₦airaland Forum

https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/18/ex-skye-bank-chairman-ayeni-md-arraigned-secure-n50m-bail/

Dr. Tunde Ayeni, former Chairman of the defunct Skye Bank, now Polaris Bank, and Timothy Oguntayo, former Managing Director of the bank, were on Monday arraigned before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

However, the duo were granted bail to the tune of N50 million each in a money laundering suit filed against them by the Federal Government.

Ayeni and Oguntayo were docked on an eight-count charge bordering on money laundering charge amounting to N4.75 billion and $5million.

Both men denied any wrongdoing, a situation that made the prosecuting counsel, Abba Mohammed, to request for a date to commence trial.

Mohammed equally prayed the court to remand the defendants in prison custody pending commencement of trial.

Reacting, counsel to Ayeni and Oguntayo, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Tola Oshodi (SAN) respectively, told the court that there were pending bail applications filed on behalf of their clients, which had already been served on the prosecution.

The defence counsel informed the court that the defendants had been on administrative bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and that they had on their own been keeping their dates with the anti-graft agency for over a year now.

Efforts made by the prosecution counsel to kick against the bail application were futile as the court demanded to know if the offence was bailable of which the prosecution answered in the affirmative.

Having been convinced that the matter was bailable, the court asked parties to meet and agree on bail condition.

After standing down the matter for 10 minutes, the parties returned with the prosecution asking the court to decide on the matter judicially and judiciously.

BREAKING: Manchester United sack Jose Mourinho

FULL GIST> https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/18/breaking-manchester-united-sack-jose-mourinho/

FULL GIST >>https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/18/breaking-manchester-united-sack-jose-mourinho/

José Mourinho has been sacked as Manchester United manager following Sunday’s defeat at Liverpool, ending a tenure that began in May 2016. United finally lost patience with a head coach who was not adhering to the club’s core attacking values.

FULL GIST >>https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/18/breaking-manchester-united-sack-jose-mourinho/

José Mourinho has been sacked as Manchester United manager following Sunday’s defeat at Liverpool, ending a tenure that began in May 2016. United finally lost patience with a head coach who was not adhering to the club’s core attacking values.

FULL GIST >>https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/18/breaking-manchester-united-sack-jose-mourinho/

José Mourinho has been sacked as Manchester United manager following Sunday’s defeat at Liverpool, ending a tenure that began in May 2016. United finally lost patience with a head coach who was not adhering to the club’s core attacking values.

Mourinho was also relieved of his duties due to a transfer spend of around £400m on 11 players that, it is understood, the club insist were all the Portuguese’s choice. In addition to the disquiet regarding the side’s stultifying style, there was further disappointment at Mourinho’s development and improvement of United’s younger players. The club also took into account the growing unhappiness from fans at the direction of the club under Mouinho.

United will now appoint a caretaker until the end of the season but this will not be Michael Carrick, Nicky Butt, or anyone from within the club. Instead, following a thorough and extensive process will have Mourinho’s permanent successor in place for next season.

A poor start to the Premier League season has seen United slip 19 points behind the leaders, Liverpool, and fall off the pace in the hunt for a top-four place. They have won only once in six league matches, drawing during that sequence with struggling Southampton and Crystal Palace.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/18/senate-president-bukola-saraki-approves-12-names-nass-national-assembly-commission/

https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/18/sexual-abuse-lagos-pastor-olise-remanded-kirikiri/

An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Monday remanded a 54-year-old pastor, Michael Olise, in Kirikiri Prison for allegedly defiling 12-year-old twins.

Olise, who is said to be a pastor at Anointing Chosen Vessel, Governor’s Road, Ikotun, Lagos, allegedly committed the offences in November at 2, Okanlawon Street, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos.

According to police prosecutor, Raphael Dony, the defendant, a friend of the twins’ father, is facing a two-count charge of child defilement.

In the first count, he is alleged to have unlawfully defiled the first twin on November 15, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/18/next-editions-report-igp-orders-removal-of-checkpoints-across-nigeria/

Barely one week after The NEXT EDITION published an investigative report detailing high-level extortion of motorists by security agencies, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has ordered the dismantling of checkpoints across the country.

Mr. Idris’ order comes on the heels of a similar order by the Nigeria military high command.

After weeks of interviews and undercover exploration of the activities of security operatives deployed to checkpoints, they were found to be tacitly sabotaging the government’s efforts to eliminate Boko Haram and grow the nation’s economy.

The report also revealed how soldiers, police, customs, immigration and civil defence operatives frequently receive hefty bribes and turn a blind eye as fuel marketers and smugglers divert truckloads of petrol and foodstuffs to Boko Haram enclaves and neighbouring countries.

