₦airaland Forum

Lagos By-Election: PDP In Dilemma As APC Settles For Bank MD

Wale Elegbede

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State is currently in a quandary over the selection of its candidate ahead of the October 31 Lagos East senatorial district election in the state.



This is as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) appears to have settled for the outgoing Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Bank, Tokunbo Abiru, as its candidate for the vacant senatorial seat.

The position became vacant following the death of Senator Bayo Osinowo aka Pepperito who died on June 15.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently announced the schedule for by-elections affecting 12 constituencies across eight states in both federal and state legislative houses, including Lagos East and Kosofe state constituency II.The vacancies across the federation were as a result of litigation and death of members.

Ahead of the by-election, it was gathered that no fewer than six members of the PDP have signified interest to represent the party and they have all obtained the party’s nomination form.

Among those already signified interest for the party’s senatorial ticket is the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in 2019 election, Mr. Babatunde Gbadamosi; the party’s candidate for the district in 2019 and daughter of the late Ayangburen of Ikorodu – Oba S.A.A Oyefusi, Princess Abiodun Oyefusi.

Others include the immediate past Vice President, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Yeye Adenike Shobajo; a trade unionist, Babatunde Olanrewaju; a legal practitioner, Aare Oladotun Hassan and Princess Saidat Fawora.

New Telegraph learnt that delegates and leadership of the party are currently divided on who will become the flag bearer of the party following the decision of some blocs within the party to support Gbadamosi who recently returned to the party ahead of Oyefusi who represented the party in the 2019 polls.

https://www.newtelegraphng.com/lagos-by-election-pdp-in-dilemma-as-apc-settles-for-bank-md/

Meet Joel Popoola: British genius of Nigerian descent behind digital democracy project


A British citizen of Nigerian descent Joel Popoola, the founder of a digital democracy project, Rate Your Leader, has said the app will soon be launched across all the states in Nigeria.

Legit.ng notes that Popoola said it is important for politicians to use the app to build relationships of trust with the electorate. He said: "Rate Your Leader is a cutting edge bridge between the elected representatives and their electors. The app will help politicians to listen, connect and engage with the voters within their constituencies, providing them with the tools to improve their voter reach, target and broadcast to voters at the touch of a button, encourage people to register to vote, and engage directly with voters without fear of abuse."

According to Popoola, the app will help leaders to know what matters most to the people whose interests they are serving. He said it will be extremely difficult for politicians and electorate to register multiple accounts on Rate Your Leader

Popoola grew up in Gbongan, Osun state where he had his primary and secondary education.

Read more: https://www.legit.ng/1296723-joel-popoola-british-genius-nigerian-descent-digital-democracy-project.html

It’s regrettable Nigeria never had Abiola as president--Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe

By Wale Elegbede


https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2019/06/its-regrettable-nigeria-never-had-abiola-as-president/

20yrs in power and still counting

....Nigeria’s Fourth Republic and long-term political office holders


Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, which clocks 20 years on May 29, has witnessed politicians, who have been in power uninterruptedly for two decades, FELIX NWANERI, TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE and WALE ELEGBEDE report

Nigeria’s Fourth Republic became possible, following the death of then military dictator, General Sani Abacha in 1998, as his successor, General Abdusalami Abubakar initiated the transition, which heralded the country’s return to democratic rule in 1999.

Abubakar, not only lifted the ban on political activities, but freed political prisoners. This led to formation and registration of three political parties – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Peoples Party (APP) and Alliance for Democracy (AD)).

Consequently, elections were held across the country for elective positions at the state and federal levels culminating in the April 1999 presidential poll that saw the emergence of a former military ruler, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as president and was sworn-in on May 29, 1999.

But 20 years after, it is still unfilled dreams, leaving many to wonder if Nigeria’s Fourth Republic was not one mismanaged even as there is the belief that a majority of those, who have been at the helm of affairs in the last two decades have over stayed their welcome.

David Mark

The former Senate president is among the top beneficiaries of the present political dispensation, having been within the corridors of power since 1999.
For Mark, who had earlier served as military administrator of Niger State (1984-1986) and minister of Communication, he has been in the Senate since 1999, which makes him Nigeria’s longest serving senator.
He was first elected as senator for Benue South Senatorial District in 1999 and was president of the Senate from 2007 to 2015
The Benue State born politician was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army in 1970 upon his graduation from the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) and retired as a Brigadier General.
Mark aspired for the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2019 general elections, but was among those defeated by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. His record as the nation’s longest serving senator would be equaled by the time the 9th National Assembly is inaugurated in June as he did not contest the poll to return to the Red Chamber after losing the PDP presidential ticket.

Ike Ekweremadu

The Senate deputy president will step into the shoes of his former principal (Mark) as he won election into the apex legislative chamber for the fifth time in the recent general elections.
The Enugu State born lawyer turned politician, who has the record of being the number two man in the Senate for 12 unbroken years (2007-2015), has been in the upper legislative chamber since 2003.
Before then, he had served as chairman of Aninri Local Government Area (1997-1998); Chief of Staff, Enugu State (1999-2001) and Secretary to the Enugu State Government (2001-2003) after which he was elected as senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District.

Ifeanyi Okowa


https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2019/05/20yrs-in-power-and-still-counting/

Campaign debts: Candidates go into hiding

Wale Elegbede

Less than six weeks after the conclusion of the 2019 general elections, bank accounts of some candidates who contested in the polls are in the red, with creditors and vendors breathing down their necks, demanding repayment.
Sunday Telegraph learnt that paucity of funds is major headache of most of the defeated candidates and sides in the election, especially those from the fringe parties who participated in the exercise for the very first time.

https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2019/04/campaign-debts-candidates-go-into-hiding/

Wike: A cat with nine lives

Governor Nyesom Wike is a fighter; he has come a long way in the art of political warfare. Last week, the Rivers State governor, again, came out unscratched from what is perhaps his biggest political battle. In this report, WALE ELEGBEDE writes on the hurdle the man popularly called ‘Mr Projects’ had to scale to secure a second term in office

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, cuts a different picture to different people. For some, he is a desperate politician with lousy character, while to others, he is a man that abhors injustice, especially against the masses and would go to any length to repel anything of such.
Regardless of the acuity, however, his bravery and daring spirit is one trait that can’t be easily untwined from him.

