₦airaland Forum

POLITICSNIGERIA.COM

The yuletide season comes to life in Lagos as Zenith Bank Plc lights up Ajose Adeogun
Street with the theme “LET THERE BE LIGHT”

This year marks the 14th year since the traditional Light-up Ceremony at the Ajose Adeogun roundabout came to be. The official lighting was done by Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu the GMD/CEO, Zenith Bank Plc supported by Executive management, staff and customers in attendance.

Speaking during the Light-up Ceremony, the GMD/CEO said “Ajose Adeogun Street has come to be recognized by not only Lagosians but Nigerians in general as an iconic place and tourist attraction because of the beautiful decorations adorning its length and breadth during the yuletide season. In fact, people from all walks of life visit with their friends and families to take pictures of this wonderful spectacle, especially at night and
enjoy the ambience of the street and season.”

The light-up ceremony came shortly after the ‘Zenith Bank Aspire Music Festival’, which took place in September and is part of the Bank’s line up of events ushering in the yuletide season and end of the year festivities. Others include ‘The Zenith Bank Tech Fair, Style by Zenith 2.0 and Zenith Bank Christmas Youth Parade. These events are in line with the Bank’s retail business drive and continued commitment to customers as they are guaranteed opportunities to network and enjoy discounts on products displayed at these events.

https://politicsnigeria.com/zenith-bank-restates-commitment-to-csr-unveils-christmas-decoration/

Top global designers and brands will storm Lagos for the “Style by Zenith 2.0” Fair, the second edition of Zenith Bank’s highly anticipated Lifestyle Fair, which holds from Friday, November 29 to Sunday, December 1, 2019 at the Eko Energy City, Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Some of the top designers billed to feature at the fair include Tom Ford, Dolce and Gabbana, Tokyo James, Eyola, Mai Atafo, Okunnoren Twins, Ejiro Amos-Tafiri, Telvin Nwafor, Fikirte Addis, House of Kaya, Gozen Green, Trish O, Chulaap, Agatha Moreno, Sunny Rose, Nonnistics, Caesar Couture, Yartel, Orapeleng Mdutle, Mustapha Hassanali and the Fabric Hub, amongst others.

Aside showcasing their designs during the runway modelling sessions at the fair, they will also be participating in the various Lifestyle masterclasses, offering expert opinions on recent trends and designs in the global fashion industry.

Launched in 2018, the “Style by Zenith” initiative was created with the objective of supporting and creating value for customers by focusing on various aspects of their lifestyle.

“Style by Zenith 2.0” caps a year of all-encompassing customer lifestyle engagements by Zenith Bank through events such as the Aspire Music Festival, a musical concert for millennials held in Lagos in September and the Aba SME Fair organised for SMEs in the Aba Fashion Market, Abia State last month. This is in addition to the Light-Up Ceremony of the yuletide decorations on Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island coming up by the second week of this month.

The three-day fair has an interesting line up of activities including runway modelling by leading Nigerian and international models accessorized by top global and Nigerian designers, modelling masterclasses, exhibition of lifestyle, beauty, health & fitness products, food and drinks, games arcade for both children and adults as well as musical concert featuring Nigeria’s biggest artistes.

Fashion One, the leading global fashion and lifestyle channel will once again be working with Zenith Bank on the “Style by Zenith 2.0” initiative.

Registration for the event, which is free for everyone, can be done by visiting www.zenithbank.com/style.

Zenith Bank Plc is recognized as one of the most innovative financial institutions in Nigeria and was voted the most customer-focused bank in Nigeria for the Retail and SME segments in the 2018 KPMG Annual Banking Industry Customer Satisfaction Survey (BICSS). Most recently, the bank won the Best Bank in Retail Banking and the Bank of the Year at the 2019 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BOFI) Awards, and was ranked as the Best Digital Bank in Nigeria 2019 by Agusto & Co.

https://politicsnigeria.com/top-global-designers-storm-lagos-for-style-by-zenith-2-0-lifestyle-fair/

Participate in the largest lifestyle event of 2019. Style By Zenith 2.0 promises to be 3 days of fun, bargain price yuletide, shopping, games, masterclasses, music performance by top Nigerian artistes and lots more.
Date: November 29th, 2019 to 1st December, 2019.
Venue: Eko Energy City Grounds (next to Eko Atlantic) along Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Time: 8.00am Daily.

Visit www.zenithbank.com/style to register and find out more.

Below is a special message from the Department of State Security, DSS on Social Media in Nigeria. Watch and Learn;


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR7u95Y3Fik

POLITICSNIGERIA.COM

Following the success of the maiden edition, Nigeria’s leading financial institution, Zenith Bank Plc is set to ignite Lagos with the second edition of its highly anticipated Lifestyle Fair, “Style by Zenith 2.0”, which holds from Friday, November 29 to Sunday, December 1, 2019.

First launched in 2018, the “Style by Zenith 2.0” initiative, which was created with the objective of supporting and creating value for customers by focusing on various aspects of their lifestyle, will hold at the Eko Energy City, Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island, Lagos.

This year, “Style by Zenith 2.0” takes things up a notch with the theme, “Style the Life you Desire”, aimed at encouraging Nigerians to live their best lives and be extraordinary.

“Style by Zenith 2.0” caps a year of all-encompassing customer lifestyle engagements by Zenith Bank through events such as the Aspire Music Festival, a musical concert for millennials held in Lagos in September and the Aba SME Fair organised for SMEs in the Aba Fashion Market, Abia State last month. This is in addition to the Light-Up Ceremony of the yuletide decorations on Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island coming up by the second week of this month.

