo International Stadium in Egypt.

The Egyptians did not disappoint with a well choreographed and technological propelled opening ceremony, on Friday night.

The breath-taking ceremony had in attendance, Egypt President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi who delivered a welcome address, FIFA president, Gianni Infantino and CAF president, Ahmad Ahmad among other dignitaries.

“I welcome all of you, our dear African brothers, in your second homeland, wishing you happiness,” Al-Sisi said in his address

Nigeria’s legendary Afro-beat singer, Femi Kuti was subsequently joined on stage by Egyptian pop singer and Dobet Gnahoré of Ivory Coast as they performed their new song Metgamaeen (Together), whose lyrics are in Arabic, English and French.

The short but glamourous ceremony was brought to an end with colourful fire works that lit up the stadium.

It was followed by an equally entertaining match between host Egypt and Zimbabwe. (NAN)




Watch video here https://thickmatch.com/2019-afcon-femi-kuti-others-thrill-colourful-opening-ceremony-cairo/

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See pictures here https://thickmatch.com/welcome-egypt-beautiful-scenes-afcons-opening-ceremony/

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Thursday said he would not hesitate to sustain the reform in the judicial sector.

Sanwo-Olu made the assertion at the swearing in of Justice Kazeem Alogba as the acting Chief Judge of the state.

“We will partner with you and the Federal Government in finding lasting solution to prison congestion.

“We will ensure we support you in achieving the reform.

“We will do an upward review of the running cost of the judiciary. Lagosians will not wait for stories; we must kick the ground running.

“We will work together on issues bothering on traffic and environmental laws. We will use some people as examples to show we are serious,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The governor, however, expressed his confidence in the new Chief Judge’s ability to steer the ship of the judiciary in the state.

He thanked the immediate past Chief Judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke, for her meritorious service.

Alogba, in a vote of thanks, said that judiciary under his watch would ensure speedy and effective dispensation of justice.

The chief judge said he would be counting on the support of the state government in administering effective justice system in the state.

He promised that the judiciary would work closely with the state government in enforcing traffic and environmental laws by punishing offenders.

“I am not oblivious of the responsibility expected from me; I promise to make use of the office for the good of the common man and the state

“We will do all within our powers to support the government in enforcing traffic and environmental laws.



See more here https://thickmatch.com/sanwo-olu-swears-new-chief-judge/

A former minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, on Thursday reacted to the report of Governor Atiku Bagudu’s alleged refusal to confirm acting Chief Judge, Justice Esther Kataru, as the substantive Chief Judge of Kebbi State.

it had reported in Nairaland that the Kebbi Acting Chief Judge petitioned the National Judicial Commission, NJC, over Bagudu’s alleged refusal to confirm her as chief judge.

Reacting on his Twitter page, Fani-Kayode wrote:

“Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state refused to confirm the Acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Esther Kataru, as the substantive Chief Judge because she is a Christian.

“This is unacceptable.

“Nigeria is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural SECULAR state.”


Read more here https://thickmatch.com/fani-kayode-reacts-gov-bagudus-alleged-refusal-confirm-christian-kebbi-chief-judge/

Kaduna State House of Assembly (KSHA) has re-elected Aminu Abdullahi Shagali as its Speaker for the 6th assembly beginning Thursday.
39 years old Aminu Shagali was first elected into the state assembly in 2011, to represent Sabon Gari constituency.

He became the speaker of the assembly in 2015 following the emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the ruling political party in the state.
Shagali’s re-election did not, however, come as a surprise, as the leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state, Governor Nasir El-Rufai had since made case for his return as speaker.

Governor El-Rufai had shortly after his re-election urged the lawmakers to maintain the leadership of the assembly, which he said had worked tirelessly with the executive to deliver good governance to the people of Kaduna state.


see more here https://thickmatch.com/39-year-old-shagali-re-elected-kaduna-speaker/

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Nigerian security agencies for conducting free and fair general polls in 2019 that brought him to power for a second term.

Buhari made the commendation during the June 12 Democracy Day celebration at the Eagle Square in Abuja.

He said that INEC was given all the necessary support by providing the commission with the resources needed for a successful electoral process.

The President further stated that the various security agencies in the country must be commended for maintaining peace and order and for laying down their lives to protect the nation.

He said, “today, we are privileged to mark the 9th secretariat of unbroken democracy leadership and peaceful transfer of power; we have won a democratic election government for another four years in Nigeria.

“Throughout the last four years, I respected the independency of INEC, I ensured that INEC got every resources needed to independently conduct impartial management of elections in the country.

“Political parties can agree that the recent elections, except for pockets of unrest, were free, fair and peaceful. I thank all the people who worked for our party, who campaigned and who voted for us.

“I thank my fellow Nigerians, who, since 2003 consistently voted for me.

“I and Nigerians must collectively commend our Armed Forces and other security agencies for working round the clock to protect us by putting themselves to protect our future,” NAN quoted him as saying.
Buhari said that the issue of terrorism was a worldwide phenomenon given that even the best secured countries were experiencing increasing incidents of unrest.

He, however, said that the present administration would consolidate on the achievements of the last four years.President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Nigerian security agencies for conducting free and fair general polls in 2019 that brought him to power for a second term.

Buhari made the commendation during the June 12 Democracy Day celebration at the Eagle Square in Abuja.

He said that INEC was given all the necessary support by providing the commission with the resources needed for a successful electoral process.

The President further stated that the various security agencies in the country must be commended for maintaining peace and order and for laying down their lives to protect the nation.

He said, “today, we are privileged to mark the 9th secretariat of unbroken democracy leadership and peaceful transfer of power; we have won a democratic election government for another four years in Nigeria.

“Throughout the last four years, I respected the independency of INEC, I ensured that INEC got every resources needed to independently conduct impartial management of elections in the country.

“Political parties can agree that the recent elections, except for pockets of unrest, were free, fair and peaceful. I thank all the people who worked for our party, who campaigned and who voted for us.


See more here https://thickmatch.com/democracy-day-buhari-lauds-inec-security-agencies-2019-elections/