Apparently reacting to the NEXT EDITION report, IGP directed assistant inspectors-general (AIG) and police commissioners (CPs) across the country to ensure no checkpoint including those mounted by revenue agencies are allowed on the nation’s roads and highways.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, made the IGP’s order known while addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday.

The IGP said the move became necessary not to obstruct any road or highway, under the guise of collecting revenue, throughout the period of Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The ongoing Town Hall meeting organised by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Youth Wing, Lagos, has been greeted with ecstasy.

Holding at the Welcome Centre, Airport Road, Lagos, young supporters of the PDP gathered in their numbers to welcome their candidates who shared in some moments of dancing with them.
Below are pictures:

https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/17/breaking-pdp-presidential-candidate-atiku-abubakar-arrive-town-hall-meeting-youth-supporters-lagos-photos/

https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/16/woman-kills-neighbours-2-yr-old-son-revenge-father/

Police have arrested a woman identified as Chineye Ndubiife, for murdering Wisdom, the 2-year-old son of her neighbour, Promise Samuel, in Lagos.

The incident happened, on Wednesday, December 12, 2018, at 70 Lawani Street, Alakoto, Olodi Apapa.

The suspect who is presently in detention at Tolu Police station revealed how she sent a child to call Wisdom from their room.

Ndubiife, a mother of one, then took him to the backyard where she hit his head against the wall, before hitting his head again with a big stone, leading to his death.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/16/charlyboy-weds-wife-church-40-years/

Nigerian showbiz maestro and rights activist, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charlyboy, has formally walked his American wife, Diane, down the aisle to sign the dotted line after 40 years of marriage.

Charlyboy and Diane exchanged marriage vows on Saturday evening at the Chapel of Sisters of Jesus the Redeemer Catholic Church in Gwarimpa, Abuja.

The low-keyed wedding was officiated by the outspoken Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Dioceses, Bishop Mathew Kukah, with close friends and relatives in attendance, among them Charlyboy’s aged mother.

The Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Diocese, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, was also in attendance among some other clergymen.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the couple exchanged the “I do” vows amidst cheers from the congregation.

They thereafter signed the marriage register.

Onaiyekan, in his exhortation, commended the couple for staying together for over four decades but urged them to be committed to their marriage vows by showing mutual love, understanding and respect for each other.

“I specially congratulate Charles and his wife for this Godly decision, and I pray God to keep them together.”

NAN quoted Charlyboy as saying he and his wife decided to wed in church to honour his aged mother who had been ‘pleading that we do the right thing.’

According to him, he got married as a teenager in 1974, and secured divorce after the union produced one child.

He noted that the Catholic Church observed a strict marital doctrine.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/16/nicaragua-police-beat-journalists-reports/

Nicaraguan police have beaten several journalists protesting against earlier raids on their offices, reports say.

They say this happened as the reporters gathered outside a police station in the capital Managua, saying the raids were illegal.

Nicaragua has been rocked by months of protests against President Daniel Ortega, who is accused of restricting civil liberties in the country.

The president in turn accuses the protesters of planning a coup.

Hundreds of people have been killed in clashes between demonstrators and the security forces since April.

Carlos Fernando Chamorro, who runs the online daily Confidential, accused the police of acting without any justification.

"This is an armed assault on private property, freedom of the press, freedom of expression and free enterprise," he said.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/15/avoid-christmas-weight/

Christmas time all over the world is a time for socials and excesses with weddings, birthdays, house warming, engagements abounding.

It comes with a lot of eating, drinking, partying and then, the inevitable weight gain that follows.

While it is tempting to drink and eat as you enjoy the many social events of the season, it is important also to remember to keep fit and stay healthy.

Counting the calories should be as important now as any other time.

Therefore, if you want to avoid having to deal with the extra weight after the ‘enjoyment,’ there are a few things you can do to ensure you start 2019 in shape.

Come Prepared

In the days leading up to the festivities, try as much as possible to be in the best shape. Eat healthy, exercise and drink your water. Water because most of the events and family gatherings you will go to, there will be lots of drinks that are not of the ‘healthy’ category. If you can cut out such drinks leading up to the peak period it will serve you better. You can start a 5 day food challenge if you want to go even further.

Stick to the diet

There will be plenty treats around Christmas, stick to your diet. Go for the proteins and leave the pastries alone. Choose sides of salad when available and keep your hand out of the chin chin tray. Stick to this in the days leading up to Christmas as well.