From when he berthed in the murky waters of politics, he has developed a knack for taking on political battles and winning most of them. He loves the game of politics and the game loves him. Whenever he suffered any political setback, those close to him say that he recoils, goes back to his chess board to plot again and come back in full fledge.

On the face value, Wike is a tough man and he is not a jelly, lily-livered man. But, those who know him say he is so gentle and unassuming that he could easily be classified as a man, who cannot hurt a fly. But, they are also quick to add that anyone, who looks for his trouble will get it in dose because he doesn’t suffer fools gladly.

Speaking in an interview with a national newspaper on the perception about him by a section of the media, Wike said: “For me, I’m not bothered about what the media writes about me. My own concern is, how do my people feel? Are they happy? Yes! Are they not happy? No! So, that is what bothers me. Rivers people elected me. Therefore, I owe them that responsibility to defend their interest.

https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2019/04/with-nine-lives/

Agbaje only uses PDP to make money, worse than Obanikoro- Bode George

Chief Olabode George was a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview with WALE ELEGBEDE, he speaks on the victory of the party at Osun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, the chances of the PDP at the Presidential Tribunal and the botched bid by the party to take over Lagos State at the March 9 governorship election


Don’t you feel disappointed about the outcome of the Lagos governorship election when even your candidate had to call to congratulate his opponent before the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) even announced the winner?



Let me tell you something, this is also part of what I was referring to when I said political experiences cannot be bought from the shelf. When you get somebody who is yet to learn the rudiments of an organization, that is what you get. In any organization, there are certain written laws and there are customs, which are not written. You may read the written law, but for the customs, you have to grow to know that this is a taboo here. We have done a post-mortem analysis; maybe I was also guilty. When Jimi Agbaje came into the party, we were looking for quality and he was contesting mainly at that time with Musliu Obanikoro.



We have seen Obanikoro and the people said they can’t have any of him again. This one too came and in my 21 years of party politics in PDP, I have never seen such absolute nonsense and I blame the national for it. We have resolved in the South- West that never again will anyone foist candidate on any state from the national.



You don’t jump over the managers of the party and go over to the lower level and start picking because you are vice chairman, deputy chairman or national chairman. You build your house from the foundation up. It is a sign of weak management and you are creating a dangerous precedence that will collapse your system. If the man refused to work with the state chairman and state exco and he thinks he can run elections by himself, and he can go and do all he likes, what do you expect




Did he contact anyone of us throughout the campaign? I don’t want to say much on this issue. But that behaviour is against party discipline, it is against the practice and culture of the party and we would never again accept that from anybody as long as I am in this party. I didn’t make the rules and regulations of the party, but all of us must follow and obey the rules so that we can emerge as the ruling party in Lagos State. He didn’t even have the courtesy to talk anybody or leader in the party. Do you think anybody in his own madness would try that with Bola Tinubu? He disregarded the party; he disregarded the managers of the party and headed on his own.



But he said he incurred the wrath of the party leaders because he stopped the Lagos PDP tradition of sharing campaign monies to the elders?



That is absolutely insane, quote me. Which PDP leaders sharing money? Was he here? When he contested in 2015, we ran the elections where we won eight House of Assembly seats, six Federal House of Representatives seats and the margin of defeat at the governorship was nothing embarrassing. Sharing which money? So, it is an idea that he personified the party? I have been leader of this party from day zero, if he has the nerves let him point the names of those who have shared the monies. It is not only an insult; he must be a special candidate in the hospital. The normal practice which Abuja does is that x is going for your election, that election was not his election, it was Atiku’s.


https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2019/03/lagos-guber-why-jimi-agbaje-was-beaten-black-and-blue-by-apc-bode-george/

80 women battle 987 men for 29 guber seats
….Gen. Useni, Oyo PPN candidate lead the oldest pack at 75
…Akwa Ibom deputy governor, the oldest running mate at 76

By Wale Elegbede

A fierce contest is expected to take place on Saturday as 80 female candidates square up against 987 male for 29 governorship seats in the states.
Similarly, that day, elections into the Federal Council Territory (FCT) area councils for chairmen and councillors will also be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Just as it was penultimate week in the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the governorship race is largely going to be a straight fight between the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In the 2015 general elections, about 368 candidates vied for the governorship seats in 29 states, 58 of them were APC and PDP candidates.
Governorship elections won’t be taking place in seven states. The states are: Kogi, Anambra, Bayelsa, Osun, Ondo, Edo and Ekiti.
Out of the 1,067 candidates vying for the governorship seats in 29 states on Saturday, 28 of them are APC and 29 are PDP candidates.
The APC is not presenting governorship candidate in Rivers State due to a court ruling on its governorship primaries.
According to New Telegraph findings, only 80 of the 1,067 governorship candidates are female, representing 7.5 per cent of the governorship hopeful.
All of the 29 states have female as their gubernatorial candidates except three states. The states with no female governorship candidates are: Borno, Kastina and Plateau states.
The Change Advocacy Party (CAP) recorded the highest number of female gubernatorial flag bearers by a political party. It has seven women as candidates.

Courtesy: https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2019/03/80-women-battle-987-men-for-29-guber-seats/

17 govs, ex-govs head for Senate

By Felix Nwaneri, Wale Elegbede and Temitope Ogunbanke



An unprecedented 17 outgoing and former governors have won senatorial seats in the ongoing general elections. They are among the 23, who contested last weekend’s National Assembly elections. The outgoing governors, who will seamlessly transit to the Senate, are six in number.



They are Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Abdulazeez Yari (Zamfara), Tanko Al Makura (Nasarawa).



Eleven former governors, who won the senatorial contests are, Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), Theodore Orji (Abia), Chimaraoke Nnamani (Enugu), Danjuma Goje (Gombe) and Adamu Aliero (Kebbi) Others are Kabiru Gaya (Kano), Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano), Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa), Gabriel Suswam (Benue) and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto). Equally heading for the Senate are three serving and former deputy governors.



A former deputy governor of Abia State, Enyinnaya Ababribe, who won election for a fourth term would be joined the deputy governor of Jigawa State, Ibrahim Hadejia and ex-deputy governors of Akwa Ibom State, Chris Ekpenyong.