The three-day fair has an interesting line up of activities including runway modelling by leading Nigerian and international models accessorized by top designers, modelling masterclasses, exhibition of lifestyle, beauty, health & fitness products, food and drinks, games arcade for both children and adults as well as musical concert featuring Nigeria’s biggest artistes.

Fashion One, the leading global fashion and lifestyle channel will once again be working with Zenith Bank on the “Style by Zenith 2.0” initiative.

Attendance at the fair is free for everyone. However, the music concert is exclusively reserved for Zenith Bank customers, although non-Zenith customers can still attend the concerts by simply opening a Zenith Bank account and registering to attend at www.zenithbank.com/style.

Zenith Bank Plc is recognized as one of the most innovative financial institutions in Nigeria and was voted the most customer-focused bank in Nigeria for the Retail and SME segments in the 2018 KPMG Annual Banking Industry Customer Satisfaction Survey (BICSS).

https://politicsnigeria.com/zenith-bank-ignites-lagos-with-style-by-zenith-2-0/

POLITICSNIGERIA.COM

Nigeria’s leading financial institution, Zenith Bank Plc, has introduced Z-Money, which brings banking services closer to its customers and enhance financial inclusion among the under-banked and unbanked populace of the country.

Z-Money is an agency banking product of the bank which entails the onboarding of agents who are expected to render basic financial services on behalf of the bank.

Through the bank’s network of agents spread across the urban and rural communities in the country, customers are able to open accounts, deposit cash into any account, withdraw cash from any bank account, transfer funds, buy airtime, pay bills, and do so much more in a convenient way. In order to engender trust among its customers, the Bank ensures that all transactions done through the agents are PIN protected and safe.

Commenting on the new product, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu said “the bank remains focused on providing premium financial solutions that create value for its customers wherever they are located across the country”. He added that apart from helping to extend the bank’s retail reach across all segments of the market, the adoption of the agency banking platform also demonstrates the bank’s commitment to achieving financial inclusion in the country.

Zenith Bank Plc is recognized as one of the most innovative financial institutions in Nigeria and was voted the most customer-focused bank in Nigeria for the Retail and SME segments in the 2018 KPMG Annual Banking Industry Customer Satisfaction Survey (BICSS).

The bank’s commitment to world-class service standards has led to several product innovations over the last few weeks including the “Zenith Timeless Account”, which allows Nigerians aged 55 years and above bank for free, the “Zenith Save4me”, a high-interest target savings account and “Dubai Visa Service” on the Zenith Internet Banking Platform, which allows convenient application and payment for visas to Dubai.

https://politicsnigeria.com/zenith-bank-drives-convenient-banking-and-financial-inclusion-with-z-money/

Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Power has endorsed leading power and energy event, Future Energy Nigeria.

Now in its 16th edition, the longstanding event will take place at the Eko Hotel in Lagos, from 12-13 November 2019.

The endorsement was delivered by Mr Louis O.N. Edozien, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Power via an official letter to the organizers.

“The Ministry is proud to be in partnership with the successful hosting of this year’s event,” he says, commending the event. “the success of the last conference has given the Ministry the confidence to accord the upcoming event the necessary support that will avail stakeholders the opportunity to appreciate the gain recorded in the country’s power sector.”

Acknowledging the support, Future Energy Nigeria’s business development director Ade Yesufu, says: “Receiving the Federal Ministry of Power’s official endorsement and confidence is extremely valuable, not to mention motivating. We are proud to be the only event of its kind in Nigeria to receive official endorsement from the Federal Ministry of Power.”

The event organizers have also confirmed that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) will be an official supporting utility of the event.

The upcoming Lagos event will present solutions for the power sector and connect power and energy professionals working together to advance a sustainable energy economy. “Nigeria is taking ownership of its power deficit and is taking charge of its energy future” says Ade Yesufu, “we are looking forward to bringing together all the stakeholders across the entire power sector value chain.”

A cross section of attendees at Future Energy Nigeria 2019

Leading industry partners and suppliers Jubaili Bros and Greenville LNG have also earlier been confirmed, returning as gold and silver sponsors respectively. The exhibition is expected to feature over 70 leading global and local technology and services providers for the power and energy industry, including country pavilions from South Africa and India.

This year’s Future Energy Nigeria further offers the unique opportunity again to go behind the scenes at a thermal power plant as part of a technical site visit tour at the Egbin Power Plant. An affiliate of the indigenous energy conglomerate, the Sahara Group, the company operates one of the largest thermal power plants in sub-Saharan Africa and contributes over 10% of the total electricity generated to the Nigerian National Grid. This makes it the heartbeat of power and the largest provider of electricity to Africa’s largest economy.

Future Energy Nigeria, will also feature the Utility CEO Forum; West Africa’s power leaders, including DisCos, GenCos and IPPs, will gather for closed meetings that are by invitation only and facilitated under Chatham House Rules, to collaborate and focus on unique in-country challenges.

ABOUT FUTURE ENERGY NIGERIA

Future Energy Nigeria is organised by Spintelligent, a multi-award-winning Cape Town-based exhibition and conference producer across the continent in the infrastructure, energy and mining sectors. Other well-known events include African Utility Week, Future Energy East Africa, Nigeria Mining Week, East & Central Africa Mining Forum and DRC Mining Week. Spintelligent is part of the UK-based Clarion Events Group’s Clarion Energy Series, which runs over 40 events that cover the oil, gas, power and energy sectors, making it one of the group’s largest portfolios.

Future Energy Nigeria dates and location:
Conference, Expo and Knowledge Hub: 12-13 November 2019
Venue: Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, Nigeria.

https://politicsnigeria.com/nigerias-federal-ministry-of-power-endorses-future-energy-nigeria-conference-exhibition-2019/

POLITICSNIGERIA.COM

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has replied Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron over his recent statement that Jonathan did not allow the UK to rescue Chibok Girls from Boko Haram.

