₦airaland Forum

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/ekiti-guber-i-am-ready-for-challenge.html

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the July 14 election Ekiti state, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, has expressed readiness to take up the challenge in ensuring his victory.

Olusola, who is also the Deputy Governor of the state, said this when he received the party’s Certificate of return at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said he was privileged to be the first gubernatorial candidate to be issued certificate of return, saying “this means that we have won the July 14 election.”

The governorship candidate said the people of the state would resist all forms of violence and money politics during the election in the state.

“I want to assure our national leaders that, Ekiti state is for PDP. All the other parties are just shouting. Let them bring money, let them bring violence, Ekiti people will resist them.

“We are no more interested in accommodating unnecessary interlopers. People want to take us through another round of economic slavery. We are no more ready for that.

“I am ready and prepared to take up this challenge as the incoming governor of Ekiti state on the platform of the PDP.

“There is a big difference between PDP and the other parties. We are a party that has totally eliminated imposition and impunity, ’’he said.

Olusola commended the peaceful primaries on Monday in Ado-Ekiti and described PDP as a party with integrity, fairness, and transparency.

He commended Gov. Ayodele Fayose for his support, describing him as a fearless leader who stood on the side of the truth.

The governorship candidate also expressed his readiness to work with the party stakeholders and leaders, including the former national spokesman of the party, Prince Dayo Adeyeye.

The PDP National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), who presented the certificate of return to Olusola, described the primary as the most transparent in the party in recent history.

He said that PDP National Working Committee, led by Prince Uche Secondus, had shown impunity and imposition of candidates red card.

Akobundu urged the two aspirants in the primary and other stakeholders to work together for the success of the party.

The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, Yemi Akinwonmi, said PDP had shown, through the outcome of its governorship primary in Ekiti, that it was the only democratic party in the country. (NAN)

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/nlng-reps-move-against-nigerian-govt.html

The House of Representatives on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to suspend the proposed sale of Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG).

This was sequel to a motion by Rep. Randolph Brown (Rivers-PDP) on the urgent need to stop the sale of the gas company.

In the motion, Brown said that there had been supports by some prominent Nigerians for the Federal Government to sell the multi-billion dollar NLNG to raise funds to be injected in the nation’s economy.

“This proposal was a result of a 2016 recommendation after a ministerial retreat, for an ambitious fiscal stimulus plan involving the generation and injection of massive foreign capital.

“The massive foreign capital estimated at between 10 billion dollars and 15 billion dollars (about N 4.72 trillion) into the economy to address economic recession.

“The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, had stated that one of the ways to fund the economy was through the sale of some national assets and the proceeds reinvested in the economy for infrastructural development.

“The NLNG is one of the most successful ventures that Nigeria has embarked upon when it started from train one through to the sixth train and now the seventh train in the offing,” he said.

He recalled that Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), among other organisations, had seriously frowned at the move.

The lawmaker added that both bodies also warned the Federal Government against the proposed sale of national assets, especially the NLNG.

“Resuscitating the Nigerian economy from recession is the actual reason for the proposed sale of the NLNG even though there are other options the government may adopt to resuscitate the economy.

“Also, the government has the option of borrowing on long-term against the dividends in the NLNG and convert its Joint Venture Holdings in some multi-national oil corporations into incorporated Joint Venture Companies.

“It will also encourage wealthy Nigerians who can afford to buy and therefore rooting for the sale of national assets, to invest in the economy or to set up their own LNG projects, considering the huge reserves of natural gas in the country,” he said.

He expressed concern that Nigerian workers would be at the receiving end if the sale was allowed to go unchallenged.

The motion was unanimously adopted by members when it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara.

Consequently, the house resolved to investigate the allegations by an ad hoc committee and urged that the sale of NLNG be postponed.

It also mandated its Committee on Gas Resources to ensure compliance.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development and a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Wednesday congratulated the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Olusola Eleka, for his emergence as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s flag bearer for the July 14, governorship election in the state.

Eleka on Tuesday emerged winner of the PDP governorship primary held in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. He polled 1,191 votes to defeat PDP’s former national spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, who garnered 770 votes from the primaries.

In his reaction, Fayemi, a former governor of Ekiti state, said the emergence of Eleka in an orderly and peaceful primary, is a welcome development.

He however stated that the APC would give the PDP flag bearer a good fight for the Oke Ayoba Government House come July 14, asserting that the APC is still the preferred choice for the generality of Ekiti people.


The Minister, who spoke in a statement by his Media Office, said he is confident that whoever emerges as APC flag bearer in the party’s rescheduled primary on Friday would be more acceptable to the electorate in Ekiti state.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/ekiti-guber-fayemi-reacts-to-emergence.html

Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has revealed what leaders of the party discussed with Ekiti governorship aspirants in Abuja.

Tinubu said the governorship aspirants demanded for direct primaries for the conduct of the rescheduled primaries, as provided for in Article 20 of the party’s constitution.

He said the aspirants noted that the “Direct Primaries” would enable every card-carrying member of the party vote for candidate of their choice.

This was contained in a statement signed by Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Otunba Niyi Adebayo
and Chief Pius Akinyelure.

The statement reads, “Concerned by the developments within the Ekiti State Chapter of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), with respect to the huge number of Governorship Aspirants and the botched primary election of Saturday, 5th May, 2018, the leadership of the party from the South West geo-political zone on Tuesday, 8th May, 2018 met in Abuja with the 33 Governorship Aspirants who participated in the primary election to review the circumstances that led to the disruption of the election.

