₦airaland Forum

There was pandemonium and tension on Monday following renewed bloody clash between the people of Aladja community, Udu Local Government Area and Ogbe-Ijoh community, Warri South Local Government Area, both of Delta State, leaving no fewer than eight people dead.

Sources told Saharareporters that the death of the eight persons, which included a boy and three women, was as a result of the opening of fire by the military on the defenceless women who filed out to protest the attack on the community by Ogbe-Ijoh people.

SaharaReporters reliably learned that the clash, which lasted several hours, saw Ogbe-Ijoh militia launch unprovoked attack on the people of Aladja, but they were repelled by the hard-fighting Aladja youth.

Sporadic gunshots rent the air during the attack on the Aladja community by the Ogbe-Ijoh militias before the Aladja youth regrouped to push back the attackers and only for soldiers, allegedly drafted in to bring the situation under control, to start opening fire on the protesting women, resulting in the death of three women and a little boy who had been hit by stray bullet.

A community leader in Aladja, who asked not to be named, blamed the soldiers for opening fire directly on the women who were out on peaceful protest against the unprovoked attack on their husbands and children, explaining that the soldiers came into Aladja on mission to kill and maim the people.

He also accused the Delta State Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro, an Ijaw indigene, of aiding and abetting the military and other security agents to join forces with his Ogbe-Ijoh kinsmen to kill the people of Aladja from the Urhobo extraction of the state.

http://saharareporters.com/2018/10/23/eight-villagers-killed-fresh-aladjaogbe-ijoh-crisis-delta

The Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has welcomed his third set of twins in 8 months with his wife Queen Aanu.

Queen Aanu who gave birth to the third set of twins the Alaafin of Oyo will be welcoming this year, gave birth to a baby boy and girl. Here is a photo of the third set of twins below;

The Alaafin, Lamidi Adeyemi III, and his wives, Memumat Adeyemi and Olaitan Ajoke both welcomed a set of twin each this year. His youngest queen, Memunat, was delivered of a set of twins and an elaborate naming ceremony, was held at the palace in Oyo.

Just as the celebration was on, another young queen, Olaitan, was delivered of another set of twin boys. Her firstborn, a son, was four years old on Valentine’s Day. The Alaafin announced the birth of his twins on Instagram. The new mum also announced the birth of her children on Instagram.

Meanwhile, the two queens who are new mums are best friends and would always be seen together at any social functions with the King. They post their photos on social media and always refer to each other as besties.

Alaafin (literally translated as the Man of the Palace in Yoruba), is the name for the emperor of the Oyo empire. Even though the empire now mostly exists in the history books and in Yoruba people’s hearts, it is an important traditional post. Since 1970, Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi the Third, more commonly known as Oba Adeyemi, has occupied this post. He was born in 1938 on October 15, which makes him 78 years old. He has four wives. He has been together with his first wife, Ayaba Abibat, for more than fifty years. Like Adeyemi, she is also 78 years old. Whereas his most recent wife is also the youngest. She will be 29 in November this year.

https://www.kemifilani.com/2018/10/alaafin-of-oyo-welcomes-3rd-set-of-twins-in-8-months.html

Barely 14 hours after a tanker carrying diesel fell around the Otedola bridge area on Monday, an accident involving two trucks has occurred on the bridge.

A 20-feet containerized truck and another truck were involved in the accident which occurred on Tuesday morning. The road has been cordoned off.

Motorists have also been advised by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to take alternative routes.

News of the accident was disclosed via a tweet by LASTMA that read: "Accident between a 20ft containerized truck and another truck on Otedola Bridge with evacuation ongoing. The road has been cordoned off for now.

Alternative movement is through CMD road inwards Otedola.

"For those not yet at Tollgate, it's better to connect through 7up, Mobolaji Johnson, Nurudeen Olowopopo to Otedola UBridge back to the expressway inwards Berger."



LASTMA
@followlastma
(6.40am) #LagosIbadanExp #lastmareports
Accident between a 20ft containerized truck and another truck on OtedolaBridge with evacuation ongoing. Road has been cordoned off for now.
Alternative movement is through CMD road inw Otedola.@TrafficChiefNG @trafficbutter

11:04 PM - Oct 22, 2018
6

http://saharareporters.com/2018/10/23/again-trucks-fall-otedola-bridge

*SOWORE PICKS ACCOMPLISHED PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERT, DR. RABIU AHMED RUFAI, AS RUNNING MATE*

Dr. Rabiu Ahmed Rufai has been selected as the Vice-Presidential Candidate of the African Action Congress. Born on July 17th, 1976, Dr. Rufai is a world-class expert in public health intervention. He is from Jigawa State. His areas of expertise include Maternal and Child Health Services, Communicable Disease Prevention & Control, Health Systems Development for Primary Health Care, Health Management, Policy and Planning, Health Economics and Policy Research, Health System Development and Strengthening, Demography, Monitoring & Evaluation of Health Programs, Medical Statistics and Epidemiology.