Increase fibre in your diet

Go for foods rich in fibre as they keep the digestive system healthy and help to prevent constipation. They also keep you feeling full longer, which will in turn control your food intake.

Foods like whole-wheat bread, Oats, Potatoes, Pears, etc should make an appearance in your diet.

If you want to take it further you can take a fibre supplement as well. It will help minimize the damage of gaining too much.

Consume healthy fats

Like fibre, healthy fats are also key at Christmas time.

Good fats like avocado, olive oil, almonds, etc will not only help you lose fat, but they will build lean muscle mass. They aid with memory function and support a healthy immune system as well.

All these will prepare your body and keep it ‘clean.’

Increase protein intake

Proteins are the building block for a lean body and since the goal is to not add weight, protein intake should increase.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/12/puff-puff-festival-returns-bang/

The most colourful celebration of Nigeria’s foremost finger food, “PUFF PUFF FESTIVAL” returns with a bang to the city of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State from December 26 to 28, 2018.

The 3-day event tagged “Christmas Party” will go down as the third edition of the festival previously held in Uyo in August and December, 2017 and recorded an unprecedented crowd of participants.

Speaking on what to expect from the festival, the lead organizer, Unwana Umana, stated that the event is aimed at providing a networking platform for brands and promoting social cohesion and will serve to re-introduce a rich variety of puff puff served with choice drinks in a fun atmosphere.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/11/investigation-bribe-taking-nigerian-security-forces-pushing-petrol-boko-haram-sabotaging-war/



Nigerian security operatives are significantly sabotaging the government’s efforts to eliminate Boko Haram and grow the nation’s economy.

Instead, they are helping in funnelling huge volumes of petrol and other fuel products to the deadly group, The NEXT EDITION can authoritatively report today.

Weeks of investigation by this newspaper has revealed how soldiers, police, customs, immigration and civil defence operatives frequently receive hefty bribes and turn a blind eye as fuel marketers and smugglers divert truckloads of petrol and foodstuffs to Boko Haram enclaves and neighbouring countries.

Through interviews with security operatives, marketers and undercover exploration of the dark market, this newspaper has obtained details of the well-coordinated transactions and is able to provide a glimpse into a largely unreported and unregulated operation that has clearly fed the insurgency and helped prolonged the nine-year war.

The reporting has also shown the impact of the large-scale murky operation on the nation’s petro-economy.

Highly classified sources said that put together, at least 60 trucks loaded with petrol and an equal number carrying foodstuff illegally leave the country through Adamawa State daily.

This newspaper learnt that Boko Haram insurgents get their food and fuel supplies from the stock of the diverted products.

Each day, operatives of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Customs Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps manning the many checkpoints across Adamawa State extort bribes ranging from N500 to N300, 000 from motorists.

The smuggled fuel is sold at lucrative rates either to the Boko Haram group who have waged a war against the Nigerian state since 2009 or across the border.

Today, Nigeria’s subsidised petrol and foodstuff were being illegally sold in many countries including Cameroon, Niger, Chad and in the Central African Republic.

During the many years of the insurgency, the military said Boko Haram has relied on such smuggling to fuel their vehicles and motorcycles for their heinous attacks.

Repeatedly, security services in Borno, Gombe and Yobe have either arrested suspected Boko Haram fuel suppliers or seized huge consignments of petroleum products believed to have been directed at the militants.

In July 2016, the Army in Borno State arrested a man it said was the supplier of fuel to Boko Haram.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the suspect was arrested with a truck loaded with 25 jerry cans of petrol and other goods cleverly covered in cartons.

In January 2018, the NSCDC in Borno said it seized 1000 litres of petrol from suspected Boko Haram fuel suppliers, and in June, the Army said it arrested two men in Gombe for allegedly selling large quantities of fuel to Boko Haram.

In the January case, the NSCDC Commandant, Ibrahim Abdullahi, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the products were filled into jerry cans and concealed in sacks.

Concealing fuel-filled containers under sacks would turn out a common method for hiding smuggled or diverted products in neighbouring Adamawa as our investigation showed.



Government’s Move to Beat Sharp Petrol Deals

As part of measures to monitor daily fuel consumption across the country, the Federal Government in August adopted an automated fuel system management and sensor network.

According to the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, the platform would reveal national consumption by tracking fuel supply from the ports to its final delivery in the petrol station.

An initiative of the Petroleum Equalisation Funds (PEF), the project enabled the licensing of every truck conveying fuel with a driver and a transport company so they could be apprehended if the products go missing.

Mr. Kachikwu had at the time boasted the exact daily fuel consumption in the country would be known for the first time.