“The leaders at the meeting held at the Lagos State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja were Chief Bisi Akande, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and Chief Pius Akinyelure.

“Among other issues, the question of how to conduct a free, credible and transparent primary election was discussed at the meeting. All the Aspirants were agreeable to the intervention and admonition of the leaders that they maintain the peace throughout the process.

“The Aspirants encouraged the leaders to further discuss with the National Chairman of the party, His Excellency, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, on the way forward. Specifically, the leaders were mandated to discuss with the National Chairman of the party on the possibility of an option of Direct Primaries for the conduct of the rescheduled primaries, as provided for in Article 20 of our party’s constitution to enable every card-carrying member of the party vote for an aspirant of his or her choice.

“As opposed to the Delegates System, the Aspirants believe Direct Primary election is more transparent, less monetised and energises the democratic system through the participation and involvement of the generality of the party members.

“After a subsequent meeting of the leaders with the National Chairman of the party, with the Ekiti State Chairman of the party, Chief Jide Awe, and two representatives of the Aspirants, Engr. Segun Oni and Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, in attendance, it was decided that given the extent of planning and logistics involved and the closeness of the deadline for the conduct of primaries by all political parties in Ekiti State as well as submission of names of candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it would be better to go by the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to conduct a fresh Indirect Primary Election in Ekiti State on Friday, 11th May, 2018, the leaders having been assured by both the National Chairman of the party as well as His Excellency, Governor Tanko Al-Makura that the rejuvenated Primary Election Committee would put new and extra measures in place to ensure a restoration of the integrity of the electoral process aimed at producing a credible Candidate with the highest number of votes.”

“In view of this, the entire leadership of the party from the South West geo-political region hereby calls on all the delegates in Ekiti State to ensure full and active participation at the primary election on Friday. We also encourage delegates to vote according to their conscience and ensure that the process is not monetised in the overall interest of our party, the growth of our democracy and consistent with our progressive tradition which our people are noted for. The Aspirants themselves are enjoined to shun all manners of sharp practices and avoid any resort to violence during the rescheduled primaries.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/ekiti-guber-tinubu-reveals-details-of.html

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/ekiti-2018-how-fayose-mocked-apc-after.html

Ayo Fayose, Ekiti State Governor has mocked the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the peaceful conduct and successful conclusion of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries in the state on Tuesday night.


Olusola polled 1,191 votes to beat former party spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, who polled 770 votes.

Fayose, however, took to his Twitter handle on Wednesday morning to say APC should learn from PDP and be democratic for once.

“Good morning Nigerians. I thank you all for standing by us in Ekiti & @OfficialPDPNig yesterday.

“What you saw here in Ekiti was our party’s demonstration of how the people should choose their leaders.

“I hope the @APCNigeria will also learn from this and be democratic for once.

“Should the @APCNigeria be ready for tutelage on how to conduct free, fair and transparent primary elections, we will be glad to help the party.

“Gov. Okowa of Delta State will assist them in the APC to be democratic”.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/nigerian-govt-to-give-corps-members-n2m.html

The Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps in Osun State, Mr. Emmanuel Attah, has said the Federal Government has made plans for corps members with good business ideas to get loans of between N200,000 and N2m to start their businesses after the service year.

Attah stated that the loan, which would be given in collaboration with the Bank of Industry, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, would be made available to corps members after they had undergone skill acquisition and entrepreneurial development programmes.

The coordinator said this during the skill acquisition and entrepreneurial development inter-platoon competition and exhibition at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Ede, Osun State on Tuesday.

Attah stated, “Interested corps members, who have undergone the SAED programme, will be given loans of between N200,000 and N2m after the service year. The business proposal will determine how much will be given to each applicant.

“The loan will be interest-free and the NYSC discharge certificates of interested corps members, who apply for the loans, will be used as the collateral. The discharge certificates will be subsequently returned to them after repayment of the loan, which has no time bound.

“The SAED programme and supporting loan were put in place after the NYSC observed that youths, after the service year, always end up unemployed and roaming the streets looking for non-existing white collar jobs.

“The skill acquisition programme will empower corps members after the service year to be self-employed and also be employers of labour. This will also reduce their involvement in criminal activities.”

The Head of BoI in Osun State, Mr. Emmanuel Ojoowuro, said the loans that would be given to the corps members would be in form of business items financing for the applicants.

Ojoowuro explained that items and materials would be provided to the business of individual corps members and that the loan could be up to N2m or as low as N200,000, depending on the nature of the business to be established.


The BoI official said the SAED and the start-up loans given to corps members had been very successful with many positive developments recorded in the last three years.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/why-buharis-govt-is-yet-to-end-killings.html

Shehu Sani, the senator representing Kaduna Central has stated that the present administration is yet to end killings in some parts of the country because the victims are poor.

He wrote “The indifference of the ruling political establishment to end the ceaseless violence & killings in the country is based on the fact that the victims are the poor and the peasants in rural areas.”

Recall that no fewer than 27 persons were killed and several houses set ablaze after suspected bandits attacked Gwaska village in Brinin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Saturday.

The attack came barely a week after nine local miners were killed by gunmen at Janruwa village in Brinin Gwari.

We gathered that the armed bandits, who reportedly came in from Zamfara State, surrounded Gwaska up to Kuiga village around 2.30pm and killed nine persons, mostly children.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/2019-inec-reveals-how-blind-people-will.html

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has revealed how blind people will vote in the 2019 general elections.