Dr Rabiu’s impressive qualifications include a medical degree (MBBS) from Bayero University, Kano, and Masters in Public Health (MPH) from Leeds University UK. He is a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians (FWACP) and also a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health (FRSPH). He is a member and Associate Fellow of the West African Postgraduate Medical College, a Member and Associate Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and a Member of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

An accomplished academic and medical practitioner, Dr Rufai was the pioneer Dean of the School of Public Health at Federal University Dutse from 2014 to 2015, while also serving as an Honorary Consultant Public Health Physician at the Federal Medical Centre Birnin Kudu. From 2011 to 2013, he was a lecturer and Head of Health Policy and Health System Strengthening Unit as well as the Health management, Policy and Planning Unit at Bayero University / Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano, while also serving as Honorary Consultant Public Health Physician. Dr Rufai served as Registrar and Senior Registrar (I, II) at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital from 2007 to 2011.

During his National Youth Service at the State Specialist Hospital, Akure, Ondo State from 2006 to 2007, Dr Rufai served as an attending Physician at General Out-patient, Paediatrics & Casualty Units. From June 2005 to December 2005 he served as a House Officer at both the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, and the Specialist Hospital Bauchi, Bauchi State.

Dr Rufai has received multiple awards internationally for his outstanding work in the field of public health. For over a decade, he has worked tirelessly on primary health care in Nigeria, bringing contemporary practices to the field of maternal and child health, tuberculosis, HIV, environmental health and many of the tropical diseases ailing our people.

Well-travelled and well read, Dr. Rufai embodies that rare combination of first world knowledge and indigenous passion. He has given his entire life and career to serving Nigeria’s least privileged at the grass roots level and demonstrated a readiness to lay his life on the line to ensure that national well-being, backed by good governance is established in Nigeria.

Speaking on the choice of Dr Rufai, AAC Presidential Candidate, Omoyele Sowore said, “in our bid to work on Nigeria’s multifaceted challenges and proffer solutions that will create a true giant out of our nation, we have always believed that health care, population health and health economics, ranks alongside national security and power, as critical areas that a serious government must address. I can think of no one more qualified than Dr Rufai to spear head that aspect of our agenda. Health is Wealth – and in our government, Dr Rufai will be responsible for ensuring that Nigerians have access to affordable and world class healthcare and translating that to economic growth.”

All supporters of the Take it Back movement and our great party, the African Action Congress will be excited by Dr Rufai’s choice. In surveys, our members and supporters called for a Northern Vice-Presidential candidate, with integrity and an unbridled passion for national unity. Dr Rufai embodies all those qualities. We worked hard to find within one individual the many traits you told us were important and we are confident that Nigerians will find in Dr Rufai a man of integrity, intelligence and devotion to a nation that urgently needs our help.

We present to you our running mate and Nigeria’s next vice president, Dr. Rabiu Ahmed Rufai: exactly what the doctor ordered.


Dr Malcolm Fabiyi
DG TakeitBack Movement / Sowore 2019 Campaign.
Deputy National Chairman (Admin) AAC

kaluxy007:
Buhari Congrats you just lost additional 1million votes in southwest



They said his offence is owning 2storey buildings that doesn't even befit the Status of a commissioner

The major problem of this country is the youths. Why are we going to continue to be supporting the looters at this time. These people have looted this country to dryness.

mitchelljnr:
under buhari snake swallowed over N30M, monkey carted away with N70M, over $40M missed from NIA without proper investigations and you're saying this govt is free from theft?

That is why we should vote out all these criminals, looters and old people milking our generation and and generations yet to born to dryness. Buhari and Atiku will never be our answer.

Wahala90:
PDP pls help us!

when they come, they will satrt the blaming game like as usual. All these old politicians doesn't really know how to propel us forward. if Atiku wins, he will start from how Buhari has creepled the economy and nothing can be done about it. we should vote someone that can put all these people to jail and pay for the money they have looted.

Codes151:
I rather be a president than this guy

Don't be naive, give us reasons why you wont like him to be the president.

babaztee:
Atiku emergence in 2019 will usher in another era of "chop i chop". We are back to square 0. Unfortunately, the incumbent has not shown any aptitude for leadership. This is Nigeria quagmire to the highest order. Where are we heading to as a nation? It is obvious that, the corrupt majority are going for Atiku.

That is the truth. Atiku will be so worst as a president comes 2019. He will finally finished the creeping economy. The truth is neither Buhari nor Atiku will take Nigeria and Nigerians to our promise land.

Dutchbraht:
This is the reason why Nigeria might never progress in my lifetime and remain a shithole. It has the least intelligent citizens in the world, who love corrupt leaders.

Im telling you and it is so saddened that people actually youths are in support of two thieves and corrupt leaders. when are we going to get it right in this country?

GSA01:
Atiku was not happy that he didn't steal enough when he was with Obasanjo. Maybe he didn't get enough licenses for his universities, or maybe he didn't get enough oil blocs for himself or probably didn't marry enough wives.

"So, when they return, they're coming with vengeance; vengeance on our resources and our people.

"Atiku is coming back to create a paradise for thieves and you can see the people who are excited about them.