In a statement made available to POLITICS NIGERIA, Jonathan wrote;

“I read the comments by former British Prime Minister, David Cameron, in his new book, For the Record, in which he accused me and the Nigerian Government, which I headed, of corruption and rejecting the help of the British Government in rescuing the Chibok Girls, who were kidnapped on April 14, 2014.”

“It is quite sad that Mr. Cameron would say this because nothing of such ever occurred. As President of Nigeria, I not only wrote letters to then Prime Minister David Cameron, I also wrote to the then US President, Barrack Obama, and the then French President, François Hollande, as well as the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, appealing to them for help in rescuing the Chibok Girls.”

“How could I write to appeal for help and then reject the very thing I appealed for?”

“Also, history contradicts Mr. Cameron. On March 8, 2012, when the same Boko Haram linked terrorists abducted a British expatriate named Chris McManus, along with an Italian hostage Franco Lamolinara, in Sokoto, I, as Nigerian President, personally authorised a rescue effort by members of the British military Special Boat Service supported by officers and men of the Nigerian Army, to free the abducted men.”

“So, having set a precedent like that, why would I reject British help in rescuing the Chibok Girls, if it was offered? I also authorised the secret deployment of troops from the United Kingdom, the United States and Israel as a result of the Chibok incident, so how Mr. Cameron could say this with a straight face beats me.”

“Moreover, on March 8, 2017, the British Government of former Prime Minister, Theresa May, in a widely circulated press statement, debunked this allegation and said there was no truth in it after Mr. Cameron had made similar statements to the Observer of the UK.”

“In his book, Mr. Cameron failed to mention that I wrote him requesting his help on Chibok. Why did he suppress that information? I remind him that copies of that letter exist at the State Houses in Nigeria and London. He never called me on the phone to offer any help. On the contrary, I am the one that reached out to him.”

“He accused me of appointing Generals based on political considerations. How could that be when I fired my service chiefs twice in five years, to show that I would not tolerate anything less than meaningful progress in the war on terror.”

“I was completely blind to ethnic or political considerations in my appointments. In civil and military matters, I appointed people that I had never even met prior to appointing them, based on their professional pedigree. Though I was from the South, most of my service chiefs came from the North.”

“I do, however, know that Mr. Cameron has long nursed deep grudges against me for reasons that have been published in various media.”

“On July 24, 2013, while celebrating the passage of the United Kingdom’s Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act, 2013, Mr. Cameron said “I want to export gay marriage around the world”.”

“At that occasion, he boasted that he would send the team that successfully drafted and promoted the Bill, to nations, like Nigeria, saying inter alia:

“I’ve told the Bill team I’m now going to reassign them because, of course, all over the world people would have been watching this piece of legislation”.

As President of Nigeria at that time, I came under almost unbearable pressure from the Cameron administration to pass legislation supporting LGBTQ Same-Sex marriage in Nigeria. My conscience could not stomach that, because as President of Nigeria, I swore on the Bible to advance Nigeria’s interests, and not the interest of the United Kingdom or any foreign power.”

“As such, on Monday, January 13, 2014, I signed the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill into law after the Bill had been passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority of Nigeria’s parliament, in line with the wishes of the Nigerian people. This happened shortly after a study of 39 nations around the world by the U.S. Pew Research Center came up with a finding which indicated that 98 percent of Nigerians were opposed to the idea of Gay Marriage.”

“Immediately after I took this patriotic action, my government came under almost unbearable pressure from Mr. Cameron, who reached me through envoys, and made subtle and not so subtle threats against me and my government.”

“In fact, meetings were held at the Obama White House and at the Portcullis House in Parliament UK, with the then Nigerian opposition to disparage me, after I had signed the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill into law.

On the issue of corruption, it suffices to say that Mr. Cameron is not as competent as Transparency International, which is globally acknowledged as the adjudicator of who is corrupt and who is not.”

“During my administration, in 2014, Nigeria made her best ever improvement on the annual Transparency International Corruption Perception Index, moving from 144 the previous year, to 136, an 8 point improvement. As a nation, we have not made such improvements on the CPI before or after 2014.”

“In line with these facts, I would urge the public to take Mr. Cameron’s accusations with a grain of salt. I will not be the first person to accuse him of lying on account of this book, and with the reactions in the Uk so far, I definitely will not be the last.”

https://politicsnigeria.com/breaking-liar-jonathan-replies-former-uk-pm-david-cameron-over-chibok-girls/

Shutdown Of Terminal Jetty: BUA Releases Evidence Against NPA

BUA Group has released more evidence against claims cited by the Hadiza Bala Usman-led Nigerian Ports Authority for the decommissioning of the Terminal B Jetty(BUA Concession Area) Port Complex, Port-Harcourt, Rivers state.

POLITICS NIGERIA earlier reported that the NPA had decommissioned the Port concession agreement that BUA got in 2006, claiming that the unsafe operational environment of the jetty needed "urgent repairs and reconstruction".

However, the decommissioning contravened the Principle of agreements under Port Reform Programme of 2005 which clearly states that  Port terminal operators will solely operate the facilities, while the NPA will be responsible for repairs and infrastructural upgrades.

The General Manager, BUA Ports and Terminals Ltd, Ibrahim Mohammed, while reacting to the development, disclosed that the concession is expected to last for 20-years before the need for renewal but the company has only been in charge for 13-years.

He revealed that BUA had severally sought approval from NPA to perform remedial works on the terminal but the NPA didn’t grant it and decided to decommission the terminal. 