However, it was sour tale for two serving governors – Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) and Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe). The duo had their bids dashed, following their defeat in the elections. Three former governors, incumbent Senators Bukola Saraki (Kwara) and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) lost their re-election bids, while ex-Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) also lost his senatorial bid. The former deputy governors – Senator Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti) and Steve Lawani (Benue), and the incumbent deputy of Kaduna State, Barnabas Bantex, were defeated in the senatorial election.



Orji Uzor Kalu



The former two-term governor of Abia State (1999-2007) is heading to the Senate on his second attempt to represent Abia North Senatoral District. His first attempt was in 2015, on the platform of Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), but he lost to Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Demo- cratic Party (PDP).



The people of the zone, first voted on March 28, 2015, during the general elections, but the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, Imo State, nullified the declaration of Ohuabunwa as winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).



The invalidation was consequent of an appeal by Kalu against the judgement of the National Assembly Election Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, in which his petition against Ohuabunwa was dismissed. Kalu had approached the appellate court after the tribunal headed by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, on the ground that election was characterized by irregularities and intimidation of voters. Interestingly, the tribunal admitted that there were falsifications, alterations, inflation and deflation of figures in its ruling, but went ahead to strike out the petition on the ground that the former failed to prove his claims of irregularities and falsification of results by the PDP beyond reasonable doubt.



The judgement was however overturned by the Court of Appeal and as a result, Ohuabunwa’s election nullified. A fresh election was consequently ordered, but the same scenario on which the poll was nullified played, but INEC went ahead and declared Ohuabunwa winner. So, last weekend’s election was replay of the 2015 contest as both men squared against each other again. This time, Kalu,who ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had his pound of flesh on Ohuabunwa.



The former governor polled 31,203 votes to defeat the incumbent senator and candidate of the PDP, who had 20,801 votes. The APGA candidate, Ogba Onuoha, came a distant third with 11,410. Kalu won in four of the five local government areas that make up Abia North, including Arochukwu, the PDP candidate’s home local government with 1,166 to PDP’s 843.



In Ohafia, Kalu polled 5,523 votes against PDP’s 4,861. In Isuikwuato, he polled 8,317 to PDP’s 4,609, while in Bende, his home local government, he had 10,701 to PDP’s 4,875. Ohuabunwa only won in Umunneochi Local Government Area by 5,613 against Kalu’s 5,496. This is not the first time Kalu, a man of many parts, whose rise to national and international limelight was quite meteoric, will be in the legislature.



As member of the House of Representatives between 1992 and 1993, he moved the famous Dual-Citizenship Rights Bill.



Sam Egwu



The former governor of Ebonyi State (1999-2007) is making a return to the Senate for the second time. He was first elected to the upper chamber of the federal legislature in 2015 on the platform of the PDP. Egwu defeated won his second term bid with 80,711 votes against 38,375 votes polled by his closest challenger, Matthias Adum of the APC, to return to the red chamber to represent Ebonyi North Senatorial District.



A former university lecturer, served as commissioner for Education in Ebonyi State before he became governor in 1999. In 2008, then President Umaru Yar’Adua appointed him Minister of Education, the position he held till April 2010. Currently, he is the chairman, Senate Committee on Industry.



Rochas Okorocha



For the Imo State governor, who would be serving out the constitutionally allowed two terms for governors on May 29, it was a tortuous journey to the Senate given his running battle with some members of his party at the state and national level. Okorocha had insisted on his sonin- law and former Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu, as the governorship candidate of the APC in Imo State, but was resisted by those who felt that he should not lord it over the party after picking its senatorial ticket to represent Imo West Senatorial District in the National Assembly.



Nwosu was knocked out by Senator Hope Uzodinma, but the governor’s camp did not give up.



Its members quickly mobilized and joined the Action Alliance (AA), the platform Nwosu would be contesting the governorship poll.

However, the travails did not deter Okorocha, who dumped the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) through which he rose to power in 2011, for the APC in 2014 on the premise that the party will not only enthrone good governance at all levels in the country, but is a veritable platform for a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction.



The Imo State governor, Okorocha garnered 97,762 votes to beat his closest rival, Jones Onyereri, of the PDP, who got 68,117 votes as well as Senator Osita Izunaso of APGA, who polled 30,923 votes to emerge as Senator-elect for Imo West Senatorial District.

Credit: https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2019/02/17-govs-ex-govs-head-for-senate/

The Women after Buhari’s job


Seventy-eight persons are seeking to unseat President Muhammadu Buhari in next year’s general elections, but only five of them are women, representing six per cent of the presidential candidates. WALE ELEGBEDE looks at the women who are in the race for Aso Rock


In Africa, the political terrain is a male-dominated landscape. Over time, women’s representation in politics has been abysmally low.

In Nigeria, statistics showed that the overall political representation of Nigerian women in government is less than seven per cent.

They believe that the males will usually take the fair share ahead of them. For them, the issues are not farfetched. They are confronted by gender-based attacks which include being sexually harassed, labelled “prostitutes” or “concubines,” considered inferior, the absence of financial backing, among others. They are also confronted with cultural and social factors.

However, in the face of the damning statistics that enunciated the glaring under-representation, women have been undeterred as they have continued to make their voices heard and impact felt especially in both elective and appointments.

In Nigeria, the race for the plum job of the land, the presidency, has not been quite rosy after several attempts made to follow the steps of the electorate in countries like Liberia, Germany, Botswana, among others, who voted for female leaders.

The closest, women came in a bid to lead Africa’s most populous country was during the 2015 general election, when a professor of Linguistic, Mrs. Oluremi Sonaiya, almost cracked a glass ceiling with her approach and performance.
But, she polled 13,076 votes in the presidential election. Prior to Sonaiya’s voyage, Mrs. Sarah Jubril, a former presidential aide, had contested the presidential election, when she was on the ballot in 2003 on the platform of Progressive Action Congress (PAC), but lost to former President Olusegun Obasanjo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). She subsequently contested the PDP primaries in 2007, but got only one vote.

But, with a heightened appetite to change the narrative and recital of women in elective offices, especially for the presidency in 2019, a number of women have decided to throw their hats into the ring to vie for the top job of the land.

In 2015, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cleared 10 candidates, including President Buhari, to contest against former President Goodluck Jonathan with 26 parties registered to participate in that election. Then, only one of the candidates was a woman.