"They're either people who stole, who didn't steal enough last time,--SOWORE 2018.

I so much love this your breakdown and this shows that you are highly intelligent more than these people ranting. how do we even get to this stage in our lives voting two old, corrupt and useless leaders who have no visions or this country. when they come with their stipend, they distribute it thereby putting our generation and generations yet unborn in to poverty. if only the youths can have only one mouth and push these people aside or once, it will be o good to us.

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has obtained a remand order from a Federal Capital Territory High Court to keep former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State for two weeks, The PUNCH can confirm.

The remand order, it was learnt, is subject to renewal which implies that Fayose could spend longer than two weeks in custody.

A reliable source said, “We have obtained a court order to hold Fayose for at least two weeks pending investigation. He could be released earlier or later than two weeks depending on the outcome of investigation.”

Fayose is under probe for allegedly receiving N1.3bn from the Office of the National Security Adviser through a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, during the build-up to the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State.

However, sources within the commission revealed to The PUNCH that Fayose was also under probe for allegedly receiving kickbacks from government contractors through his aide, Abiodun Agbele, who is currently standing trial for fraud.

The EFCC source said, “We have many cases against Fayose being handled by three different teams. We cannot just arraign him immediately. We want to do a thorough job before taking him to court.”

Meanwhile, the lawyer to Fayose, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), told The PUNCH on the telephone that if the EFCC failed to release the former governor on Thursday (today), the commission would be sued for breaching Fayose’s fundamental human rights.

Ozekhome said the EFCC began investigating Fayose over two years ago and that he wondered why the agency would decide to hold him for over 24 hours.

He said the commission could not force Fayose to write any statement as he reserved the right to remain silent.

The senior advocate said any move to obtain a remand order would amount to illegality because the Supreme Court had made that clear.

The lawyer said since Fayose’s accounts had been frozen and his properties seized by the commission, there was nothing for the ex-governor to tell the EFCC as the matter was already in court.

Ozekhome added, “His lawyers will consider approaching the court for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights if he is not released on Thursday. Section 35 and 36 of the constitution are clear on this.

“He is not a flight risk. He willingly submitted himself to the EFCC even earlier than the time he was supposed to come. What the EFCC is doing is nothing but media trial.

“From the way they have been chasing Fayose in the last three years, one would have expected that the EFCC would have completed its investigations and would arrest him immediately his tenure expires and charge him the next day but that is not the case.

“They want him to write a statement by force and then use the statement against him instead of using their own evidence.”

Charge Fayose to court, PDP tells EFCC

On its part, the South-West Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday warned the EFCC not to detain Fayose for more than 48 hours before charging him to court.

In a statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the party in the zone, Mr Ayo Fadaka, the party said, “It is now going to 48 hours that he submitted himself to the agency and he is still being held incommunicado, this development proves that the claim by the EFCC that it is actually working in public interest is a lie. It is merely playing a partisan card as attested to by its unfortunate tweet in the immediate aftermath of the Ekiti election.

“We, therefore, hold firmly that if Fayose is not charged to court immediately to answer to whatever charges against him, then it will be very clear that the Buhari administration is merely using the EFCC to intimidate, harass and punish him in the most unjust manner.”

http://saharareporters.com/2018/10/18/efcc-obtains-court-order-detain-fayose-two-weeks-…ex-gov-sue-anti-graft-agency

Presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has accused his opponent in the 2019 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, of planning a return to power to allegedly create a paradise for thieves who'll loot the country blind.
While addressing the public at a summit, "African Leadership In The Millenium", a part of Felabration 2018, in Lagos State on Monday, October 15, 2018, Sowore said a victory for Atiku, a former vice president, or incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari, will further stall the nation's progress.

He said, "The last government is always better than the next. In fact, if you ask me which is the worst government, it hasn't come yet.


"It's coming next year if we vote Buhari or Atiku. It'll be the worst government we'll have because both of them have unfinished business with Nigeria.

"Atiku was not happy that he didn't steal enough when he was with Obasanjo. Maybe he didn't get enough licenses for his universities, or maybe he didn't get enough oil blocs for himself or probably didn't marry enough wives.

"So, when they return, they're coming with vengeance; vengeance on our resources and our people.

"Atiku is coming back to create a paradise for thieves and you can see the people who are excited about them.

"They're either people who stole, who didn't steal enough last time, or people who are aspiring to become thieves, including Donald Duke.

"Same thing with Buhari. If Buhari returns next year, he'll take away all forms of pretence about human rights, about his support for Islamic extremism, about his respect for your farms. He'll take it all because at that time, he'll have nothing at stake."

We need revolution in 2019 - Sowore
Sowore also said Nigerians cannot hope to simply have power voluntarily transfered from one generation to another and must fight for it through a deliberate revolution.

He pointed out that the system is rigged to keep the old establishment in power and that Nigerians must resist it so as to actualise the country of their dreams and not the one of their ineffective leaders.

He said, "The solution is a revolution. We're not going anywhere without adding the revolutionary fervour to this coming election.