Below are Documents and Key Facts of the Situation along with Evidence of BUA's Claims;

https://politicsnigeria.com/shutdown-of-terminal-jetty-bua-releases-evidence-against-npa/

POLITICSNIGERIA.COM

A former minister for women affairs, Jumai Alhassan popularly known as “Mama Taraba” has dumped the United Democratic Party, UDP for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Politics Nigeria gathered that Alhassan, at a meeting in her Jalingo Residence, explained that her defection to the PDP was based on an opinion poll carried out at a stakeholders’ meeting.

She revealed that she had no other option than to follow the decision of the majority members of the party.

It will be recalled that Alhassan contested for governorship on the platform of the UDP in the 2019 general elections and lost.

https://politicsnigeria.com/breaking-former-minister-decamps-to-pdp-reasons/

POLITICSNIGERIA.COM

President of South-Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa was embarrassed by Zimbabweans on Saturday afternoon as he addressed mourners at Robert Mugabe’s state funeral in the capital, Harare.

Ramaphosa was booed by the crowd over Xenophobic attacks on foreigners in his country. The funeral service, which is taking place at the National Sports Stadium, has seen heads of state and former presidents joining Zimbabweans in paying tribute to the former President.

In recent weeks, foreign nationals were attacked in South Africa during a spate of violent activity that led to shops being looted and property vandalized. Twelve people have died, many have been arrested and hundreds of immigrants. including Nigerians and Zimbabweans, have left the country.

When he was finally allowed to speak, Ramaphosa apologised for the violence.

He said, "South Africans are not xenophobic. He says foreign nationals are welcomed in SA."

"This we do to push for unity that Mugabe stood for".

POLITICS NIGERIA has the video, watch below;

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=826791791051763&id=100011628497729

Source: https://politicsnigeria.com/breaking-south-africas-president-ramaphosa-booed-at-mugabes-funeralphotos/

POLITICSNIGERIA.COM

A prosecution witness, Musa Sunday, who is testifying against a former governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, in an alleged N6.2billion fraud, on September 12, 2019, narrated to a State High Court, sitting in Jos, Plateau State, how his aide conveyed cash to him at the Government House.

POLITICS NIGERIA learned that Jang and the aide, Yusuf Pam, a cashier at the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, are accused of colluding to divert state funds to personal use and are standing trial before Justice Daniel Longji.

Sunday, who is testifying as the 11th prosecution witness, while being cross-examined by Mike Ozekhome, SAN, counsel for Jang, gave a vivid description of how Pam, during investigations into the alleged fraud, took him through the hidden back passage through which he usually used to take cash to Jang.

He said: “The new Government House is located at the outskirt of town amidst a lot of buildings.

“Amongst the buildings was the office of the SSG of the state where Pam and the EFCC detectives reported their arrival to the SSG.

“From the SSG's office we were led to the Government Office, the Governor’s office, a storey-building with two doors one at the main entrance and at the back exit.

“There, Pam showed us how he delivered cash in ‘Ghana must go’ bags to the former Governor.

“He had clearly said and even showed me the back entrances where the cash was stacked and given to the governor.”

While identifying Exhibit P62, a response from the Plateau State House of Assembly dated July 19, 2018 and September 2014, alongside the letter from the EFCC requesting for information, Musa told the court that investigations revealed that memos were written by the Commission of Finance, who was involved in seeking approval for the disbursement of the funds involved in the alleged fraud.

“However, the monies were further transferred from Plateau State One account to OSSG account where the second defendant withdrew cash and delivered to the first defendant,” he said.

While trying to infer that the prosecution of Jang was political, Ozekhome questioned the witness, as to why it took four years before the former governor, who contested under the Peoples Political Party, PDP, was arraigned in court.

“Four years later, Jang was charged on April 4, 2018, and don’t you think this has a political undertone?” Ozekhome queried.

So between 2014 and 2018 when the petition was received and when he was first charged to court, it took four years, don’t you think this has a political undertone?” Ozekhome queried.

Replying, Sunday said: There are laid down procedures following investigation, the legal team take up the cases and charge them to court. All these processes takes time.”

Under cross-examination, the witness further confirmed that about $100,000 was deposited in a single day into the Standard Chartered Bank.

He said: “On the May 6, 2014 $50,000 cash deposit in tranches of $10,000 five times and on May 7, 2014.

“Yakubu Jang, son of the first defendant was among the persons who deposited monies into the account.”

The case has been adjourned to September 13, 2019.

https://politicsnigeria.com/n6-2-billion-fraud-how-aide-delivered-cash-in-ghana-must-go-bags-to-ex-governor/

The Department of State Services (DSS) wishes to reiterate its earlier alert to the nation of plans by subversive groups and individuals to undermine national security, peace and unity in the country. These elements are determined to exploit political differences and other occurrences, within and outside the country, to destabilize the nation.

They also initiate narratives to deepen their subversive objectives so as to achieve preferred illegal outcomes. The aim is to set the country on fire as well as inflame passions across ethnic and religious divides with expected violent consequences. Also, the Service expresses dismay over the increasing use of fake news and unsubstantiated information spread across social media platforms to deceive and incite sections of the populace to civil unrest.

While condemning the unpatriotic and misguided activities of these anti-social elements, the Service equally warns them to desist forthwith from their unholy acts as the full weight of the law will be brought against them. In the same vein, citizens are enjoined to remain law abiding, peaceful and report any suspicions likely to inhibit public safety to appropriate authorities. On its part, the Service will remain committed in its pursuit of national stability in line with its statutory mandate of protecting the country against crimes and threats to its internal security.