Already, the 2019 race, is a crowded one, and at the last count, no fewer than 78 candidates have indicated interest to contest the election against the incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Out of the list of presidential candidates and their parties released by INEC ahead of the February 16, 2019, presidential election, five women have gotten the nod of their parties and as a result will found their ways into the ballot for the race.

They include Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies of Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJC); Barr. Eunice Atuejide of National Interest Party (NIP); Dr. Oby Ezekwesili of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN); Mrs. Angela Johnson of Alliance for a United Nigeria (AUN) and Dr. Rabia Cengiz of National Action Council (NAC).

But, beyond the euphoria of being listed on the ballot, the question is: Can these women change the gender narrative in Nigeria’s politics?

https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2018/11/women-after-buharis-job/

A nation of political dynasties

Felix Nwaneri


Politics in Nigeria is gradually becoming affairs of a few families as some of them sit side-by-side to deliberate on important legislations and policies that affect the future of more than 180 million people, Felix Nwaneri reports



Though it has often been contended that political dynasties go against the values upheld by democracy since it does not provide an equal opportunity for people to hold offices of power and service, it has thrived even in advanced democracies such as the United States (U.S.) even the country’s founding fathers, wholeheartedly objected to power flowing through blood rather than the ballot, as they declared in the constitution that “no title of nobility shall be granted by the United States.”

This perhaps, explains why the narrative of one of the country’s most prominent political families, the Kennedys, avoids the word – dynasty.

Nigeria has also seen the rise of political dynasties. They include the Yar’Aduas, Ojukwus, Nwodos, Adedibus, Obasanjos, Akinjides, Shinkafis, Sarakis, Tinubus, Okorochas, Ubas, Igbinedions and Abiolas. Most of these families have moved from state or regional power bases to national prominence.

The Yar’Aduas The patriarch of the Yar’Aduas,who hail from Katsina State, Musa Yar’Adua, was a teacher who later served as Minister for Lagos Affairs between 1957 and 1966 during Nigeria’s First Republic.

His son, Shehu, who enlisted in the army in 1962 as part of Course 5 intake of the Nigerian military training school, later became Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters under the regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo. He held the position between 1977 and 1979. He had earlier served as Transport Minister in the General Murtala Mohammad’s regime. On retiring from the army, Musa Yar’Adua joined politics. He formed the Peoples Front of Nigeria, which had the likes Babagana Kingibe, Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tinubu, Ango Abdullahi, Yahaya Kwande, Babalola Borishade and Rabiu Kwankwaso as members.

The organisation later merged with other groups to form the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which he sought its presidential ticket in 1992. He was leading the race for the party’s nomination before the results were cancelled.

A new presidential primary was later conducted and business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, emerged winner. In 1994, Yar’Adua won a seat to represent Katsina in the National Constitutional Conference. He was an outspoken delegate and that earned the attention of the military leadership who detained him for four days. He, Obasanjo and others were arrested in March 1995 on allegations of plotting to overthrow the Sani Abacha regime.

He was sentenced to death by a military tribunal in 1995. The sentence was commuted to life in prison, but died in prison on December 8, 1997. The presidential ambition, which General Yar’Adua was unable to realise was however achieved by his younger brother, Umaru, in 2007. He was elected president on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after he won the April 21, 2007 presidential election. He had earlier served as governor of Katsina State between 1999 and 2007. Death, however, cut short his reign on May 5, 2010 after a protracted illness. He was succeeded by his vice, Goodluck Jonathan, who later appointed General Yar’Adua’s son, Murtala, as minister of State for Defence.

The Ojukwus

What comes to the consciousness of most Nigerians whenever the name – Ojukwu – is mentioned is the late Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. Not many know that the name was a household even before the emergence of the warlord. His father, Sir Louis Philip Odumegwu Ojukwu was one of the greatest businessmen ever produced in Africa and one of the richest. The Nnewi, Anambra State born businessman, was at aged just 30, managing his own chain of businesses which included, Ojukwu Stores, Ojukwu textiles and Ojukwu transportation company.

https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2018/10/a-nation-of-political-dynasties/

Killer herdsmen are govt agents – Oyedepo

Wale Elegbede


The Bishop of Living Faith Church (aka Winners Chapel), Bishop David Oyedepo, yesterday said the inability of the government to arrest killer herdsmen in some part of the Middle Belt zone was because the killers are agents of the government. Speaking in Ota, Ogun State, at the Church’s Sunday Service titled ‘Covenant Day of Settlement and Thanksgiving’, the clergyman stated that it is absurd for the government to fail in arresting some self-confessed killer herders in Jos, Plateau State.

The church had embarked on seven-day prayer and fasting for Nigeria, which ended yesterday. Oyedepo said: “Help me ask them how many mosques have been destroyed by these people? You can also ask them how many of those who have destroyed the church has ever been caught? How many of the destroyed churches has government ever added a dime to rebuild? “I have said it, let us remove the mask from the masquerade and nobody will fear it anymore. Government is part of this thing; you don’t need to go to school to know that. “If people claimed responsibilities to the killings in Jos and were not arrested, the question is who is to arrest them? Is it the citizens or government? It’s the government, but they cannot arrest them because they are their agents.”

https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2018/10/killer-herdsmen-are-govt-agents-oyedepo/

2019: 25 govs, ex-govs pick APC, PDP senatorial tickets

Wale Elegbede

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have picked 25 current and former state governors as their senatorial candidates for the February 14, 2019 election.

Kano and Kwara states lead the pack with five serving and former governors jostling for the senatorial seats.

The APC, which is the ruling party, has 17 serving and ex-governors as senatorial candidates for the 2019 poll.

On the other hand, the leading opposition party, PDP, has eight serving and former governors that are contesting to win a seat in the Red Chamber.

Also, six serving and former deputy governors are also in the race for senatorial seats at the 2019 general elections. While PDP has two former deputy governors vying for senatorial seats, the APC has two serving deputy governors and one ex-deputy governor, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has one former deputy governor.

https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/10/2019-25-govs-ex-govs-pick-apc-pdp-senatorial-tickets/

Lagos PDP chairman set to defect to APC

By Wale Elegbede and Temitope Ogunbanke

Barring any last minute change of plan, the Lagos State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Moshood Salvador, is set to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Salvador is to join the ruling party with some executives of PDP and about 17 of the 20 PDP Local Government Area chairmen in Lagos State. New Telegraph exclusively learnt that Salvador has been having a running battle with some key leaders of the party in the state over the composition of the State Working Committee (SWC).
Salvador, a former member of the House of Representatives from Lagos between 1999 and 2003 on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), became the state chairman of the party in November 2017. The PDP has not won governorship election in the state since 1999. According to a source within the party who craves anonymity, the pressure on Salvador to defect to the APC is coming from two ends: he wasn’t having it rosy in the party and the leadership of the opposition in the state is also on his neck to dump the PDP.