"Anyone who's still under the illusion that these old baggers, as we call them, will hand over power voluntarily to us, we're deceiving ourselves.

"Anyone under the illusion that the plastic cards that we refer to as permanent voter's card (PVC) will guarantee you a transfers of power from one generation to another, you're wasting your time.

"Of course a few of you might vote, but your votes will not count because it's been designed to fail from the beginning."

The 2019 presidential election, scheduled for February 16, 2019, is expected to be keenly-contested between Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Atiku of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) who served as vice president between 1999 and 2007 and lost in the 2007 presidential election.

https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/sowore-atiku-is-coming-back-to-create-a-paradise-for-thieves-id8981146.html

After some drama at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters in Abuja, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose was taken into custody yesterday.

The anti-graft agency is questioning Fayose over the ongoing probe of the alleged diversion N4.685billion by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The ex-governor is being grilled over the N1.3billion and $5.377million allegedly traced to him from the N4.6 billion slush funds.

The ex-governor arrived at the EFCC office in Wuse 2, Abuja in a customised blue Tee-Shirt with the inscription “EFCC I’m here”.

He was accompanied by his lawyer Mike Ozekhome(SAN),Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and a former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode . There was also a small crowd of supporters, some of them wearing white T-Shirts emblazoned with “Fayose, conscience of the nation”

Fayose came in a black Lexus SUV. He was carrying a bag containing his dresses.

The crowd was shouting Fayose’s nickname, “Oshoko” and carrying placards in praise of the ex-governor. Fayose said: “I am here in line with my promise that I will be here on the 16th of October and, like I told the EFCC, they should await my arrival. This morning, they have been to my house; they cordoned off the street which I believe was unnecessary and unwarranted.

“I have promised to report; I am here now. I will be able to respond to all allegations.”

As he was going into custody, Fayose told reporters: “Nobody should be afraid of the EFCC, especially when you have nothing to hide. I have remained courageous for Nigerians and I will always be with Nigerians.”

He was quoted as telling detectives that he needed to rest, having worked hard for four years.

He also reportedly told his interrogators: “I deny all the allegations, take me to court.”

Sources said Fayose would respond to issues raised by three teams of investigators.

A source added: “He made a statement where he denied all the allegations and asked the commission to take him to court.

“So far, he has not responded to how he came about N1.3billion and $5.377million from ONSA. He has more issues to clarify; we are going to detain him.”

The source added: “There are three teams handling the allegations against the former governor. There is a special team managing his suspended trial because he had immunity as a governor; a separate team for the N4.685b ONSA fraud and the third panel probes his just completed tenure.

“Definitely, we are going to detain Fayose because he has a lot of issues to clarify.”

Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC Wilson Uwujaren merely said: “The ex-governor is undergoing interrogation.”

Speaking before Fayose entered the EFCC’s office, Wike said: “You can see that our brother has come to see the EFCC. He wrote a letter to the EFCC that he will submit himself on the 16th of October. He is going in hale and hearty; I believe the EFCC should know.

“So let Nigerians know that he came by himself to the EFCC without anybody harassing him, so that’s why I brought him here.”

Fani-Kayode said: “We came to stand with our friend. He is going in hale and hearty; we trust God he will come out this way.”

Ozekhome said Nigerians were “not in the Hobbesian state which was brutish”. “This is a country governed by law and not the rule of the thumb. There should be respect for the constitution,” the lawyer said.

http://saharareporters.com/2018/10/17/n46b-slush-funds-efcc-detains-fayose

Barau Jibrin, Senator representing Kano North, has said “agents of darkness” are out to tarnish the image of the state Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, but warned it would not affect his second term bid.

Jibrin said this in reaction to the video of the Governor, allegedly collecting bribe from some contractors.

In a statement on Tuesday, the lawmaker said supporters of a former governor who is not on good terms with Ganduje, were behind the video.

“I have watched with great incredulity videos making the rounds in the social media from an online medium, Daily Nigerian, where technology was put to an ingenious devilish use by some agents of darkness masquerading as anti-corruption crusaders depicting His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the Executive Governor of Kano State purportedly receiving bribe in his office.

“It amazes me how low we can go in this country to try to bring people down for very selfish political ends, else how does one explain this outrageous manipulation aimed at no other thing than to rubbish the good name and reputation of a performing Governor so loved by our people.

“Already, Video Tech Analysts have come up with a damning verdict branding the video as Fake owing to the manifest incoherence in the dates and time shown in the video as well as the use of technology to make the set up look real.

“I would not have taken the satanic video clips seriously but for the masquerades behind it, who are rabid supporters of a former Governor of the State who is at loggerheads with His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

“The same antics was used to malign and blackmail His Eminence, the Emir of Kano, Dr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi until the same source came to tell the world that the material so depicted was in fact cloned and fake.”

Describing Ganduje as a man whose integrity is “above board”, Jibrin said the scandal would not affect the second term of the governor.

“May I use this opportunity to state without mincing words that His Excellency, Dr. Ganduje is a Governor whose integrity is above board. As a Senator from Kano State, I have watched with amazement over the years his anti-corruption stance,” he said.