Peter Afunanya, Ph.D
Public Relations Officer,
Department of State Services,
National Headquarters,
Abuja

https://politicsnigeria.com/just-in-dss-issues-alert-over-plans-to-undermine-peace-in-nigeria/

The governor of Imo State Chief Emeka Ihedioha should be advised by well meaning Imo Citizens to open the Imo International Cargo Airport built by the former governor of the State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, for operations, which the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo had also commissioned.

The opening of the International Cargo Airport has now become increasingly necessary following the Federal Government’s moves to close the Enugu Airport for renovation works. And when such action takes place, the next option for Imo people, South-East people, Nigerians and the rest of the World especially the businessmen and women in this part of the Country would be the Imo International Cargo Airport.

The former governor had built the International Cargo Airport to open Imo State for business to the rest of the World. And the current governor should take cognizance of the fact that although Okorocha built the International Cargo Airport, but it does not belong to him, but to Imo people whose money, in the first place, was used in financing the project.

The governor should look beyond Okorocha and see what the State and her people stand to benefit if the Cargo Airport is opened for operations, both now and in the nearest future. Especially when everything needed to be done had been done and what is left is to open the venture for business.

The governor should also be advised to allow the Judges or the State Judiciary to move to the Ultra-modern Justice Oputa High Court Complex also built by him which the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad had described as the best across the nation on the day he came to Commission the project. Leaving such edifice unused and allowing weeds or grasses to take over the Complex is a disservice to Imo people.

It is also proper to advise Governor Ihedioha to equally move the Police to the new Police Headquarters and the Prisons to the new Prisons Headquarters also built by his administration along Aba Road. It is not advisable to leave such gigantic structures unused. And although the Police Headquarters and Prisons Headquarters he built could be adjudged Federal projects, the governor can go for refund.

The former governor had built these amazing structures to decongest Owerri, the State Capital and also create cities within the Owerri Municipality. And the idea had paid off because Owerri has now connected Obinze, Umuguma, Nwaorubi, and so on.

Chief Ihedioha should equally be asked to open the two flyovers built by Owelle Okorocha which he closed few days after his inauguration and reduce the rate of playing Politics with projects that have direct bearing with the people. The two flyovers had been in use for about four years before his emergence as governor and closing them with the aim of discrediting them for Political reasons won’t serve Imo people in particular and the general public any useful purpose. Owelle had built the flyovers and tunnels to stop traffic-jams in Owerri and to save lives.

The governor can do all these to mark his one hundred days in office, all in the interest of Imo people and the general public.

Sam Onwuemeodo
Special Adviser (media) to the former governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha

https://politicsnigeria.com/ihedioha-should-open-imo-cargo-airport-built-by-okorocha-sam-onwuemeodo/

POLITICSNIGERIA.COM

Activist and Convener of Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju has revealed that Sahara Reporters Publisher and Former AAC Presidential Candidate, Omoyele Sowore is sick and reportedly being denied treatment.

POLITICS NIGERIA earlier reported that Sowore has been in detention ever since his arrest by the Department of State Security Service, DSS on August 3rd.

Adeyanju, in a statement via his Facebook page, revealed that Sowore was not in good health. He wrote;"Just got news about Sowore.He is sick and they are denying him medical care. Is this fair? Sowore is a hero. How can you treat the nation’s heroes this way then give Bandits & terrorists VIP treatments? #FreeSowore"

https://politicsnigeria.com/just-in-sowore-is-sick-being-denied-treatment-details/

POLITICSNIGERIA.COM

The Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN has responded to an order by the Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Mohammed Adamu, for the arrest of all Shiite leaders in the country.

Below is a statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA by the group condemning the order;"The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has issued a nationwide order to all State Police Commands and Zonal Headquarters dated August 30, 2019, for the immediate arrest of members and leaders of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and the demolition of their structures across the states."

"It is on record that the Buhari administration, since its inception in 2015, has always used the commencement of the first month of the Islamic calendar, Muharram to persecute, kill and maim us and deny us any space to conduct all our religious rites expected of all Shi’ites. This recent order given on the eve of Muharram this year underlines the evil intention of the government to continue this pattern of attacks against Shia Islam and prevent us from conducting all our Muharram religious mourning obligations."

"Already, a parade of show of force by the Sokoto police command in dozens of vehicles has started in a neighbourhood with a large population of members of the Islamic Movement, despite the existence of a substantive court order from a Sokoto high court obtained since 31/01/2018 restraining the police force from curtailing the activities of the Islamic Movement in the state.""Similarly, in a meeting held in Kaduna, it was decided that the Elrufa’i administration will engage the vigilante groups to clamp down on any Ashura mourning session in Kaduna and environs to augment attacks by the Police command since the police has thus far failed to ‘finish’ the Islamic Movement.""To this end, we want to draw the attention of well-meaning Nigerians and the international community to the fact that the major problem confronting this country is certainly not the free Zakzaky processions, but rather the security challenges characterized by incessant kidnappings, attacks by bandits and terror attacks in most parts of the North.""The Sheikh Zakzaky-led Islamic Movement is not a security threat to Nigeria and Nigerians and has never ever been. Certainly, none of our religious rites, including the Ashura mourning sessions and its associated mourning procession or the moulud procession for which members of the Islamic Movement are well known for, can be of any threat to the nation. Even a child can attest to this fact."

"It is therefore strange that a fresh attempt by this regime to use all the paraphernalia of its office to brutally kill, maim and imprison thousands of innocent Nigerians, simply because of their faith at such a difficult time being experienced by Nigerians. The Buhari administration cannot continue to hide its incompetence and inadequacies in remedying the major problems confronting Nigeria by manipulating religious sentiments simply to score some cheap political points."