“The essence of what PEF is doing is that this will enable us track refined petroleum product movement from the point of LC (letter of credit) opening from the vessels that come into Nigeria, up until the point where they are discharged into tanks in Nigeria, and from the tanks into trucks in Nigeria, monitor the trucks till they deliver the products into the storage tanks for the filling stations and they are discharged and sold,” the minister had said.

But like most government policies, the tracking project has failed to stop the diversion of petrol not only across the country’s borders but also to Boko Haram fighters.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/07/buhari-deceiving-ndigbo-2023-presidency-rep/

Member representing Ohaoazara/Onicha/Ivo federal Constituency of Ebonyi State in the House of Representatives, Mr. Linus Abaa Okorie, has picked holes in the promise of Igbo presidency in 2023 by President Muhammadu Buhari, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Okorie said such promise without reliable action was a pure deceit packaged to get undeserved sympathy and support in the zone during the 2019 general elections.

He said President Buhari’s failure to pick an Igbo as his running mate, unlike his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Atiku Abubakar, exposed his promise of Igbo Presidency in 2023 as pure deceit.

Okorie explained that only Atiku’s promise of Igbo presidency in 2023 was trustworthy because, according to him, the former Vice President had not only picked Peter Obi, former Anambra governor, as his running mate, but had also pledged to govern the nation for only one term to pave way for Obi to take over.

The lawmaker, who was addressing members of his Caringheart Foundation in Abakaliki, called on the people of South-East in different parts of the nation to queue behind Atiku/Obi ticket in the interest of the zone and the nation at large.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/05/mass-medical-mission-launches-health-education-go/


Mass Medical Mission has launched the Health Education On The Go community mobilization campaign.

This campaign is aimed at expanding the impact of the various free life-saving initiatives offered by the organisation.

Mass Medical Mission is a Non-Governmental Organisation, formed in 2004 with the aim of complementing the efforts of the government to improve the health indices of Nigerians.

To do this the organisation has created many initiatives, one of which is Health Education On The Go! The campaign involves the deployment of a fleet of special buses which are designed to combine provision of health education with public transportation. The aim is to create mass awareness so that members of the general public can take advantage of all aspects of the programme.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/04/zamfara-emirs-want-permission-handle-rifles-fight-bandits/

Traditional rulers in Zamfara have called on the government to grant them permission to carry guns to fight bandits tormenting their domains.

The Chairman of Zamfara Council of Chiefs and Emir of Anka, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmad, made the call on Tuesday in Gusau at an event to hand over operational motorcycles to members of the recently established Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) in the state.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) 8,500 members of the civilian JTF received a motorcycle each.

“This is one of the best ways we can all join hands to fight these hoodlums causing us sleepless nights in the state while their sponsors live in the luxury of the blood of the people in neighbouring towns and cities.

“The only power these bandits have over us is that they carry AK 47 rifles while we have nothing except perhaps sometime when we carry sticks in self-defence and one cannot use that against guns.

Uche Nwosu on Tuesday expressed confidence that he would emerge the next governor of Imo State on the platform of Action Alliance.

Nwosu, who spoke at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, shortly after his arrival from Abuja, said that “injustice, impunity, and lack of respect for party’s constitution” forced him out of All Progressives Congress.

Clutching the Action Alliance flag with the state chairman of the party beside him, Nwosu said that the entire APC structure, except those supporting the senatorial ambition of Governor Rochas Okorocha, had defected to AA.

Describing AA as a party with the ideal democratic manifesto, Nwosu said that his ambition to succeed Okorocha was driven by the massive support he enjoys by the over 70 percent population of the state electorate.

He said that AA will cooperate with APC to have President Muhammadu Buhari reelected, and to also have his father in-law, Okorocha, elected as senator; and him as governor on the platform of Action Alliance.

Nwosu said, “We are going to work with APC to deliver Imo State to President Muhammadu Buhari.

“We will deliver Governor Rochas Okorocha as senator because Action Alliance has no senatorial candidate in Orlu zone.

READ FULL GIST>> https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/04/just-okorochas-son-in-law-others-defect-action-alliance/


Cc:

Lalasticlala

The Joint Education Stakeholders Action Coalition (JESAC), a voluntary political action coalition of 19 critical education unions and associations has begun mobilisation of its 24 million members to support and elect education-friendly leaders in 2019 elections.

According to a statement issued by National Coordinator, JESAC and Founding Chairman, Exam Ethics Marshals International, Ike Onyechere, the group is convinced that myriad of problems bedeviling the education sector can be effectively addressed and resolved “with bold, courageous, visionary and strategic leadership actions of marshal plan proportions and not by routine administrative fixes.”