“What is playing out now is nothing but a failed attempt to destroy the image of the Governor, turn the citizenry of the state and his massive supporters against him, then reap political benefits in 2019! No way!! The evil plot is dead on arrival.

“I therefore call on the good, discerning people of Kano State to treat the fake videos circulating as nothing but trash.
Meanwhile, let it be made abundantly clear that Governor Ganduje is not distracted with this satanic conspiracy. Rather, he is busy implementing his robust development agenda for the State.

“As for 2019, Governor Ganduje’s sterling performance in office stands him, President Muhammadu Buhari and other APC candidates in the State in good stead for re-election before the Kano electorates, therefore no amount of subterfuge and blackmail can change this position.”

http://saharareporters.com/2018/10/17/senator-jibrin-reveals-how-bribe-taking-videos-will-affect-ganduje’s-second-term-bid

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has set up a special team to grill the outgoing Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.

The Governor will lose his immunity in a matter of few days.

This will give the EFCC the constitutional right to arrest, detain and prosecute him.

Fayose had already been invited by the anti-graft agency and is expected to report at the head office in Abuja to meet with the commission’s Director of Operations, Umar Mohammed, after which he will be grilled by a team of operatives.

Fayose, who is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Governors’ Forum, is under investigation for allegedly receiving over N1.2bn from a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), through a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

He allegedly got the money during the build-up to the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State.

His aides, Abiodun Agbele, and others who are excluded from the immunity had been arraigned by the EFCC.

Punch reports that Fayose is expected to show up at the EFCC office next week, adding that the Governor has nowhere to run to since he is under security watch and cannot leave the country through any land border, seaport or airport.

A top officer at EFCC told the newspaper, “We have also set up a special team of investigators that will interrogate him immediately after the expiration of his tenure.”

Fayose’s spokesman, Idowu Adelusi, told the newspaper that his principal was ready for the EFCC.

Adelusi noted that the governor had written a letter to the EFCC indicating his readiness to appear before the commission next week.

He said, “Governor Fayose is an honourable man. He will not run away. He has already stated that he will make himself available next Monday once his tenure expires.

“He made this clear in a letter recently. Even when he was not under immunity, the governor honoured the EFCC invitations.

“The EFCC is not a court of law and cannot declare a person guilty. The governor will be available next week, no doubt.”

http://saharareporters.com/2018/10/10/efcc-sets-special-team-interrogate-fayose

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised the alarm that more than a quarter of the world’s population is at risk of developing tuberculosis during their lifetime.

In its latest Global Tuberculosis Report, the organisation says this is because there is little effort, especially by worse-affected countries such as Nigeria, to prevent the spread of tuberculosis, which it states will potentially affect about 1.3 billion people.

According to NAN, the organisation said 10 countries, including Nigeria, accounted for 3.6 million people undiagnosed or detected, but not reported.

The airborne disease which affects the lungs is one of the global causes of death and an estimated 10 million people developed tuberculosis in 2017 while the number of new cases is falling by two per cent annually.

The report “called for an unprecedented mobilisation of national and international commitments, and urged political leaders to “take decisive action, building on recent moves by the leaders of India, the Russian Federation, Rwanda and South Africa”.

According to Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, “We have never seen such high-level political attention and understanding of what the world needs to do to end TB and drug-resistant TB.

“We must capitalise on this new momentum and act together to end this terrible disease.

“It is unacceptable that millions lose their lives, and many more suffer daily from this preventable and curable disease.

“We need to join forces to root out this disease that has a devastating social and economic impact on those who are ‘left behind’, whose human rights and dignity are limited, and those who struggle to access care. The time for action is now."

Ikorodu road in Lagos has been temporarily closed as a tanker carrying Premium Motor Spirit fell and spilled its content on the road.

The tanker, which fell at Kosofe area of Ketu, had caused a gridlock as Lagosians coming from Ikorodu are stuck on the road.

Lagos State Fire Service announced the temporary closure of the road while advising road-users to make use of alternative routes.

“If you're coming in from Ikorodu towards mile 12, Kosofe, Ketu. Road is temporarily shut down. Loaded Fuel Tanker fell,” a tweet on the LASG Fire Service handle read.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, on Wednesday, described one of the high chiefs crowned by the Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Owolabi Olakulehin, as rude and verbally reckless for saying that the Osi Olubadan, Rashidi Ladoja, was misleading him in an interview he (Olakulehin) granted last week.

In the interview, which was published by Sunday PUNCH, Oba Olakulehin, who is also the Balogun of Ibadanland, said, “Olubadan is illiterate. He is not lettered. If you give him any text, he will call people to read it to him or possibly translate it for him; whether it is rightly translated or otherwise. Ladoja has some money, Olubadan has nothing.”

In a statement signed by the monarch’s Personal Assistant /Director of Media and Public Affairs, the Olubadan said that he would never recognise the high chiefs crowned by the governor, adding that any form of peace deal would be centred on the court ruling on the suit filed by Ladoja against Governor Ajimobi over the elevation and crowning of the high chiefs.