"Members of the Islamic Movement will most certainly remain steadfast and continue with all our religious programs and activities of Ashura mourning as well as the peaceful struggle for the freedom of Sheikh Zakzaky and the hundred others still in detention since the infamous Zaria genocide of December 2015. We have since challenged the proscription order in court and should our rights and freedoms to worship be further infringed upon in any way, we will not hesitate to take all necessary legitimate measures to enforce our rights.""We are the followers of Imam Husain (AS), the Grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). We will never bow and submit to tyranny, oppression and extrajudicial killings."

https://politicsnigeria.com/breaking-shiites-react-to-police-order-for-leaders-arrest-reveal-next-line-of-action/

POLITICSNIGERIA.COM

The Government of Imo State has ordered a citizen’s arrest against Senator Rochas Okorocha over an alleged assault on an official of the Government, Mr. Jasper Ndubuaku.

The Secretary to the State government, Uche Onyeaguocha, issued the order after the chairman of the committee on the recovery of government properties,

Onyeaguocha said that the state had also placed Okorocha on security watch and urged Imo citizens to arrest him and alert the government whenever they found him in the state. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a video, trending online on Thursday, captured some thugs beating Ndubuaku at Okorocha’s residence on Spibat Avenue, Owerri.

POLITICS NIGERIA gathered that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Rabiu Ladodo, and SSG confirmed the incident to newsmen at a joint news briefing in Owerri. They announced that a citizen’s arrest had been declared on Okorocha over the incident.

They claimed that Okorocha hired thugs to attack Ndubuaku, who doubles as Special Adviser to Gov. Emeka Ihedioha on Security matters. They said that the Senator representing Imo West would be arrested and prosecuted anytime he entered the state.

https://politicsnigeria.com/breaking-ihedioha-orders-for-okorochas-arrest-reasons/

Watch below;

https://politicsnigeria.com/breaking-thugs-attack-ihediohas-recovery-team-at-okorochas-house-in-imo-photos/

Youths loyal to the Former Governor of Imo state, Senator Rochas Okorocha clashed with members of Governor Emeka Ihedioha's recovery team led by Jasper Ndubuaku at the Okorocha's private residence located at Sipbat, Owerri.

POLITICS NIGERIA gathered that the team had gone on a recovery assignment in the area when the thugs loyal to Okorocha reportedly struck.It's unclear if normalcy has been restored as at the time of filing this report.

Watch the footage below

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2294867120826089&id=1650884521891022

Source: https://politicsnigeria.com/breaking-thugs-attack-ihediohas-recovery-team-at-okorochas-house-in-imo-photos/

POLITICSNIGERIA.COM

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has dissociated himself from a publication which made allegations against the Chairman and members of the National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal in Akwa Ibom State.The Minister in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Anietie Ekong said Senator Akpabio could not have been privy to the allegations made against the Judicial Officers because as a Senior Member of the Bar and a Party in the matter pending before Their Lordships, he understood the need to allow the Judges to decide the cases according to the facts.

According to the statement, “Moreover, Senator Akpabio as the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs cannot be said to be desperate to win a Senate seat but he is only contesting the outcome of the INEC manipulated results in order to ensure Justice and sustenance of democratic practice in Nigeria.“Senator Akpabio is shocked by the spurious allegation made by the Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State, Barrister Uwemedimo Nwoko, in a rejoinder to the said article, alleging that he “succumbed to blackmail and handsomely paid Barrister Leo Ekpenyong to recapitulate.”

The fact is that Ekpenyong withdrew the petitions against Senator Akpabio voluntarily when his clients made a volte-face and could not substantiate their claims as contained in Ekpenyong’s affidavit which he swore to before a court of law as evidence of voluntary withdrawal of those false petitions. Moreover, Ekpenyong’s client as mentioned in the stated affidavit is linked to the current Government of Akwa Ibom State and its officials.

“As an Elder Statesman, a serving Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, a former Minority Leader of the Nigerian Senate and a former boss to Barrister Nwoko, decorum demands that he accords Senator Akpabio some respect. The Attorney General should substantiate his wild allegation or offer an unreserved apology to Senator Akpabio.“Senator Akpabio is a democrat who believes in the rule of law, and this informed his decision to approach the Tribunal after the charade by the Mike Igini-led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Akwa Ibom State.

“Having attended many sessions of the Tribunal and indeed testified as a Competent Witness, Senator Akpabio is confident that justice will be done. He has an abiding faith in the judicial system to dispense justice without fear or favour, affection or ill will. He does not believe that any member of the Panel has a propensity to tarnish his hard-earned reputation by engaging in “judgement for sale” as alleged.“The Attorney General should also have reprimanded his PDP stalwart, Dr Chris Ekpenyong, whose aides have severally alleged on social media of attempts to influence the Panel judges in favour of APC with the sum of N5 billion.

“At the moment, the Honourable Minister is preoccupied with settling down in his new national assignment and would not want to be dragged into a matter he knows nothing about,” the statement said. The Minister cautioned paid agents of the Akwa Ibom State Government to allow the Judges to dispense justice without fear or favour since, according to him, the continuous and relentless sponsored adverts, were aimed at creating fear, intimidation and were capable of truncating the popular will of the people freely given to the APC.

https://politicsnigeria.com/akpabio-dissociates-self-from-bribery-allegation-against-tribunal-judges/

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POLITICSNIGERIA.COM

The All Progressives Congress in Kogi state has disqualified 12 aspirants for the party's ticket in the upcoming Kogi State Gubernatorial Elections.

POLITICS NIGERIA gathered that the state Governor Yahaya Bello, a member of the House of Representatives Hassan Bello, Ekele Aisha Blessing and Mr Abubakar Bashir have all been cleared to contest the forthcoming primary election scheduled to hold on August 29, 2019.