He said: “The cold war between him (Salvador) and his estranged godfather, Chief Bode George, must have reached its peak. First, it was about the 65-35 per cent of the State Working Committee and later the issue of the killing of Apapa Local Government chairman of the party, Adeniyi Aborishade. “The leadership of the party was already divided between Salvador and George, who is the supreme leader of the party in the state. What we are not sure of is whether the defection came on conditional terms from the APC in Lagos.” Salvador was conspicuously absent on Saturday at the party’s secretariat when a presidential aspirant of the party and former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, paid a courtesy visit to the executives and delegates of the party in the state. He was represented at the parley by the State Secretary, Prince Muiz Dosunmu. Speaking with New Telegraph, yesterday, Salvador confirmed his imminent defection from the PDP, saying that he can’t be working tirelessly for the party and his efforts are being rubbished by some people in the party.

He said: “Yes, it is true that I am leaving the party. How can I be working and somebody will be throwing it into the dustbin? How can I be fetching water into the basket? It is terrible!” The embattled PDP chairman, alongside 10 other party members, was recently arrested and arraigned by the police on two charges of conspiracy and unlawful killing of the Apapa Local Government chairman of the party, Aborishade. Aborishade was murdered on Saturday, July 21, during the PDP’s “visitation meeting” that held at Igbosuku Village, Eti-Osa Local Government Area.

https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/08/lagos-pdp-chairman-set-to-defect-to-apc/

2019: The women after Buhari’s job

Wale Elegbede


Against all odds, politics in Nigeria is no longer a men’s affair. In this report, WALE ELEGBEDE looks at the women who are after President Muhammadu Buhari’s job ahead of the 2019 election

In Africa, the political terrain is a male-dominated landscape. Over time, the women folk’s representation in politics has been abysmally low. In Nigeria, statistics showed that the overall political representation of Nigerian women in government is less than seven per cent.

The closest women came in a bid to lead Africa’s most populous country was at the 2015 general election, when a professor of Linguistic, Mrs. Oluremi Sonaiya, almost cracked a glass ceiling with her approach and performance, but she polled 13,076 votes in the presidential election. Prior to Sonaiya’s voyage, Mrs. Sarah Jubril, a former presidential aide, had contested the presidential election, when she was on the ballot in 2003 on the platform of Progressive Action Congress (PAC), but lost to former President Olusegun Obasanjo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). She subsequently contested the PDP primaries in 2007, but got only one vote.

In Africa, the political terrain is a male-dominated landscape. Over time, the women folk’s representation in politics has been abysmally low. In Nigeria, statistics showed that the overall political representation of Nigerian women in government is less than seven per cent. On the global scene, the world had its first elected female leader in 1960 – Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike. But Africa’s chance of an elected female president didn’t come until 2006, when Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, contested the country’s presidential election and won. Interestingly, out of nine female heads of state and government that Africa has had, only two, Sirleaf and Ameenah Gurib-Fakim of Mauritius, were able to secure an elective vote to lead their countries.

The rest assumed their positions in acting capacities. The thinking for most African women is that the political terrain is too rough and murky to navigate, and that is not far from the reality. They believe that the males will usually take the fair share ahead of them. For them, the issues are not farfetched. They are confronted by gender-based attacks which include being sexually harassed, labelled “prostitutes” or “concubines,” considered inferior, the absence of financial backing, among others.



They are also confronted with cultural and social factors. However, in the face of the damning statistics that enunciated the glaring under-representation, women have been undeterred as they have continued to make their voices heard and impact felt especially in both elective and appointments. In Nigeria, the race for the plum job of the land, the presidency, has not been quite rosy after several attempts made to follow the steps of the electorate in countries like Liberia, Germany, Botswana, among others,who voted for female leaders.

The closest women came in a bid to lead Africa’s most populous country was at the 2015 general election, when a professor of Linguistic, Mrs. Oluremi Sonaiya, almost cracked a glass ceiling with her approach and performance, but she polled 13,076 votes in the presidential election. Prior to Sonaiya’s voyage, Mrs. Sarah Jubril, a former presidential aide, had contested the presidential election, when she was on the ballot in 2003 on the platform of Progressive Action Congress (PAC), but lost to former President Olusegun Obasanjo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). She subsequently contested the PDP primaries in 2007, but got only one vote.

But with a heightened appetite to change the narrative and recital of women in elective offices, especially for the presidency in 2019, a number of women have decided to throw their hats into the ring to vie for the top job of the land. Already, the 2019 race, is crowded across the parties and at the last count, no fewer than 40 people have indicated interest to contest the election against the incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari, who is expected to emerge as the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Ahead of the 2019 election, five women have signified interest to run for the presidency. But, for them, the first hurdle is how to get their parties nod. They include Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya, Dr. Elishama Ideh, Barr. Eunice Atuejide, Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies and Princess Oyenike Roberts.


https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/08/2019-the-women-after-buharis-job/

Bode George: How Ajimobi, Otudeko reconciled Tinubu and I

By Wale Elegbede


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Newtelegraph
Newtelegraph
NEWSBode George: How Ajimobi, Otudeko reconciled Tinubu and IPublished 5 hours agoon August 3, 2018By Wale Elegbede
Bode George: How Ajimobi, Otudeko reconciled Tinubu and I
A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has revealed how the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and chairman of Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, reconciled him with the former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Speaking with New Telegraph in Lagos, George said there is no difference between him and Tinubu, adding that whatever happened between them in the past is already behind them. Tinubu was the governor when Federal Government pursued a case against George, who was the former Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). The case led to George being convicted. However, the Supreme Court has upturned the conviction. According to George, he attended the burial of the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola in Ibadan in 2014 and that was where he was reconciled with Tinubu. He said: “Bola (Tinubu) and I reconciled at a ceremony in Ibadan. You know I was so angry with him and it is human.