The statement said, “The statement credited to one High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin that the Osi Olubadan, High Chief Rasidi Ladoja, was misleading the Olubadan is very rude and verbally reckless. The person who will lead the Olubadan to recognise illegal crowns and cheap royalties has not been born.

“The peaceful resolution should centre on the Oyo State High Court judgment delivered by Justice Olajumoke Aiki, which declared the Ibadan Chieftaincy Law review as unconstitutional and illegal. While the embattled high chiefs are begging for rule of self-help, we are asking for the rule of law. Decorum is a characteristic of serving and ex-servicemen, but despite Olakulehin’s military background, the fellow has not been displaying discipline expected of his high office.

“Olakulehin remains the most troublesome and verbally reckless member of the Olubadan-in-Council till date with unenviable records of quarrels with High Chief Amidu Ajibade, the late High Chief Femi Olaifa, Iyalode of Ibadan, High Chief Aminat Abiodun and now High Chief Rasidi Ladoja. In the same interview, he insulted the Ekerin Olubadan, High Chief Biodun Kola-Daisi.

“Olubadan was not surprised that the same Olakulehin had decided to supplant the Otun Olubadan, Lekan Balogun, in the same crown-wearing camp to assume the leadership of the group without regard to seniority.

“Before I got married in 1959, I had built my first house at Ita Agarawu on Lagos Island, before God added more and more to it. So, where was Mr Olakulehin in 1959 down to 1980? I have engaged in legitimate business ventures that took me to Europe and America, I didn’t need Olakulehin to help me sign contracts and speak English.”

https://punchng.com/olubadan-attacks-oba-olakulehin-over-comment/

The presidential candidate of Africa Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, and his party members were on Monday teargassed during a courtesy visit to the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Enitan Ogunwusi.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the meeting was scheduled for 12 noon but was delayed because the monarch did not show up until about 3:00 p.m.

Mr Sowore, Publisher of Sahara Reporters online newspaper, protested the delay and initially refused to prostrate to the monarch, the gesture of homage tradition demands for the monarch.

The visitors were later teargassed by yet to be identified persons.

Fashoyin Adebiyi, one of AAC supporters, highlighted that part of the victims of the teargas was one of the chiefs, who was later driven out for medication, and a student of Obafemi Awolowo University.

“The woman held her chest and was later driven out in a car,” he said.

According to him, it took the intervention of students and Mr Sowore’s supporters to salvage the situation as everyone quickly took to their heels.

The candidate and members of the party later gathered and proceeded to greet the king in the traditional way.

read more at: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/283125-sowore-aac-members-attacked-at-oonis-palace.html

Gunmen on Thursday attacked Grace and Power Prophetic Ministry, Awka, Anambra State, and shot its pastor.

The condition of the pastor, whose name was given as Elijah, could not be ascertained as of press time as he was rushed to an undisclosed place by his church members who had gathered for their Thursday worship.

The incident reportedly occurred a few metres from the B Division of the Anambra State Police Command in the Anambra State Secretariat area of Awka, the state capital.

The middle-aged pastor, popularly called Miracle Pastor, was said to have had his legs hit by bullets.

It was gathered that the gunmen had trailed the pastor from Enugu State.

A source told our correspondent that the assailants had demanded N5m from the victim for an undisclosed purpose but were offered N1m by the pastor, which they allegedly rejected.

“As soon as they got to his church

Read more at: http://saharareporters.com/2018/09/07/gunmen-attack-anambra-church-shoot-pastor

Following the controversy on the emergence of Fela Durotoye as the consensus presidential candidate of Presidential Aspirants Coming Together (PACT), a civil society organisation, OurMumuDonDo Movement, has called for the suspension of discussions for the time being.

Convener of the group, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, stated this on Thursday in Abuja at a press conference, where he said the movement disapproved of any process on the emergence of a consensus candidate that is devoid of the people's participation.

He appealed to the leadership of the coalition to postpone further discussions on presenting a united front for a presidential candidate, until the cnclusion of presidential primaries of all political parties.

His words: “We wish to advise the leaders of the PACT initiative very strongly that further discussions on presenting a united front for a young presidential candidate should be postponed until the completion of presidential primaries in all concerned political parties.

"It is therefore

Read more at: http://saharareporters.com/2018/09/06/charly-boy-asks-pact-forget-durotoye-consensus-candidate-till-further-notice

The world largest social media platform Facebook is losing a large number of young users as about one in four of them had removed the app from their smartphones in the past one year, a new Pew Research Center survey.

The survey found that a whopping 44 per cent of users aged between 18 and 29 have removed Facebook’s app from their phones in the past 12 months, and about 42 per cent have taken a break from checking the platform for several weeks or more.

The findings coincided with Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg’s appearance before a U.S. Congress hearing on Wednesday on how Facebook addresses political content on the platform.

Facebook has been under heavy scrutiny for the way it handled privacy issues and misinformation activities over the past months since a scandal erupted earlier this year following revelations that a former British consulting firm Cambridge Analytica had illegally accessed data of more than 87 million Facebook users without their knowledge.