Chairman of the Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed that ballot papers in braille will be provided for blind people during the 2019 elections.

Yakubu said this during a campus outreach programme on the Continuous Voter Registration at the University of Abuja on Thursday.

The INEC boss stated that blind people above the age of 18 will not be disenfranchised as they will be allowed to vote unaided.

He noted that during the Anambra governorship election, the Commission had provided magnifying glasses for Albinos, while promising that wheelchairs would also be provided for crippled persons.

Yakubu stressed that such measures was to ensure that people living with physical disabilities are not disenfranchised.

He said: “For the visually-impaired, we can provide ballot papers printed in Braille; for the albinos, we have started the use of magnifying glasses in Anambra, and for the other physically-challenged people, we will be deploying wheelchairs.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/apc-pdp-trade-words-over-zonal-rally-in.html

As the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State plans to hold a zonal rally for the South West geo-political zone in Osogbo, the Osun State capital on Saturday, there have been accusations and counter accusations between the party and the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) in the state.

PDP, on Thursday accused APC of plotting to disrupt the planned rally violently. This was contained in a press release signed by the Publicity Secretary of the party in Osun, Hon. Sunday Bisi, a copy, which was made available in Osogbo.

According to Bisi, the party got an intelligence report that some key officials of the state government, on the directive of the State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola had been holding several nocturnal meetings to fine-tune strategies of scuttling the rally.

“Part of the plans to disrupt our planned Zonal rally on Saturday was to mobilise hundreds of hoodlums to tear and deface PDP posters pasted in Osogbo, Olorunda, Egbedore, Irepodun and other Local governments in the next 24 hours.

“The State government has also commenced a clampdown on former stalwarts of the APC who have decided to decamp to the PDP on Saturday in order to intimidate them ahead of the event.

“For example, a foremost grassroots mobiliser Alhaji Fatai Diekola who has renounced his membership of the APC and set to make an open declaration on Saturday is to be arrested and detained on trumped up charges tomorrow.

“The plan is to prevent him from leading over seven thousand APC members to join the PDP at the rally which will be attended by the National chairman of the party and other leaders from across the country.

“The trained hoodlums have also been unleashed to threaten and molest former APC members in Osogbo,Odo Otin, Ila, Oriade, Iwo, Ilesha East, and other local governments who have decided to attend Saturday’s rally and formally join forces with other well meaning people to chase out the oppressive regime of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in September.

The PDP hereby calls on security agencies to take note of this critical information and act to prevent them accordingly”, Bisi said.

In a swift reaction from APC to the allegations, therefore, the Director of Publicity and Strategy of the party, Mr Kunle Oyatomi in a statement described the allegation as an expression of acute hallucination from the PDP, saying that it did not appear as if the party is serious about the planned rally.

“Neither APC nor Aregbesola planned to expend precious energy and time to worry about a party like the PDP that is disintegrating.

“All the nonsense fictitious plan by us to disrupt their rally on Saturday is the product of their agitated mind and fear of the unknown.

”Between the APC and the PDP, the latter is the one notorious for violence. But if they want to deceive themselves that the APC bothers about them, that’s because they have lost it”, Oyatomi said.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/physician-heal-thyself-apc-tells-gov.html

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, said she finds it disgustingly hypocritical for the state Governor, Nyesom Wike to extend an advice on peaceful conduct of congresses organized for the APC.

The party said the governor has not been able to settle the massive violence and mayhem that characterized the recent Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, local government primaries across Rivers State which he allegedly created.

The APC in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone which was made available to DAILY POST, said, “We believe that the unsolicited advice by governor Wike is a script from his dubious and irresponsible politics to divert attention from the massive criticism of the unbridled violence, killing and destruction of property during the PDP primaries by well-meaning Rivers people and Nigerians.”

“It would have been far more important if Gov. Wike had preached peaceful primaries to his party men and women.

“It would have been quite needful if the governor walked the talk by not planting the seed of imposition, discord and deceit in his party which eventually led to the kind of unprecedented violence that marred their primaries. That surely would have been a more practical means of preaching peaceful congresses.

“The APC believed that Gov. Wike is jittery that at the end of its congresses, peace-loving Rivers people will have the opportunity to compare the activities of PDP and APC.

“The governor fears that Rivers people will so easily confirm that PDP members as those responsible for the political violence in Rivers State against the peaceful disposition of the APC. It is this fear that has propelled Gov. Wike to embark on offering his tainted advice. We say to him, ‘Physician, heal thyself.’

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/codeine-nigerian-pharmacists-break.html



The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), has said the ban on importation of codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations was not an outright solution to solving the problem of drug abuse in the country.

Dr. Albert Kelong Alkali, National Chairman of the ACPN, who called for a holistic approach in tackling problem of drug abuse, asserted that adopting a multisectorial approach involving the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other drug control regulators would ensure drug tracking from the manufacturers to the end users.

He told newsmen on Thursday that: “We should be able to account for all the drugs that are manufactured and imported into this country.

“If we have such a tracking system in place, then the issue of drug abuse will be reduced to the barest minimum.

“So, the drug distribution system channel must be structured and the new National Drug Distribution Guideline (NDDG) should be implemented.

“We are still afraid that the deadline for the implementation of the new NDDG, January 2019 might not be met.

“They should be able to know that there is a drug that is being abused, investigate to find out where the abuse is coming from,” adding that with the current development, every relevant stakeholder would sit up.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/ekiti-guber-fayose-raises-alarm-over.html

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has raised the alarm over the influx of questionable funds into the State for the Saturday’s All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election.