It lamented the fire brigade approach which operators of the sector are currently compelled to adopt in trying to grow it. “Operators of the education system in Nigeria are often compelled to resort to extreme measures of agitations and strike actions in the attempt to get political leaders to commit the necessary leadership, political will and financial resources to resolve the challenges in the sector and set it on the part of transformation.

“The serial neglect of the education sector, the frequent strikes, the consequential shutdowns of institutions and its associated tragic chain reactions including disruption of academic calendars have clear, present and devastating consequences for the quality of education and to the short, medium and long term development of Nigeria.”

Onyechere posited that the 24 million members of JESAC have the power “to transform the education sector if they bond, campaign, work and vote together to elect ethics and education-friendly leaders in 2019 who can summon the vision, political will and courage to commit and manage the huge resources required for transformation of education,” adding, “with such leaders agitations and strikes will become unnecessary.”

READ FULL GIST>> https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/04/2019-jesac-mobilise-24-million-members-elect-education-friendly-leaders/


Cc:

Lalasticlala

President Buhari has finally debunked claims that he is cloned.

A tweet by his Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, made known his comment.

READ FULL GIST>>> https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/02/im-not-cloned-buhari/

https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/02/special-interview-buhari-vision-sectional-parochial-obsolete-onovo/

Mr. Martin Onovo, the 2015 presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) and chieftain of the Movement for Fundamental Change (MFC), which is committed to the restoration of the rule of law and constitutional values, is dynamic, fearless and articulate. He spoke to The Next Edition Reporter, SIMPLE IKEM, on the recent killing of Nigerian soldiers by Boko Haram, the economy and other crucial issues.

TNE: With the recent killing of over 100 soldiers by the Boko Haram, would you support the call for the sack of Security Chiefs?

Authority and responsibility go together. The security chiefs were appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the Commander-in-Chief and overall, he directs and supervises the Security Chiefs. He must accept responsibility for all security weaknesses and failures. If we sack the Security Chiefs and appoint others, the new Security Chiefs will still be under the direction and supervision of the Commander-in-Chief. We must sack the Commander-in-Chief, Gen. Buhari. He is unable to lead the security chiefs to success against insurgents and terrorists. He has previously shown very shocking tolerance towards terrorists and insurgents.

The Melete attack and all such losses were predictable and were accurately predicted by us. While our soldiers were being demotivated by corruption, poor welfare, inadequate men and equipment, the government paid a ransom of two million Euros (€2M) to Boko Haram for the release of some kidnapped Nigerian citizens. Apparently, Boko Haram has used these funds to reorganise and re-arm its terrorists to continue to attack our people and our soldiers. We predicted this very accurately. But, the government was more interested in scoring cheap political points. If we sack the Service Chiefs and retain the Commander-in-Chief, the situation will not change. The problem of Nigeria is the political leadership. We must sack the Commander-in-Chief.

TNE: South-East politicians criticised the recent closed-door meeting of their leaders with President Buhari, saying the President has nothing to offer the region. What is your take on this?

Buhari is a catastrophic failure. He has nothing good to offer Nigeria. He has nothing good for the North-West. He has nothing good for the South-East. Since Buhari was sworn in, insecurity has got worse, corruption has got much worse and the economy has been ruined.

Presently, Boko Haram has resurged and is killing our soldiers and country men in hundreds. Terrorist herdsmen are over-running farming communities, killing innocent farmers, destroying farms and occupying communities from the North-East to the South-South. Kidnappers operate freely across the country from Ondo State to Kaduna State. In 2015, we had about 1.8 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Now, with the increasing security crisis, we have about four million IDPs.

Corruption is now promoted with impunity while the simple-minded are deceived with a very elaborate false anti-corruption propaganda. The U.S. Department of State has reported “massive corruption” in the present government and Transparency International has rated Nigeria 148th from 136th in its ‘Corruption Perception Index”. The $25 billion NNPC contracts scam is the biggest ever in Nigeria.

The national economy has been completely ruined. We have gone from a growing economy in 2015 when this regime came to power, to economic recession in 2016 and to economic stagflation in 2017 and into a debt trap in 2018. Millions of workers have lost their jobs. Unemployment is very high, hyper-inflation is unabated, and poverty is so high that Nigeria is currently the world capital of extreme poverty. The reckless and unpatriotic borrowing by this government has returned Nigeria to a debt trap after the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo government got Nigeria out of a debt trap in 2006.

TNE: How do you see the recent PDP challenge to President Buhari for a live television debate with Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate?