The Pew surveyed more than 3,400 U.S. Facebook users in May and June, and found that more than 54 per cent of users aged 18 and older have adjusted their privacy settings.

The number of young people who deleted their Facebook app is about four times higher than that of users who are 65 years and older, with about 12 per cent senior users quitting the app in the past 12 months, said the Pew study.

Older users were less frequently adjusting their privacy settings with only a third of them doing so, in comparison with the 64 percent of younger users more willing to do the readjusting.

An estimated 9 percent of Facebook users have downloaded the personal data about them after Facebook updated its privacy settings to make it easier for its users to download the data collected by the social media site, according to the Pew study.

The survey showed that among the users who have downloaded their private data from the Facebook platform, nearly half of them, or 47 per cent, have dropped the app from the cell phone.

It showed that majority 79 per cent chose a higher level of security options in their privacy settings in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

https://punchng.com/facebook-loses-more-younger-users-survey/

Transparency International says the President, 36 governors and 774 local government chairmen across the country, spend $670m (N241bn) yearly on security votes which are not subject to audit or legislative oversight.

The Africa Director for TI’s Defence and Security Programme, Christina Hildrew, said this at a two-day event organised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre in Abuja on Wednesday.

Read more at: https://punchng.com/president-govs-spend-over-n241bn-on-security-votes-yearly-ti/

Olawale Ojo, 2013 Project Fame winner, has said he decided to become a cab driver to avoid depression.

This revelation was made in a video posted by an Instagram user, Tope Delano, on Wednesday.

In the video, the singer said he had to make a decision between selling the car he won at the reality show to promote his music or not.

"This car that you have, if you sell it to push yourself, you might not even be able to shoot a proper video and promote it. And it's not like there is a guarantee that this song you are promoting, this money you are spending you will get it back. So, I felt selling this car would not be an option for me. And, I just told myself that you have to swallow your pride, you have to forget whatever it is; you have to forget the platform or the brand that you represent and you have to hustle; you have to make money because if you die...

"I started getting so depressed at home, crazy thoughts that I can't even talk about, but at the end of the day I felt, if you kill yourself..." Olawale said in the Instagram video.

http://saharareporters.com/2018/09/06/project-fame-winner-turns-cab-driver-avoid-depression

Must watch. Video: Nigeria Will Be Exporting Marijuana If I Become President- Sowore


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNcE34oov8Q

President Muhammadu Buhari has picked the Presidential form of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the president's spokesperson on new media, Bashir Ahmad, the N45million expression-of-interest form was bought by "a group of good Nigerians".

He tweeted: "While President @MBuhari is far in China, a group of good Nigerians bought expression of interest form and nomination form for him."

National President of APC, Adams Oshiomole, received the team of supporters, who went to APC's headquarter to pick the form on behalf of the President.

In 2015, Buhari claimed to be unable to afford the presidential nomination form, and was bought for him by supporters.

http://saharareporters.com/2018/09/05/breaking-group-good-nigerians-buys-n45m-presidential-forms-buhari

A group, Kaduna Women Network Consultative Forum, said its members would not vote for President Muhammadu Buhari or any candidate that emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 presidential election.

Buhari is the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress while Atiku and about 10 other aspirants are jostling for the PDP’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2019 presidential election.

But the women, who converged on Kaduna on Tuesday, said they would mobilise and cast their votes for any credible female candidate irrespective of the party in the 2019.

Some women who have declared their interest in the 2019 presidential election include Dr Elishama Rosemary Idea of the Alliance for New Nigeria, Prof Funmilayo Adesayo-Davis and Kowa Party’s Oluremi Comfort Sonaiya.

https://punchng.com/we-wont-vote-buhari-atiku-others-women-group/


The National President of the forum, Zulai Shehu Bello, spoke to journalists on the sidelines of a one-day sensitisation programme for women ahead of the 2019 elections on their decision.

The programme with the theme, ‘For a better Nigeria, vote women,’ was organised by the National Democratic Institute.

Bello said women were natural leaders and come 2019 presidential election, they would mobilise and work for any credible female presidential candidate that would emerge ahead of the presidential election.

She added that the forum had since its formation reached out to other Nigerians on the need to change the current male-dominated politics in the country.

When asked if the forum would vote the APC presidential candidate or any aspirants that would emerge from the PDP, including Atiku, she said no.



“If we have a credible female woman vying for President, we will vote for the woman and not Buhari or Atiku,” she said.

StillX10:
Good luck to you

Good luck to him. This one that David mark and Saraki have shown interest in becoming the next president of Nigeria. The problem that will be faced by this so called PDP will be so much. I'm just trying to keep my hands crossed.

Chief Saditu Nafiu Ayodele, father of Tunde Nafiu, the young man was shot in Osun State on August 23, has called on the Police to ensure that his son gets justice.

Nafiu, a graduate of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, is the first male child and the fourth of eight children of the same parents. He was shot at close range by an official of the Special Anti-Ribbery Squad (SARS).