He said genuine lovers of democracy should be worried that over N5 billion cash will be going into mere primary election of a political party that claimed to be fighting corruption.

The governor, who alleged that some of the APC governorship aspirants had earmarked N1 billion each to buy 2,000 delegates and other ones between N500,000 and N200,000 for at least 1,500 delegates, said; “If truly President Muhammadu Buhari is truly fighting corruption, anti-corruption agencies will have their searchlights beamed on the conduct of the APC primary election in Ekiti State, with a view to unravelling where the billions of naira cash being share left, right and center are coming from.

“Even those claiming to have integrity among them are saying on live radio programmes that they have enough cash to bribe delegates, this is ridiculous.”

Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New

Media, Lere Olayinka, quoted him as saying in a release issued on Wednesday, that it was alarming and questionable how a single aspirant will amass N2 billion to bribe delegates.

He asked: “Were they keeping the money somewhere with the intention of using it to buy their party members that they have impoverished by ruining the country’s economy?

“If they spend over N5 billion just to get the party ticket, how much are they going to spend for the election proper? And where lies their claim to anti-corruption fight?”

The governor however described the naira rain in the APC as the party members’ share from the money their leaders may have looted fro either from Ekiti treasury or national treasury.

Governor Fayose said even though he remained confident that the APC will again be defeated in the July 14 governorship election, “the level at which cash is now flying among aspirants of a party that claimed to be fighting corruption is worrisome.”

Fayose raises alarm over influx of N5bn cash to Ekiti for APC guber primary

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has raised the alarm the influx of questionable funds into the State for the Saturday’s All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election, saying genuine lovers of democracy should be worried that over N5 billion cash will be going into mere primary election of a political party that claimed to be fighting corruption.

The governor, who alleged that some of the APC governorship aspirant had earmarked N1 million each to buy 2,000 delegates and other ones between N500,000 and N200,000 for at least 1,500 delegates, said; “If truly President Muhammadu Buhari is truly fighting corruption, anti-corruption agencies will have their searchlights beamed on the conduct of the APC primary election in Ekiti State, with a view to unravelling where the billions of naira cash being share left, right and center are coming from.

“Even those claiming to have integrity among them are saying on live radio programmes that they have enough cash to bribe delegates, this is ridiculous.”

Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New

Media, Lere Olayinka, quoted him as saying in a release issued on Wednesday, that it was alarming and questionable how a single aspirant will amass N2 billion to bribe delegates.

He asked: “Were they keeping the money somewhere with the intention of using it to buy their party members that they have impoverished by ruining the country’s economy?

“If they spend over N5 billion just to get the party ticket, how much are they going to spend for the election proper? And where lies their claim to anti-corruption fight?”

The governor however described the naira rain in the APC as the party members’ share from the money their leaders may have looted fro either from Ekiti treasury or national treasury.

Governor Fayose said even though he remained confident that the APC will again be defeated in the July 14 governorship election, “the level at which cash is now flying among aspirants of a party that claimed to be fighting corruption is worrisome.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/ekiti-guber-al-makura-to-oversee-apc.html

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday appointed the Governor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura as chairman of the Party’s five-member primary election committee for the 2018 Ekiti governorship election.

The APC National Organising Secretary, Sen. Osita Izunaso on behalf of the Party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun also inaugurated a three-member primary appeal committee chaired by Amb. Fati Balla.

The primary election is scheduled for Saturday, May 5.

Other members of the primary election committee include: Hon. Magaji Aliyu (Secretary); Mr. Duke Oshodin; Barr. Robert Okwuego and Mr. Tunde Balogun. The appeal committee include: Capt. Bala Jibrin (Secretary) and Mrs. Lilian Obenwa.

During the inauguration of the committees at the Party’s national secretariat in Abuja, Izunaso who said the APC was poised to win the Ekiti governorship election, charged the committee to ensure a transparent exercise.

Izunaso declared that the party has no preferred candidate.

He said the committee should rely on the party’s guidelines for the nomination of candidates for public office, particularly section 14 (iii) which stipulates the composition of the Electoral College/delegates, secret balloting at a venue in the state capital and declaring winner an aspirant with the highest vote.

“If we conduct a transparent primary, any aspirant that wins will surely become the next governor of Ekiti state… The party has no preferred candidate, there is no such thing in our lexicon. It does not exist. All aspirants are equal until after the election” Izunaso stated.

The National Organising Secretary who disclosed that the official delegates list has been given to all aspirants said no petition has been received on the list. He said all thirty-three aspirants have been cleared by the Party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to contest the primaries.

Izunaso urged the primary election committee to convene a stakeholders meeting with aspirants and party chieftains in the state to agree on modalities for the primaries.

The Governor of Nasarawa State, H.E. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura and Chairman of the Primary Election Committee spoke on behalf of the committees.

“We thank the Party for considering us worthy to carry out this very critical and important assignment at this point in time. As far as we are concerned, we consider this assignment as a family affair which has to be done in strict conformity with our Party’s guidelines and the constitution. I wish to assure the National Working Committee that by the special Grace of God, we as members of the Ekiti governorship primary will do justice to this exercise.