The Screening Committee of the party chaired by Senator Hope Uzodinma was inaugurated by the party chairman, Adams Oshiomhole Last week. Notable party Chieftains who made up the committee include Dr Adamu Abba, Hon. Bernard Mikko, Abdullahi Gumel and Hon. Okotete Stella as members.

In a report submitted by the committee seen by POLITICS NIGERIA, they arrived Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, approximately 12:45 pm and proceeded to the party secretariat for the screening exercise.The result of the screening as submitted by the committee, indicated that the incumbent governor, Bello, who was number one on the list, was cleared because of his ‘strong financial contribution to the party’ and after all his original and supporting documents were examined.

Abdulahi, who was number 16 on the list, was cleared because he was a committed member of the party, and after he presented his original secondary school certificate, while Blessing was cleared because she is a ‘team player’ and Bashir was cleared because he supports a ‘consensus candidate’ The party sold each gubernatorial form at N22.5 million, raking in N360 million and clearing only four candidates.

Aspirants that were disqualified include;Mohammed Audu, Yahaya Audu, Mona Audu, Danlami Mohammed, Babatunde Irukera, Rukkaya Ibrahim, Sani Lulu Abdulahi, Gen. Patrick Akpa(rtd) Prof. Mohammed Onaili, Yakubu Mohammed, Rear Admiral Usman Jibril (rtd).

https://politicsnigeria.com/breaking-apc-disqualifies-12-kogi-guber-aspirants-full-list/

The Nigerian Presidency has finally reacted to the viral report of 80 Nigerians indicted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI in the US for Fraud. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, told Channels Television on Sunday night that the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari will work with all nations of the world to fight criminality.

“The government will generate and ask for new laws from the National Assembly and there will be new executive orders that will block some of these loopholes that have been exploited by our fellow countrymen to go out there and embarrass and black paint the country”.

“Every citizen of this country who travels out of the country is required to obey the laws of their host countries,”

“The government would not stand in the way of the justice system,” he said. POLITICS NIGERIA gathered that Shehu also revealed that the Nigerians involved in the Fraud will be extradited to the US.

Watch the video Below;

https://politicsnigeria.com/just-in-what-buhari-will-do-about-indictment-of-80-nigerians-by-fbi-presidency/

POLITICSNIGERIA.COM

Information reaching the POLITICS NIGERIA Newsdesk this afternoon reveals that the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal has decided to reserve its judgement in the suit filed by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP challenging the election of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

A five-man panel of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal headed by Justice Mohammed Garba reserved judgment to a date to be communicated to all the parties involved in the petition.

Dr Levi Uzoukwu, who led the petitioners’ legal team insisted in his final written address that President Buhari’s claim that he submitted his certificates to the Military Board has been controverted by the Secretary to the Military Board.

https://politicsnigeria.com/breaking-ipob-attacks-foreign-affairs-minister-geoffrey-onyeama-in-austria/

cc: lalasticlala

POLITICSNIGERIA.COM

Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama narrowly escaped being beaten in Austria recently after some members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB disrupted a meeting he was presiding over.

The minister on sensing trouble, hastily left the Nigerian Embassy, where the meeting was holding.

Watch the video below;

https://politicsnigeria.com/breaking-ipob-attacks-foreign-affairs-minister-geoffrey-onyeama-in-austria/

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POLITICSNIGERIA.COM

Information reaching the POLITICS NIGERIA newsdesk this morning reveals that some officers of the Nigerian Police Force fired teargas at #RevolutionNow Protesters in Lagos.

The protesters had converged in front of Yaba Stadium to protest against the growing spate of insecurity and other issues in the country when the policemen struck. It will be recalled that the convener of the Protest, Omoyele Sowore has since been arrested by the Department of State Security, DSS.

Watch the video below;

https://politicsnigeria.com/breaking-police-fire-teargas-at-revolutionnow-protesters-arrest-several-photos/

A Nigerian Senator is currently in hot water after an Anti-corruption agency recovered constituency items worth N117 million stashed away in secret compound believed to belong to the senator.

Among the items recovered from Senator Utazi Chukwuka, who represents Enugu North in the Senate, include Motorcycles, Grinding machines and Transformers. Below is a statement from the ICPC;"The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has again recovered items worth N117,123,375.44 million from the Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial District of Enugu State."

"The items covered by this amount and recovered from the legislator are 168 and 51 numbers of motorcycles and tricycles respectively. They were discovered to be stashed away in a compound in Mkpologu town of Uzo-Nwani Local Government Area, believed to be owned by the Senator."

"The tricycles, motorcycles and grinding machines were meant to be distributed to the lawmaker’s constituents to empower them as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to alleviate poverty."

"Additionally, ICPC recovered 203 grinding machines, 60 motorcycles and 5 transformers in the compound which had been procured under another constituency project.""Thereupon the Commission impounded all the items and sealed the Senator’s compound."

Watch the video below;

https://politicsnigeria.com/icpc-makes-recovery-worth-n117-million-from-pdp-senator-in-enugu-photos/

POLITICSNIGERIA.COM

The #RevolutionNow Organizers have released the 'Rules of Engagement' for Tomorrow's massive protest all over Nigeria.Below is a statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA by the group;

"The Coalition of Revolution (CORE) seizes this opportunity to call on mass of Nigerians who have shown tired of the suffering in the land and the oppressive system that keeps enriching the rich at the expense of the poor.""It is no gainsaying that the Country has been plunged into crises by bereft leadership who have turned the Country into a ‘business centre’."

"CORE is reiterating all the demands at this hour for proper clarification as usual.""The Police may have to explain to the world how the following listed demands would lead to a violent protest and treasonable felony like the Police PRO, DCP Frank Mba stated in the Force Press Release issued yesterday."