In any authentic democracy, the people are sovereign. The people elect their leaders freely. For the people to make the right choice, the candidates must present themselves and their policy directions to the people. A debate is a very good opportunity for candidates to present themselves and their policy directions comparatively for the people to assess the candidates and their policy directions. Debates by candidates surely help the people to choose better leaders.

Since Buhari refused to participate in the 2015 presidential debate, many suspect that he will also refuse to participate in the 2019 debate. The mass media, as the constitutional watchdog, can insist that Buhari must debate against other candidates.

TNE: Chief Ayo Adebanjo, an Afenifere leader, recently said that the APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu, cannot cajole South-West to vote for President Buhari as the region did in 2015. He said the region would support Atiku Abubaker based on his promise to restructure the country. What is your take on this?

Chief Adebanjo may be right. He is a popular leader in Afenifere and the position of Afenifere on re-structuring was announced a long time ago. Most Nigerian citizens from the South-West understand that Buhari is not qualified to run for president of Nigeria. They know that Buhari is very old, weak and slow. They know that his vision is sectional, parochial and obsolete. They know he is physically and intellectually very weak. And most importantly, they know that his failure in government is catastrophic. According to Dr. Femi Aribisala, Ph. D. (Oxford), the Buhari government is the “Worst government in the history of Nigeria.”

READ FULL GIST>>> https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/02/special-interview-buhari-vision-sectional-parochial-obsolete-onovo/

https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/11/28/special-features-impotence-marriage-woman/

Sex is not an issue easily discussed in our clime, but many marriages have been ruined because of it. Knowing therefore, how important sex is in marriage, what does a woman do if she unknowingly ties the nuptial knot with an impotent man?

If you are an avid reader of magistrates’ and customary courts proceedings, you will know that divorce occurs or the request for a court of competent jurisdiction to dissolve a union is heard every day.

More often than not, the reason for seeking the dissolution of unions is centred on sex. You either hear or read of one partner accusing the other of infidelity, or one is claiming that the other cannot ‘perform’ sexually.

Often times, it is the women who cite lack of performance as reason for seeking divorce.

Men also complain of neglect of marital duties or lack of interest by their partners. For this reason, they either look for alternatives outside or outrightly ask for divorce.

There has to be a sexual relationship between couples for procreation to take place and development of bond between them.

For the Christian, though, sex before marriage is forbidden and so is divorce. Couples are supposed to come to their marriage bed as virgins trusting and hoping that all will work out well. That is the ideal.

Succinctly put, “Once you get married, stay in it,” and based on Jesus’ teaching, in the Christian marriage, intending couples vow to stay married ‘for better for worse, till death do us part.’ The Minister on his part reiterates Jesus’ words; “what God has joined together, let no man put asunder.”

What this means is that for anybody preparing to get married; you have to ‘shine your eyes’ very well before pronouncing the words ‘I do.’

However, some women have been known to be deceived into marriage by impotent men who hide under the guise of ‘born again’ and no sex before marriage.

Bearing in mind then how important sex is in marriage, and given the position of the Christian faith on divorce, what happens when after the ceremonies a woman discovers that her husband is impotent and had deliberately kept the information from her?

The Next Edition (www.nextedition.com.ng) sought the thoughts of some ministers on the position of the church and some Nigerians on what they think.

Among the Christian faith, some denominations are very strict in complying with the ‘no divorce’ rule.The Catholic denomination is one of them. Divorce is totally not acceptable. So what are the options open to a woman wedded in the Catholic Church under such circumstance?

Rev. Fr. Jide Arowosafe SJ, said though the Catholic Church does not approve of divorce, there are conditions that may warrant the annulment of a marriage.

According to him, “an annulment can be possible after an ecclesial tribunal finds a lack of validity in the marriage at the time of the marital contract.”

What this means, according to him, is that it has to be proven that all conditions necessary were met at the time the couple got married.

For instance, an impotent man must disclose his ‘condition’ to the woman he wants to marry. It should be the woman’s choice to marry or not to marry the man in spite of his condition.

Failure, therefore, to disclose such impediment, is ground for an annulment, but Fr. Jide stressed that the process is long and cumbersome.

Pastor Joshua Abiodun of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Ilasa, Lagos, also said divorce was not an option in the Redeemed church.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/11/27/gunshots-pandemonium-akwa-ibom-assembly-police-cordon-off-complex/


There were gunshots and pandemonium in the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Uyo early on Tuesday, as five lawmakers whose seats were earlier declared vacant started impeachment process against the governor, Udom Emmanuel.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the atmosphere became rowdy when the governor arrived at the assembly complex at Udo Udoma Avenue.