“We will ensure free and fair election, conformity and adherence to all the guidelines so that by the time the exercise is over, the Party will become stronger and more cohesive. This will be the beginning of the assurance of our great party to reclaim the mandate in Ekiti state,” the Governor said.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/codeine-abuse-is-handiwork-of-hopeless.html

Shehu Sani, the Senator representing Kaduna Central has said that the state of hopelessness in the economy is responsible for the abuse of codeine by Nigerians.

The lawmaker said this in reaction to an investigatory video by BBC recorded in Nigeria showing abuse of codeine by youths and its consequences.

Titope Blog reports that the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Tuesday directed the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to ban with immediate effect further issuance of permits for the importation of codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations.

Adewole said the directive became necessary due to the gross abuse of Codeine usage in the country.

However, reacting through his Twitter handle, Shehu Sani said creation of a stabilised economy and system to give hope to the youths will hinder them from finding solace in Codeine.

He urged the federal government to promote the economy, hence, give meaning to their lives.

Sani wrote, “Codeine is an opium that symbolizes our social dislocation and societal collapse.What we have is a system that has over the years ostracized and mentally deformed a generation, dispatching them to seek solace in aphrodisiac .

“Codeine is a problem and the bigger problem remains a corrosive socio economic order that created a state of hopelessness.We must continue to work hard in order to change it so as to give meaning to the lives of our young ones.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/pdp-crisis-in-oyo-deepens-as-ex-deputy.html

The prolonged leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State on Wednesday took another dimension when a chieftain of the party and former Deputy Senate Whip, Senator Hosea Ayoola Agboola resigned his membership of the party. This comes after Tuesday’s meeting of the party’s leadership in the house of a former Governor of the state, Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja.

Agboola was the only PDP Senator from South West in the seventh National Assembly.



We gathered that the Deputy National Chairman of the party, elder Yemi Akinwonmi; Zonal Chairman, Dr. Eddy Olafeso; Lagos State Chairman, Hon. Moshood Adegoke Salvador; Zonal Secretary, Rev. Bunmi Jenyo and Ex-Officio, Arewa Nike had on Tuesday stormed Ladoja’s Bodija Ibadan residence to persuade him over the harmonization of the PDP state executive list.

But, Agboola who was at the forefront of those clamouring for the harmonization of the executive while speaking with journalists, said he was not happy with the Tuesday’s homage paid to Ladoja by the party’s hierarchy.



He, however, declared that he was leaving the party.

Agboola said, “With this visit, the party has finally handed the fate of Oyo PDP in Ladoja’s hand. Here is somebody whose leadership style will finally sink the boat of the party. Why do they think we were praying for harmonization? It is basically to give room for true reconciliation of all factions, following the parallel Congress of last year. And before now, we have made it clear that anything short of true reconciliation, we won’t welcome it.

“I am taken aback by such visit which was largely once sided. And it has shown us that the party does not want the PDP to win this state in 2019. The National Working Committee should count some of us out on this latest development which would certainly boomerang in the loss of the coming election.

“For the party to now say that somebody whose anti-party activities are legendary should be the alfa and omega of the party we all toiled to grow to this level, it leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Here was Ladoja who in 2007 sponsored a candidate in All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) against the PDP gubernatorial candidate which the PDP won. Again in 2011, he left PDP to join Accord and contested but lost.



“If one may ask, where are these two parties; the ANPP and Accord today in this state? The PDP will certainly go into extinction in Ladoja’s hand unless the National Working Committee (NWC) wades in before it is too late to reconcile and harmonise the executive, and until that is done, I am leaving the party for them. I assure my supporters statewide and more importantly Oyo North senatorial district to await further directives.”



When asked if he was not invited to the meeting, Agboola said “I was invited but I made it clear to them that I won’t attend any meeting in Ladoja’s house. Can’t we meet at the state party Secretariat? Many of PDP chieftains had left the party because of Ladoja’s style of leadership.”

He said, “I was invited but I made it clear to them that I won’t attend any meeting called outside the party Secretariat, I will never attend meeting in Ladoja’s house. Thank God, it is less than a year now to the next general election, we will all see the results”.



We further gathered that a statement signed by Anthony Agbetuyi, Personal Assistant to the PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Elder Yemi Akinwonmi had quoted Ladoja expressing commitment to the PDP following the meeting of Tuesday.



Ladoja was quoted as having said, “I want to encourage our party members and all well-wishers to remain steadfast and strong in this journey as we approach 2019 general election and deliver our people from the hand of the All Progressives Congress”.

Other leaders in attendance at the said meeting included the state PDP Chairman, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha; Senator Hamzat Ayo Adeseun; Senator Olufemi Lanlehin; Senator Kamorudeen Adedubu and Hon. Muraina Ajibola.

Others are Barrister Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli; Mr. Bayo Lawal; Dr. Saka Balogun; Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran; Hon. Bimbo Adepoju; Mukeso Destiny and Mr. Wasiu Emiola.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/how-pa-adesanya-rejected-my.html

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, recalled how late Afenifere and National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, Leader, late Senator Abraham Aderibigbe Adesanya, on three occasions turned down his appeal for support in the 1999 presidential poll.

According to him, Senator Adesanya was a man of principle, who never bent the rules in his undertakings.

He spoke in Lagos at a well-attended symposium entitled: ‘Leadership and The Future of Nigeria,’ to mark 10 years of Senator Abraham’s death.

Obasanjo, who disclosed that he appointed late Chief Bola Ige and Adesanya’s daughter, Modupe Adelaja, as ministers in his government without the late politician’s knowledge, said Adesanya’s opposition accounted for his poor performance in the South-West at the 1999 election.