"We understand that this is the crude old trick of the State to create fear in the minds of oppressed to delay their day of freedom.""But it is more glaring this time around that Nigerians have taken their destinies in their hands and are saying Enough is Enough to hardship, insecurity, insurgency, incessant killings, epileptic power supply, disrespect of court orders, blatant abuse of power and office, embarrassing corruption."

DEMANDS
1. An economy that works for all and not a handful of individuals, banks and foreign multi-nationals.

2. An effective and democratic end to insecurity and insurgency.

3. An end to systemic corruption and for total system change in the interest of all.

4. The immediate implementation of the 30,000 naira minimum wage at all levels in the public service as agreed with the trade unions.

5. Education as an enforceable right and not a priviledge.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

1. We eschew all forms of violence. No protester should throw any object as little as stones or attack any security officials.We are aware of their intent to provoke the mass unduly by using undue tactics and sponsored agents, so as to give the protest a bad name.We encourage all Nigerians to remain calm as we are ready to fight these injustices to a logical conclusion.

2. If you would come with water, make sure you come with water ONLY in plastic bottles. We say NO to glass wares.

3. Irrespective of the colour orange recognized as the insignia of the protest, everyone is free to come dressed in ANY colour.

https://politicsnigeria.com/breaking-revolutionnow-organizers-release-rules-of-engagement-for-protest-full-list/

POLITICSNIGERIA.COM

Dino Melaye is trending on social media after leading a worship session at church recently. Some Nigerians hailed the Senator for the move with some branding him 'the most intelligent politician in Nigeria'. He currently represents Kogi-West in the Senate.

POLITICS NIGERIA has the video. Watch below;

https://politicsnigeria.com/nigerians-react-as-dino-melaye-leads-worship-session-in-church-photos/

BUA Cement Chairman And Billionaire, Abdulsamad Rabiu Turns 59 Today

Abdul Samad Rabiu is a foremost industrialist, billionaire businessman, philanthropist and the Founder/Executive Chairman of BUA Group – a company which he founded in 1988 and has become one of Nigeria’s largest privately owned foods, mining and infrastructure conglomerate with diversified investments spanning across key business sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Under Abdul Samad’s astute leadership, BUA has grown steadily over the years to entrench itself as a leading player with holdings in cement, sugar, rice, flour milling and pasta (though both recently divested in January 2016), edible oils, logistics, agriculture, fertilizer production, steel and real estate. With a firmly established reputation for innovation, BUA Group is one of the largest contributors to Nigeria’s GDP and among its largest employers of labour.

At a young age and armed with a degree in Economics, Abdul Samad returned to Nigeria from the United States and joined the family business, the IRS Group, until 1988 when he set up BUA Group to engage in importing and trading in major commodities like rice, edible oils, flour and also, iron and steel rods. He later ventured into steel, billets and iron ore importation and supplying multiple rolling mills in Nigeria.Few years down the line, BUA acquired Nigerian Oil Mills Limited in 2001 which was at the time, the largest edible oil processing company in Nigeria. He was later to set up 2 flour milling plants in Lagos and Kano in 2005. By 2008, BUA, under Abdul Samad’s astute leadership, commissioned the second largest sugar refinery in sub-saharan Africa.

He then went on the acquire a controlling stake in the publicly listed Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (Sokoto Cement) in 2009 and commenced the construction of the over $1billion cement manufacturing complex in Obu-Okpella, Edo State which was commissioned in 2017. Furthermore, Abdul Samad in July 2018 commissioned the US$350 million Kalambaina Cement Plant in Sokoto State with a capacity of 1.5million metric per annual to improve cement export to neighbouring countries as well as contribute to the economy’s GDP.

In December 2018, CCNN and Kalambaina Cement Company merged their operations in a $1.1bn transaction that was the largest of its kind in Nigeria that year.Recent investments by the company include the $300 million, 20,000hectare BUA Lasuco Sugar Estate project in Lafiagi, Kwara State as part of the Nigerian Government’s Backward Integration Policy for the Sugar Industry and the BUA Rice Mill in Kano State which is the largest rice mill in Nigeria amongst others. He also started the construction of a new 3 million metric tonnes Cement plant in Sokoto state and has completed a new sugar Refinery in Port Harcourt making BUA the only company in Nigeria with a sugar Refinery outside Lagos.A former Chairman of Tropical Continental Bank from 1993 to 2000 and current Chairman of the publicly listed Cement Company of Northern Nigeria, Abdul Samad’s ever-expanding conglomerate boasts of several subsidiaries. Today, the BUA Group has been nurtured from a relatively small company in 1988 to a world-class conglomerate.

These are in addition to heavy portfolio investments in key sectors of the Nigerian economy.In addition to his economic contributions, Abdul Samad Rabiu, through the BUA Foundation, has also contributed immensely to various philanthropic and social development activities in various areas such as education, sports, and healthcare; with the ongoing development of a N7.5 billion 200-bed specialist hospital in Kano State.

As a testimony to hard work and an indefatigable entrepreneurial spirit, Abdul Samad Rabiu is a two-time Chairman of Nigeria’s Bank of Industry Board of Directors. He also sits on the board of several companies and financial institutions.

A recipient of many awards including the 2016 African Industrialist of the Year Award by the All Africa Business Leaders Awards, Abdul Samad Rabiu holds the prestigious Nigerian National Honour of Commander of the Order of Niger (CON). Abdul Samad Rabiu was recently listed as the 3rd richest Nigerian and 16th richest African by Forbes in its 2019 Rankings.

Kindly celebrate the titan as he turns 59 today..

https://politicsnigeria.com/bua-cement-chairman-and-billionaire-abdulsamad-rabiu-turns-59-today/