NAN also learnt that immediately Gov. Emmanuel entered the premises, gunshots were fired by those described by eyewitnesses as security operatives and thugs who were around the premises.

According to the witnesses the newly acclaimed speaker, Nse Ntuen, who had earlier sat with the four other lawmakers, was also harassed by security personnel in the assembly premises.

Ntuen’s vehicle was said to have been damaged while he escaped a mob action by some persons believed to be Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members.

The eyewitnesses said: “As the governor entered the assembly hall, youth started shouting ‘eight years, eight years.”


Some journalists who were in the Akwa Ibom Assembly for the day’s duty, had to scamper for their lives, scaling the fence.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Odiko Macdon, who was in the assembly, premises, however, said he was gathering information and had yet to speak.

Silence, stigma escalate violence against women, girls, U.S. Consul-General

https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/11/26/silence-stigma-escalate-violence-women-girls-u-s-consul-general/

The United States Consul General in Lagos, Mr. John Bray, has said that impunity of silence and stigma have allowed violence against women and girls to thrive to the point it has become endemic.

He spoke at a public lecture in Lagos, with the theme, ‘Hear Me Too: End Violence Against Women and Girls,’ organised by the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Collaboration with Women Arise for Change initiative, WA, ‘to open the 2018 16-day Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls.

The Consul-General said: “For far too long, the impunity of silence and stigma have allowed violence against women to escalate to endemic proportions.

https://events.socialmediaexaminer.com/amember/aff/go/samuel

https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/11/26/police-plateau-arrest-12-kidnap-robbery-suspects/


The Police in Plateau said they have arrested 12 suspects over kidnapping and armed robbery activities in the state.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of Plateau Command, Austin Agbonlahor made this known while parading the suspects to newsmen in Jos on Monday.

According to him, three of the suspects were arrested in connection with the abduction of Aliyu Aminu, 6, from Angwan Rogo Community of Jos North Local Government Area (LGA).

The Police commissioner said that two other suspects were arrested for the kidnap of Mrs. Adama Umaru, 56, and Miss Rabiat Umaru, 16, in Wase LGA of the state.

He noted that six of the armed robbery suspects were nabbed after robbing a business area at Jenta Adamu Community of Jos North LGA and made away with cash and valuables.

Agbonlahor explained that one suspect was arrested for robbing people at West of Mines area in Jos North LGA.

“We have successfully tackled cases of kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes within the period under review. In all cases of kidnapping, the command rescued the victims without paying any ransom and arrested some of the suspects who perpetrated the acts.

“We have arrested three suspects for kidnapping a teenager, Aliyu Aminu and demanded a ransom of N12 million; and two other suspects for kidnapping Adama Umaru and her daughter, Rabiat Umaru,’’ he said.

The commissioner explained that two suspects; one for kidnapping and the other for armed robbery were still at large.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/11/26/ill-fix-lagos-perennial-traffic-gridlock-months-fafowora/

African Democratic Congress (ADC) gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Muyiwa Fafowora, has pledged to fix the perennial traffic gridlock in Lagos State within a few months if elected into office.

Fafowora made the pledge in a chat with journalists at the weekend, stressing that Lagosians have suffered so much in terms of loss of man hour and businesses.

He said the time had come to give a new lease of life for the people, even as he berated the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, which he said, had been in control of the state for many years, but had failed to tackle the menace of traffic gridlock which had led to huge losses of business across the state.

The candidate maintained that lack of vision on the part of government and developers who built tank farms in Ibafo without proper planning, was responsible for the traffic gridlock in Tin Can and Apapa axis.

He added: “If you know Tin Can Port in 70s, there was no development around that place. So, in the Ibafo area, trucks will park there, pick up consignments in the Tin Can Port, take them to various destinations.

“But, when we began to experience petroleum shortages, developers went to Ibafo and turned them into tank farms. There is no more access for trailers that want to pick up in the ports, which is lack of vision.

“Most people will not know that Kirikiri was an island, because when they were developing the maximum prison, government knew people were going to do life imprisonment.

“They did not want them to be in Ikoyi prison or the old prison on Broad Street. They were taking prisoners there by boats, so that even if the prisoners wanted to escape, there would not be anywhere to escape to.”

https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/11/26/special-interview-atiku-better-buhari-nigeria-president-anike/

National President of Eastern Union (EU), one of the organisations rooting for the Atiku Abubakar presidency, Mr. Charles Anike, in this interview with SIMPLE IKEM explains why his group is backing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, among other issues.

TNE : We understand that the Eastern Union is one of the groups canvassing for Atiku Abubakar’s presidency come 2019. Would this not contradict the aims and objective of the group?