He said: “Adesanya deserves his honour. I did not know him in his early days in politics; I came to know him when I was going into politics myself.

“Because of necessity, the path of politicians do cross, I was persuaded to contest for the post of Nigeria’s president. I decided to go on consultations and meeting leaders all over the country. One of the leaders I had to meet was Abraham Adesanya. I remember I got the address of his home, phoned him, and went around 10 pm, but he was waiting for me and received me very warmly. That was also the first time I met his daughter, Dupe, who became one of my ministers.

“When I met Pa Adesanya, he did not mince words. He said, ‘why did you come here, you are not with us? He said: ‘Iwill not support you.’ I said, ‘no problem but it must be my duty and responsibility to inform you and to let you know that I have been persuaded and I am going into this.

“As I went on consultation, I decided to call on him the second time. And again the same thing happened, he asked me, ‘what have you come here for again?’ I said, ‘I came to give you progress report’ and he asked me: ‘how is it going? and I told him it was not going badly.

“He said again he would not support me, and I said that was all right. He said, ‘whether you join us or not we are not going to support you.’

“So I left. That was the second occasion. He was consistent and to the point and I think I was adamant also.

“The third time, I came and this was just before the election. And I said to him, ‘before the election, I thought I should come to you, and again let you know how it is going.’ And for the third time, Baba said, ‘we are not going to support you.’ And of course as the result of 1999 presidential election turned out, I was not supported by the Yoruba in the South-West.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/ekiti-guber-senator-olujimi-finally.html

Deputy Minority Whip of the Senate, Senator Biodun Olujimi has dispelled rumours she is set to dump the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the Social Democratic Party, SDP.

According to her, the rumours of her planned defection to SDP was a political gimmick by those opposed to her governorship ambition to disorient her followers and supporters.

Speaking to BusinessDay newspaper, she said: “Many of our people have defected because they do not believe they should go through the agony some of us are going through but I won’t leave the party. This is the party that has given me almost every important assignment that I have had.

“The SDP thing was a gimmick for people to lose orientation because I was there in the public space mobilising and they thought they needed to throw spanner in the works that was the issue of the SDP.

“But suffice it to say that amongst all the former Deputy Governors, I am the only one left. Every other person has gone because of high-handedness, intimidation, harassment and that is not good for our Party. Those votes are votes that are supposed to be PDP votes. All of them have emerged in all other parties. Are you saying they won’t have votes? They will have votes because they have also been part of the system in Ekiti and they know how it works.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/osun-govt-shuts-down-oau-over-tax.html


The Osun State Internal Revenue Service has closed down Obafemi Awolowo University ( OAU) Ile-Ife, over an alleged non-payment of tax to the tune of N1.8bn

The officials of IRS, led by Mr Oladipo Babatunde arrived the campus at exactly 7:00am, and went straight to lock the main entrance to the campus, popularly called Road 1, and the gate to the Senate Building, including the administrative block and the bursary office.

The Public Relations Officer(PRO) of the school, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju said officials of the tax office had locked the main gate to the campus and other offices.

He said the University was already discussing with the Osun State Government to see how the issue could be resolved.

“We just discovered that tax officials have locked our main entrance gate and the administrative block.

“We are already speaking with Osun State government , and hope to resolve it soonest,” Olanrewaju said.

We recalls that the state government had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum to private and public organisations who have outstanding tax to upset.

(c)

seun

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/if-you-touch-me-nigeria-will-finish.html

The Governor of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has warned the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to shelve any plan of going after him for any reason.

Wike said any attempt to touch him will “finish Nigeria.”

The governor further stated that the Federal Government must apologise to the State and seek God’s forgiveness, or it will have no peace.

The Governor spoke yesterday while addressing workers during the Workers’ Day celebration, at the General Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia, Port, Harcourt.

Wike noted that the country was hunted and bedevilled by killings, because the Federal Government politicised security crisis in Rivers because it is not an All Progressives Congress APC state.

He said, “Don’t just see me as governor of Rivers state; see me as a soldier of God. For those, who are planning against me in Abuja, I say, you will fail. The day you touch Rivers, you finish Nigeria.

“When they tried to compromise security, I told them if Rivers state has a problem and they don’t want to look into it, one day Nigeria will burn. And I told them until they (FG) come and seek forgiveness and tell God ‘we are sorry for what we did to Rivers state’, they will never see peace.

“I asked them to come to our aid and they said it is People’s Democratic Party (PDP) state”.

He added, “Anything you want me to do in the interest of the state, I will do. But, when you introduce politics, I will come out as a politician.

“One thing you must not do to a politician who does not see, hear or talk; don’t bring politics, when you are demanding something.

“Nobody will deny workers their legitimate rights. I will never be in support of that. But, you are doing something wrong by threatening me with strike; that is not democracy.

“The essence of labour is not only to demand rights, you should, also, demand free and fair election. How many times has Labour talked against what is happening in the state? How many times have you condemned the federal government for changing police commissioners from left to centre.

“How many times have you cautioned those insulting Independent National Electoral Commission officials? Labour is not only for increment in wages; it is not only about building secretariat for you, buy buses or generator. Labour is part of talking of survival of democracy in the country.

“During the previous administration, when former president Goodluck Jonathan wanted to remove subsidy from fuel, Labour went on strike. Today, they have removed subsidy Labour failed.

“We all witness what is happening in the country today. Look at the killings. If you talk about the increment of wages and you don’t have children, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers, then, what is the increment of wages and people are dying everyday? Nobody says anything.