It was all a concocted, self-hatred because we have differences on political matters. But my teacher used to tell me that you can disagree without being disagreeable, I didn’t realise that. “So, I went to the burial of Arisekola..

https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/08/bode-george-how-ajimobi-otudeko-reconciled-tinubu-and-i/

Ebola: The virus that refused to go away

The recent cases of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo raises questions about the containment of the disease in Africa. In this report, WALE ELEGBEDE writes on the need to safeguard the continent against another bout of EVD outbreak

Although the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) first surfaced in two simultaneous outbreaks in Sudan and the then Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo {DRC}) in 1976, the major outbreak that took the world by storm happened in 2014 and was mostly confined to Sub-Saharan Africa.

In contrast to previous outbreaks, the 2014 EVD epidemic, which was first identified in Guinea, recorded an estimated 27,984 cases and 11,298 deaths.

From where it started in Guinea in December 2013 when an 18-month-old baby from a small village in Guinea was infected by bats, it extended to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Senegal, Nigeria, Mali, and also extended its spread to the United States (US) and Spain.

EVD, a rare and deadly disease, is a viral hemorrhagic fever of humans and other primates (monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees) caused by ebolaviruses. Fruit bats are believed to be the normal carrier in nature and are able to spread the virus without being affected by it.

Signs and symptoms typically start between two days and three weeks after contracting the virus with a fever, sore throat, muscular pain, and headaches. Vomiting, diarrhoea and rash usually follow, along with decreased function of the liver and kidneys. At this time, some people begin to bleed both internally and externally.

https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/08/ebola-still-a-long-walk-to-safety-in-africa/

Sex-for-marks scandal: How I was trapped, by dismissed OA U professor

...Why I demanded five rounds of sex

...presented nude pictures of Miss Cynthia on Whatsapp

By Mojeed Alabi


The Professor of Management Accounting at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Richard Akindele, who was recently dismissed for sexually harassing a postgraduate student of the institution, Ms. Monica Osagie, has said he was only trapped by the student.

In his reply to query issued to him by the university, which was exclusively obtained by New Telegraph, Prof. Akindele explained that the five rounds of sex demand from Monica, as revealed by the leaked audio conversation between them, was a deliberate attempt to discourage the student and at the same time invite her to his office to obtain evidence.

The embattled professor, who also submitted screenshots of earlier WhatsApp conversations including nude pictures allegedly belonging to Ms. Osagie exchanged between them, said the student had, sometimes in November 2017, sexually harassed him in his office by pulling off her dress and revealing her body from chest to toes. According to the WhatsApp messages presented by the lecturer, which New Telegraph also obtained through a source, Ms. Osagie had allegedly initiated conversation with the lecturer at about 5:52a.m. on Sunday, February 25, 2018, declaring her interest in the lecturer, and sent him seductive messages, including nude photos. Akindele wrote: “I know the lady in the audio recording to be an MBA regular student.

I recall sometimes in November 2017 when she came to my office in company of some of her other MBA students/colleagues to inform me they failed a course that I took with another lecturer and pleaded that they should be upgraded. But I informed them that it was not possible because the result has been submitted and approved by the department.


https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/07/sex-for-marks-scandal-how-i-was-trapped-by-dismissed-oa-u-professor/

Exposed! Nigeria’s Deputy Speaker in N1.1bn water contract scam

Communities cry over shoddy projects



After about four months of investigations, New Telegraph’s reporter, MOJEED ALABI, exposes the corrupt practices in the execution of controversial N1.7 billion mini-water schemes in three communities in Osun State by members of the National Assembly, including the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Lasun Yusuff

On Friday, January 5, the sun was fierce and scorching in Ife-Odan, a nascent community in the West Senatorial District of Osun State.

Ileri-Oluwa Oloyede, an SS 2 student of Faith Foundation College, Ife-Odan, had just returned from market where she had helped her mother in her palm oil business. But the 16-year-old girl still had one more chore to do; to fetch water for the urgent need of the household.

Considering the stress she had gone through at the market, Ileri-Oluwa’s parents advised her to wait till sundown. But the longer she waited, the more difficult her chances of getting water became and the longer it would take the family to prepare dinner.

“If I wait for the sun to go down, many more people will be at the well, and that would worsen the situation. And if the crowd becomes uncontrollable, the landlord may lock his gate and drive us out,” she said.

Thus, while the sun was yet to finally recede, Ileri-Oluwa and her younger sister, Florence, hit the road for a three-kilometre trek in search of clean water at the nearest well.

It is the same story for Michael Adeoba, who was also on the road, almost at the same time, with his father’s motorcycle to fetch water into some 20-litre jerrycans.

https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/05/exposed-nigerias-deputy-speaker-in-n1-1bn-water-contract-scam/

2019: PDP shops for governorship candidate in Lagos

Wale Elegbede


…considers Agbaje, Doherty, Koshoedo, Dosunmu

Leading opposition party in Lagos State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is currently shopping for a governorship candidate ahead of the 2019 elections in the state.


Lagos is the only state which the PDP had not governed in the South-West since the Fourth Republic began in 1999.

New Telegraph exclusively learnt that the party had set up a search party being led by the state chairman, Hon. Moshood Salvador, some notable members of the chapter’s Elders’ Council, zonal ex-Officio, among others, to produce a credible, widely acceptable and popular party man to fly its flag in the next gubernatorial poll.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, is expected to seek a second term on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

A source, however, who preferred to be anonymity, said the party was in a dire need of a candidate that would first be accepted by vested interest in the party and be presentable to Lagosians as an alternative to Ambode.

https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/05/2019-pdp-shops-for-governorship-candidate-in-lagos/

The return of populism


Ahead of the 2019 general elections, politicians have returned to their usual game of appearing to empathize with the public through pulling of stunts in order to increase appeal across the political spectrum, FELIX NWANERI reports



The build up to the 2019 general elections is gradually taking shape with the various political parties, their likely candidates’ and aspirants kick-starting campaigns despite the fact that such contravenes the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended). According to the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in January, political parties would have a time frame spanning August 17, 2018 and February 28, 2019 for electioneering activities.

Babawo’s shoe shining kits, bags of oranges

No doubt, some of empowerment schemes by the respective tiers of government have been commended, but there are quite a great number of them that have attracted ridicule from Nigerians.