Our adoption and support of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for president cannot contradict our aim and objectives. One may ask: Why are we supporting Atiku Abubakar: The Eastern Union is going extra mile to support Atiku with both our means and talents. We were at Port Harcourt PDP presidential primary to convince the delegates, including people living with disabilities, to vote for Atiku. This is because we see Atiku as an Iroko tree and an umbrella that can provide shelter for everyone, irrespective of tribe or religion, unlike what we have today.

Throughout the length and breadth of Nigeria, Atiku has mentored many people, especially in the political arena. He is behind the rise of people like Mallam El-Rufai, Nuhu Ribadu, Osita Chidoka, to mention but a few. His network cuts across all sectors. He always gives food to the hungry. Yet, some people say he is corrupt. If that is how to be corrupt, then that is certainly the type of corruption that Nigeria needs now. A corruption that feeds the hungry, and the corruption that provides employment.

One the other hand, who has President Muhammadu Buhari mentored since his days in the public service and now he is in politics? Maybe people like Kemi Adeosun; a woman who should be deported to face trial.

TNE: What special qualities does your organisation see in Atiku Abubakar?

We are supporting Atiku because we believe he will reposition the country. Atiku is a bridge builder that will ensure adequate security, create enabling environment, and a level playing field for all Nigerians, which is what our people need to excel. The appointment of Mr. Peter Obi as his running mate is an indication that our people will no longer be marginalised. We also believe that with Atiku as a President of Nigeria, he will implement the end-of-civil-war agreement (the 3Rs (Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of Ndigbo in Nigeria). We also believe that he will balance our quota in the Armed Forces, the Police, civil service, and top political appointments. His promise of restructuring the country will go a long way to end the activities of political demagogues in the South East.

We also believe that Nigeria under the present administration has witnessed the worse era since Independence. No well-meaning citizen that wishes the country well will for any reason want this government to continue. With Buhari in power, there will be no future for the country. The Fulani, his kinsmen, will unleash worst havocs on other tribes if Buhari is allowed to continue in office after 2019. They are just on break in their attacks due to the coming elections. Recall that President Buhari never showed much concern over the killings by Fulani herdsmen.

The most disheartening and agonising thing to ever be imagined is to have dishonest people, I mean liars, in position of leadership. That is what we have in governance in Nigeria presently.

TNE: How do you see the recent search of Atiku’s private jet at the Abuja Airport by security agents?

We consider that search on Atiku as an act of recklessness and vendetta by the overzealous security agents. That was not the first time Atiku, a former Vice President, was jetting into the country in his private jet. We believe the search was an act of sabotage, resulting from the obvious frustration of the APC government now, especially since the emergence of Atiku as the PDP presidential standard bearer.

Since the inception of the APC government, security agents have abandoned their core mandate to become tools of harassment and intimidation of innocent citizens. They have so involved themselves in the political intrigues to such extent that they now rank as the third major political party in Nigeria after the APC and PDP. They often form alliance with the ruling party to harass the opposition and are also used to rig elections.

Our security agents have been over-politicised, especially under this APC Federal Government. One of the consequences of their involvement in politics is that the security agencies have lost focus and the people’s confidence. The zeal to please their pay masters at all cost has resulted in their recklessness, abuse of power and breach of protocols.

TNE: All Progressive Congress (APC) National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, is enmeshed in crisis with some state governors over the party’s primaries. How do you see the development?

You must agree with me that no bad tree can bear good fruits. He, who gathered firewood full of ants in his compound has automatically invited the fowls for a meeting. What had been happening in the APC, even before the emergence of Oshiomhole as the national chairman confirmed that it was not a well constituted political party. It is simply a congregation of strange bed fellows without ideas of the democratic principles and workings of democracy. They are autocrats that have no democratic culture.

The emergence of Oshiomhole clearly exposed the imbalances in the party and confirmed the fears of many Nigerians, especially the Christian community. Otherwise, the party leadership should have appointed another Christian as its national chairman to take over from Chief John Odige-Oyegun. Rather than doing that, they took everything and everyone for granted.

Check out the list of the leadership of the APC and you will be shocked. The APC is a party that undermines the Constitution because they appear to want to run the country as a theocratic state. For example, the Constitution has it that every state of the federation must have a slot in the ministerial cabinet. For that, we expected the president to appoint a replacement of Mrs Kemi Adeosun from Ogun State and a replacement of Mr. Kayode Fayemi from Ekiti State after their resignation. But, what do we have? Replacement of the two with people from the North! These and many other reasons are why the party will not have peace.

RIP