“Talk about how Nigeria will move forward and not only increment. It will come and nobody will stop it.”

Aisha Buhari, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to the federal Government’s ban on the production of Codeine containing syrups in Nigeria.



We reports that the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Tuesday directed the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to ban with immediate effect further issuance of permits for the importation of codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations.

Adewole said the directive became necessary due to the gross abuse of Codeine usage in the country.

However, reacting, the wife of the president, while commending the development called on relevant stakeholders to tackle the rising cases of drug abuse among youths in Nigeria.

”Very welcome development by the Federal Government, Ministry of Health, NAFDAC and Emzor Pharmaceuticals.

”Gradually and collectively we will put an end to the menace of drug abuse in Nigeria, lets save the lives of our youths and that of the next generation.

” I have noted with alarm the exponential rise of drug abuse in our country, especially in the North.

” As a parent, I am deeply saddened by this fact, it is important that we interrupt the trend and encourage our children to stay drug-free.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/aisha-buhari-reacts-to-ban-on.html

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/buhari-reacts-to-adamawa-bomb-blast.html

The Presidency has reacted to the attack on Mubi town which left 27 people dead.


TITOPE BLOG recalls that many were feared dead as bomb exploded in a Mosque at Mubi town, Adamawa.

The state Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Ahmad Sajoh, had confirmed that the 56 injuried persons were on admission in a hospital.

Sajoh said the blast occurred in Kasuwan Gwanjo (second hand clothes market) and a mosque within the market.

Buhari in a statement on his official Twitter page described the attack as a tragedy.

He, however, offered condolences to victims of the incident.

“Today’s suicide bomb attacks in Mubi,Adamawa State, targeting a Mosque and Market, are tragic & despicable.

“Our sympathies go to the victims, their families, the Govt & people of Adamawa.

“Our special gratitude to all the rescue workers & medical personnel who attended to victims,” he wrote.

www.titopeblog.com/2018/04/maharaj-ji-is-alive-and-not-dead.html?m=1



MAHARAJ JI IS ALIVE AND NOT DEAD

@Titope Blog

The spokesman for the Living Perfect Master, Sat Guru Maharaj Ji, Ojo Peter has described the news of the demise of Maharaj Ji that went viral on social media yesterday as not only false but mischievously concocted by disgruntled elements. Peter in a press release titled: “Maharaj Ji Is Alive And Not Dead” , said the rumor of the death of Maharaj Ji was concocted by some people who have found it difficult to silence Maharaj Ji from telling the truth about happenings in Nigeria and the world at large. “The news of the death of Maharaj Ji is not only false but one that was mischievously concocted by some disgruntled elements.” He added: “They want to use the false news to cause disaffection among numerous members of the One Love Family, Nigerians and the world at large but Maharaj Ji has already exposed them for who they are. Such news will never stop Maharaj Ji from saying the truth; he is known for.” “We use this medium to tell the whole world that Maharaj Ji is hale and hearty. People of the world should disregard such false information as Maharaj Ji himself has spoken and granted many interviews both audio and video since yesterday that the fake news went viral on social media. “
cc:
Seun

www.titopeblog.com/2018/04/maharaj-ji-is-alive-and-not-dead.html

@Titope Blog
Any lazy Nigerian youth that did this to my Father shall have no peace by Zahrã buhari

www.titopeblog.com/2018/04/as-share-by-zahra-buhari-on-her.html

Dear Admin,
Kindly assist me to change my username from olajay86 to titopeblog
Please treat as urgent and I'm await your swift response.
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TITOPE BLOG www.titopeblog.com [img]TITOPE BLOG www.titopeblog.com [/img]TITOPE BLOG www.titopeblog.com

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/02/buratai-in-senate-seeks-improved.html

Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has said that inadequacy of funds was bane of military operations in Nigeria.
Buratai made this known when he defended the 2018 budget of the Nigeria Army before the Senate Committee on Army in Abuja on Thursday.

While appraising the performance of the 2017 Appropriation Act, Buratai recalled that since the beginning of 2015, “the activities of the violent non-state actors had aggravated across the country.”

He said in response to this, the Nigerian Army had expanded from five to eight divisions.

“The army is currently engaged in war against the Boko Haram terrorists and other internal security operations in virtually all the 36 states of the federation,”‎ he said.

He said that such commitment had extended the army’s core constitutional roles and had impacted significantly on the army’s human and material resources.

Buratai, however, said that the inadequate budgetary allocation subsisting envelope budget system and partial release of funds had negatively affected the Nigerian army toward achieving an almost secured environment for the citizenry.

He further said that in 2017 the sum of N133.44bn was proposed for personnel cost adding that this was released 100 percent.

According to Buratai, in preparation for the 2018 Budget the Ministry of Budget and National Planning proposed the total sum of N233bn.

“However, the Nigerian Army is requesting for the sum of N261.67bn”, he added.

He noted that critical projects including procurement of drones and establishment of Aerial Reconnaissance (inspection) Intelligence Centre for the army would cost N2.05bn.

Other projects included rehabilitation of barracks at N5bn and procurement of more arms and ammunitions was N4.8bn.

“We have additional three divisions which are divisions 6, 7 and 8 that have been operationalised.

“Additional operationalised activation of these 3 divisions each will have approximately N1.5bn for the activation and further equipping of the divisions,” he said.

The chief of army staff further said that the army was committed to securing the territorial integrity of Nigeria from any violation.