Osinbajo returns to the classroom

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is not left out of the Nigerian version of “retail politics.” The country’s number two man, during his recent visit to Ondo State picked up the chalk to teach pupils of Alagbaka Estate Primary School, Akure.

He also had a taste of the food served the children under the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) alongside his host, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. He late took to his Twitter handle to describe his experience with the pupils.
Atiku queues to see a movie

Not many would have imagined that Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president will queue to purchase a ticket to see movie at a cinema. But that was what the Wazirin Adamawa did in March he visited Silverbird Cinema, Jabi Mall, Abuja, with his children and some friends to watch the Disney-Marvel blockbuster – Black Panther.

He queued with other Nigerians to buy the ticket and to enter the cinema hall. It was alleged that h paid for tickets for all those who were to see the film with him.

https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/05/the-return-of-populism/

2019: PDP, SDP, ADC mull joint presidential candidate

...former Kano Governor, Mallam Shekarau, may emerge as consensus candidate

Onyekachi Eze and Wale Elegbede

Barring any last-minute change in plan, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) might field a joint presidential candidate with the Olu Falae- led Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) against President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) recently fused into ADC.

It was also learnt that the PDP is ready to hand over its structures in some states to some governors who are likely to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition party.


New Telegraph gathered that the political parties involved in the likely pact are opposed to a merger, but they are ready to dissolve their structures for a unified presidential candidate. “Talks are on over the possibility of a joint platform in 2019 among the PDP, ADC, SDP and other political movements.

This arrangement is akin to what happened in 1999 when the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the defunct All Peoples Party (APP) fielded a joint candidate in Chief Olu Falae without losing their identities. Falae eventually got over 11 million votes. “What they want to do is quite strategic.

The ADC is likely to be the face of the presidential alliance because of the party’s standing on the ballot, it is just ahead of the ruling APC,” a source told New Telegraph.
A source privy to the discussions going on between the three political parties revealed that the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State will be a dress rehearsal of the working agreement among the parties.

https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/05/2019-pdp-sdp-adc-mull-joint-presidential-candidate/

S’West PDP leaders root for Atiku

Wale Elegbede

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Newtelegraph
Newtelegraph
NEWS2019: S’West PDP leaders root for AtikuPublished 5 hours ago on May 8, 2018 By Wale Elegbede

The presidential aspiration of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar appears to be gaining momentum as some prominent leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West have already zeroed on him as the party’s candidate ahead of the 2019 general elections. Sources told New Telegraph that the leaders have been working together, albeit underground, to galvanise support for the former number two man in the zone ahead of the party’s presidential primaries which is expected to take place in August.



Atiku, who dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for PDP in November 2017, served as vice president between 1999 and 2007 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He has been going round the country in galvanising support for his presidential ambition in the 2019 general elections. The PDP had zoned its presidential ticket to the North and Atiku alongside former governors of Jigawa, Kano and Kaduna states, Sule Lamido, Ibrahim Shekarau and Ahmed Makarfi, as well as Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, have already declared interest for the race.

According to a source, most of the PDP leaders in the South-West have surreptitiously been supporting the Turaki Adamawa ahead of the party primaries.

“As we speak, most of the leaders of the party in the zone are already in sync with Atiku’s ambition and they have settled for him. Two former governors in the zone are in the vanguard of the support from the South-West.

https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/05/2019-swest-pdp-leaders-root-for-atiku/

Those waiting to arrest me ‘ll wait in vain- Fayose

By Wale Elegbede

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has said that he was not afraid of what becomes of him after leaving office as governor in October. He stated that “Those waiting for me will wait in vain, I am Peter the rock.”

Speaking yesterday during an interview on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television in Lagos, the governor said, he has defended Nigerians and he did not owe anybody an apology for his actions.

Fielding question on whether he was afraid of being arrested when he leaves office in October, Fayose said: “Who is God on earth, none. What are they talking about? Is it all these muzzlings of people? “I have done everything, I have defended Nigerians and I have no apology and I will never have one. He stated further that: “Let me tell you again, those waiting for me will wait in vain. I am Peter the rock. If they like, let them lock me up from today till next year. We have seen presidents, we will still see more, and this one too will soon pass.”

While stating that his presidential hope was still alive in 2019, the governor said: “I am going to run a beautiful campaign as a president. Let us finish the Ekiti governorship election. Nigerians want a man that can fix this country. I served with President Olusegun Obasanjo, President MusaYar’adua was my colleague, I served with President Jonathan, I am in President Buhari’s administration. I am the most experienced person in government today.”

https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/04/those-waiting-to-arrest-me-ll-wait-in-vain-fayose/

Depleting rank of ex-first ladies, first mothers



Depleting rank of ex-first ladies, first mothers

There are only 12 women privileged to see their husbands and sons sworn-in as presidents. Interestingly, seven of them are from Africa. WALE ELEGBEDE writes on the depleting rank of these rare breed of women who are both first ladies and mothers of presidents



In the lifetime of any woman, it suffices to be the first lady of any country. But when you are opportuned to be a first lady and mother of a president at another time, it is an unusual privilege. Expectedly, that line of privilege is not an everyday occurrence; hence, only 12 women in the modern world have been able to achieve such feat.

Regardless of the side of the divide one may belong, there is no way credence can be subtracted from these women; they are exceptional and courageous in the service to their nations as first ladies in their heyday and also played diverse roles and source of encouragement to their sons.

Nothing could better underscore the prominence and influence these special breed of women command like the accolades and tributes that followed last week’s exit of Barbara Bush, wife of George W. Bush, who was the 41st President of the United States and mother of George Bush (jnr), the 43rd President, and Jeb Bush, the 43rd Governor of Florida.

Barbara, regarded as the matriarch of the Republican political dynasty of the former first family, died on April 17 at the age of 92 in her Houston home. She was the only second woman in American history to have had a husband and son elected President.



Newtelegraph
Newtelegraph

POLITICSDepleting rank of ex-first ladies, first mothersPublished 5 hours ago on April 24, 2018 By WALE ELEGBEDE

There are only 12 women privileged to see their husbands and sons sworn-in as presidents. Interestingly, seven of them are from Africa. WALE ELEGBEDE writes on the depleting rank of these rare breed of women who are both first ladies and mothers of presidents



In the lifetime of any woman, it suffices to be the first lady of any country. But when you are opportuned to be a first lady and mother of a president at another time, it is an unusual privilege. Expectedly, that line of privilege is not an everyday occurrence; hence, only 12 women in the modern world have been able to achieve such feat.