“The clearance operation to rid the country of the remnant of the Boko Haram terrorist and other criminal groups is currently ongoing,” Buratai said.

He noted that timely and complete implementation of the 2018 Budget would enhance the fulfilment of this mandate.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Sen. George Akume said the army had done well within what was released to the establishment.

“If releases were made to the army, the establishment would do better for the overall development of the country,”‎ he added.

Contributing, a member of the committee Sen. James Manager, (PDP-Delta) said insecurity in the country “was taking a threatening dimension.

Manager said without peace the country would not grow.

He advocated first line charge for the army as monies from such was released 100 percent.

“Just like some others who are in the first line charge, the money is released 100 percent at the end of the day,” Manager said.

He added that if the army was handicapped Nigerians would be in trouble because without peace we cannot grow.

Also speaking, the Vice Chairman of the Committee Sen. Ibrahim Danbaba said it was sad that funds budgeted for in the budget were not released.

Danbaba said if the 2017 budget of the army only recorded 42 percent, it was either “the planners did not do their jobs well or the money was diverted and used for other things not in the budget.”

“In a situation where we have so much challenges in terms of even the territorial integrity of this country. For the government not to be releasing funds that were made available in the budget, is sad,” Danbaba said.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/02/2018-budget-senate-insists-on-rollover.html

The Senate on Thursday, has insisted that uncompleted projects of the

Nigerian army must be rolled over to the new year for appropriation

rather than abandoning those projects for new ones.


Senate Committee on Nigeria Army stated this while hosting Nigerian

Army to its 2018 budget defence in Abuja.


Chief of Army staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai who appeared before the

committee explained that the 2017 capital budget performance for the

Nigerian Army was 57%, thereby, constituting a huge challenge for the

Army to overcome some tasks.


According to Gen. Buratai who appeared alongside military chiefs in

charge of army formations across the country, there was never an

abandoned projects since he became the Chief of Army Staff.


"Distinguished Chairman, Senators, what we normally do is to work with

what releases we have and since I became the Chief of Army Staff, we

have never had abandoned projects", he said.


He said, they would always work with realeses, though there were

things that normally require immediate action depending on the

security implications.


Member of the Committee, Senator James Manager commended the military

for the risk they were taking to ensure safety of Nigerians.


Manager advocated for a first line charge budget for the military

which would compel a 100% releases and on time, adding that Nigeria

military was too sensitive to be subjected to budget politics.


"If the Army was not doing their jobs, nobody would be safe in

Nigeria. We can not even sit to make laws for Nigeria in the National

Assembly, so we must commend the military," the lawmaker said.


Meanwhile, Committee Chairman, Senator George Akume said, the military

was doing well in protecting Nigeria's territorial integrity, saying,

Senate would ensure adequate provision of 2018 budgets.

http://dailypost.ng/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/buhari.jpg

Yusufu Akirikwen, Taraba Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice says that the state has no land for cattle colonies as proposed by the Buhari government.

Akirikwen on Wednesday in Jalingo told journalists that the state government had enacted a law for the establishment of ranches which would come into effect on January 24.

He called on the Federal Government to support the state in implementing the law, describing it as the best for cattle rearing globally.

“The truth of the matter is that the idea of cattle colony is still not very clear for most Nigerians.

“Where would the Federal Government get land for cattle colonies?

“Would they sit there in Abuja and acquire land across the states of the federation for cattle colonies?

“We have enacted a law for ranching here in Taraba, but we are not acquiring land for people, herdsmen and cattle owners are going to buy land and do their ranching business”.

Akirikwen added that the state government had put in place implementation mechanism at various levels, while appealing to the Federal Government to deploy enough security for the smooth take off of the law.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/01/chibok-girls-in-new-boko-haram-video.html

A front line member of the #Bring Back Our Girls, Dr. Allen Manasseh, on Wednesday, said, his group did not make any statement with regards to the new video released by the Abubakar Shekau – led faction of the Boko Haram because they believe it was the usual propaganda by the sect to put the girls under duress to speak what they were told to speak.

According to Dr. Manasseh, BBOG’s biggest problem now is the Nigerian government’s continuous silence on the issue of abductions of both the university lecturers, the police women and the Chibok girls. He said hthe group was planing a sit-out to commemorate the four years since the abduction of the Chibok girls.

He said, “what the Chibok girls in the new video released on Sunday are saying is not their own words but what the Boko Haram leadership wants them to say. As such, we have nothing to say about that, we take it as their usual way of expressing themselves (the Boko Haram).

” If truly the Chibok girls don’t want to return as they claimed, we could not have been hearing a different stories from those who escaped recently. You remember one of the Chibok girls was found recently and a number of them rescued are here with us. We know their stories, and we cannot be deceived by the new video.

“Yes, the girls are with them. Yes, they made a statement, but that is under duress. We all know about it. Let me tell you something, the consent of the girls were not sought for when they were abducted. They were forced into whatever marriage that took place in the Sambisa forest.

” Everything they said was speaking the mind of their abductors. The Boko Haram has their own legal wives, which they got married to before the insurgency. These women legally married to have also been escaping from the forest and we have their stories. What makes anyone believe that, the Chibok Girls would not want freedom? Given a choice they would all leave and return home. That is why we are insisting that, the Nigerian government should act now.

“We believe that, no amount of indoctrination can change these girls, who were abducted with a barrel of guns into accepting their current position on free will. There was never a choice in the beginning and that is our position.” Dr. Allen added.