Regardless of the side of the divide one may belong, there is no way credence can be subtracted from these women; they are exceptional and courageous in the service to their nations as first ladies in their heyday and also played diverse roles and source of encouragement to their sons.



Nothing could better underscore the prominence and influence these special breed of women command like the accolades and tributes that followed last week’s exit of Barbara Bush, wife of George W. Bush, who was the 41st President of the United States and mother of George Bush (jnr), the 43rd President, and Jeb Bush, the 43rd Governor of Florida.





Barbara, regarded as the matriarch of the Republican political dynasty of the former first family, died on April 17 at the age of 92 in her Houston home. She was the only second woman in American history to have had a husband and son elected President.





Other former first ladies and mothers of presidents who have passed on include: Ruth Williams Khama, wife of Botswana’s first president, Sir Seretse Khama, and mother of the immediate past president of the country, Ian Khama; Yuk Young-soo, wife of the 3rd South Korean president Park Chung-hee and the mother of the 11th South Korean president Park Geun-hye.



Abigail Adams is wife of former United States President, John Adams, as well as the mother of John Quincy Adams; Kamala Nehru, wife of India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru and mother of Indira, India’s former female prime minister; Adeline Akufo-Addo was the wife of former Ghana’s president and the mother of the incumbent, and Sushil Ramgoolam, wife of ex-Prime Minister of Mauritius, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam and mother of Navin Ramgoolam, Mauritius former prime minister.

https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/04/depleting-rank-of-ex-first-ladies-first-mothers/

U. S. pledges support for economic devt, good governance

Wale Elegbede

The United States of America has vowed to support efforts that would address Nigerian issues, particularly economic development, access to healthcare, peace and security and transparency and good governance. Speaking at the weekend in Lagos at the graduation ceremony for 2017 Fellows of the Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI), U. S. Consul General, F. John Bray, said the CYFI programme had allowed some of the most promising young people in the country, who were passionate about these issues to affect real, positive change.

The CYFI fellows shortlisted from a pool of the most talented and driven young people in Nigeria to design and implement projects focused on societal innovation, were grouped into four teams based on their common interests and backgrounds – civil liberties, health, education and economic empowerment.

Bray said: “Our objective at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos is to support efforts that address Nigerian issues, particularly economic development, access to healthcare, peace and security and transparency and good governance.


https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/04/u-s-pledges-support-for-economic-devt-good-governance/

See leaders of tomorrow....smh!

BREAKING: Buhari bows to pressure, set to visit Taraba, Benue, Rivers

President Muhammadu Buhari has finally bowed to pressure from Nigerians to visit Benue, Taraba, Rivers and other states experiencing terrorist attacks, criminal activities, Fulani herdsmen/farmers clash, communal clashes for the purpose of on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

The President has been under pressure to visit states that have witnessed violence recently but rather, the President was seen visiting some relatively peaceful states for social functions.

The Presidency announced this via its official Twitter handle stating that starting from today, March 5, the President will visit Taraba state and other states subsequently.



Benue, Taraba and some parts of Plateau have experienced violent clashes between Farmers and herders which has left over 300 persons dead. In Zamafara, cattle rustlers have killed about 100 persons while criminal activities in Rivers state left 21 dead on January 1.

Read https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/03/breaking-buhari-bows-pressure-set-visit-taraba-benue/

I am not a fan of DF, but on this, he is spot on. The gospel of the Kingdom is not Marketing 101. It is strictly JESUS CHRIST, the cross and the ressurection power. Anything outside this is self-help. Jesus said when we lift him up, he will draw men to himself. How many Professional Marketing course did Peter went when over 3000 souls gave their life in just one day. May the Lord help His church.

Lagos PDP in crisis as members call for chairman’s resignation

Wale Elegbede

Some stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Lagos State chapter, have asked for the resignation of the state chairman, Hon. Moshood Salvador, over allegations that he is undermining the party and the leader of the party in the state, Chief Olabode George.

Expressing their grievances on Wednesday during the Lagos West Senatorial meeting of the PDP held at Alimosho, the protesters alleged that Salvador’s decision to alter the agreed 65-35 sharing formula between the former National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi’s group and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff’s group, is an affront against the leadership of former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George.

The protesters, led by the Youth Leader of Alimosho local government, Mr. Adewale Akinte, carried placards with different inscriptions like: “Salvador is working for APC”, “Go, Salvador, Go!”, “On 65-35 we stand”, “Salvador, where do you belong, APC or PDP?”, among others.


https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/02/photos-lagos-pdp-crisis-members-call-chairmans-resignation/

Herdsmen killed 60 persons in Benue last week – Governor Ortom

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has disclosed that armed Fulani herdsmen last week invaded his village in Guma Local Government Area and killed more than 60 people while scores of others were rendered homeless, despite the launching of Ayem A Kpatuma military exercise to check the excesses of the invaders.

Also, a group known as Tiv Youth Organization, TYO, has called for the total overhaul of the security architecture of the nation to accommodate other nationalities in Nigeria.

The Governor disclosed this while speaking at the funeral site of 73 victims of Fulani herdsmen attack buried on January 11, 2018 in Makurdi where he took Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr. Pastor Paul Enenche, and his wife, Becky Enenche.

“As at today, after the launching of the Exercise Ayem A Kpatuma, there has been an influx of over one million cattle into Benue territory. This is not acceptable but we believe in the exercise that they will ensure that justice is given to us because we are law-abiding, we don’t want to take laws into our hands. We believe that the federal government whose prerogative it is to ensure the enforcement of our law will support us”.

“After the burial of the 73 people killed by the herdsmen, more than 60 other people have been killed just last week alone. These are innocent farmers who went to do their legitimate farm work. But thank God for Mr. President, we appreciate him for sending the Exercise Ayem A Kpatuma to the state, we were told it is not an operation but an exercise”.

He said the recent killings followed fresh incursion into the area by the herders whom he said came in with over one million cattle in the now deserted communities.

https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/02/herdsmen-killed-60-persons-in-benue-last-week-governor-ortom/