He was shot on his way from Ile-Ogbo, a sleepy community in ancient Iwo, in Ayedire Local Government Area of Osun State.

His murder sparked public outrage, leading to a protest that resulted in the burning down of a police station in the area.

Nafiu’s father, a chief and a retired teacher of Ansar Udeen Elementary School, Ile-Ogbo, told SaharaReporters what he was told about the incident.

“This incident happened on the night of Thursday, August 23. He had informed me that he was going to Oluponna to meet his friend and while coming, they would alight at Iwo," he recalled.

“He was with his friend, Suleiman, and they were both on their way home. While they were waiting for a bike, Suleiman said he heard a gunshot and Tunde fell down. He was rushed to the General Hospital at Iwo, where he was finally confirmed dead. He was shot in the right side of his chest; the lower part.

“The SARS officials — four of them — were taken to Iwo olice Station. From what I was told, four SARS officers were detained at the Police headquarters, Osogbo, where further investigations are being carried out.”

When asked how the killer of his son would be identified among the arrested policemen, he said: “The Police said an autopsy would be conducted to ascertain who the gun, from which the bullet was dislodged, was issued to".

Lamenting the death of his son, his father said: “Tunde was one of the breadwinners in the house, although he has four sisters. He has been so supportive in the house in terms of finance. He is very responsible and trustworthy.”

Speaking on what the Police had done in the meantime, he said they had paid him a visit and promised to get to the root of the matter.

“On the evening of that day, the Commissioner of Police came to my house on the instruction that the IG said they should come and express their condolences," he said.

"The commissioner said he first asked the DPO of the area to call me first, to know if it would be safe to come and console me. He said the IG had called him up to 10 times before he came, just to ascertain that he actually came. He said they would get to the root of the matter. I was told that the SARS officials had been arrested because his action had dented the image of the force.

“I don’t want the Commissioner of Police to come for fun, because that’s not what will wake my son from death. I just want justice.”

The Osun killing came less than a month after Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, while acting as President when President Muhammadu Buhari was on vacation, directed the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to overhaul the activities of SARS with immediate effect.


http://saharareporters.com/2018/09/03/i-just-want-justice-says-father-osun-student-murdered-sars-official

Speaking with SaharaReporters, the family representative revealed that the bullet pierced three parts of his body — his arm, rib and liver.

An autopsy has been carried out on Tunde Nafiu, who was shot by an operative of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Iwo, Osun State last week.

Nafiu, 30, was shot by a SARS official in Iwo, Osun State, in the presence of four others SARS officials who were all drunk.

According to a representative of the family, Dr W.A. Oluogun, a pathologist with Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, carried out the autopsy.

Speaking with SaharaReporters, the family representative revealed that the bullet pierced three parts of his body — his arm, ribs and liver.

Olafimihan Adeoye, Commissioner of Police in Osun State, had assured Nafiu's family that the "erring officer will be made to face the full wrath of the law".

http://saharareporters.com/2018/08/30/autopsy-reveals-bullet-pierced-arm-ribs-and-liver-osun-student-shot-sars-official

On March 29th, 2018 the TakeItBack Movement called the Buhari government to task for its shambolic approach to the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. Nigeria failed to sign that agreement largely because the business sector, which had not been included in the negotiations, pushed back against the Buhari administration. It was a failure not to have included the business community in those critical and complex discussions from the start.

Recent events continue to raise our concerns that this government is not only lifeless, but it is also clueless and ill prepared to provide the dynamic and transformative leadership that Nigeria needs. The short sightedness of this administration is costing Nigeria greatly. We are gravely concerned that the Buhari government is still not alive to its responsibilities on the trade negotiation and economic front. We will outline two key areas of concern.

CONCERN 1: GROSS NEGLIGENCE IN PREPARING FOR THE FORUM ON CHINA-AFRICA COOPERATION

Over the past decade, China has aggressively courted trade and investment partnerships with African nations. China’s strategic motives have been both economic and geopolitical. African nations must be alive to the reality that China is approaching Africa with a clear end goal in mind - the emergence of China as a global and military superpower. In dealing with China, African nations must therefore be clear headed about how their nations benefit from any bilateral or multilateral agreements with China.

President Buhari is attending the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation holding between September 3 and 4 with a delegation of government officials and no business delegates. While countries like South Africa, Rwanda, Cameroon and Ghana are attending the summit with high powered delegations comprising of the leaders of the major business organisations and economic sectors in their nations, Nigeria’s official delegation comprises of 9 ministers, 4 governors and 4 senators.

South Africa’s preparation for the summit is a study in contrasts. Several preparatory meetings were held prior to the departure for Beijing to harmonise the positions of the government and business sectors, and to set a target level of investment outcomes from the summit. The South African delegation includes industry captains from various sectors including media, mining, technology and agro-processing. A target of $ 7 Billion of investments was set as the desired outcomes for trade agreements that would emerge from the trip.

We are unaware of any similar preparations by the Nigerian delegation. The only investment targets announced by the Nigerian government is the planned signing of an agreement on the $328m loan facility provided by the Chinese EXIM Bank, for the National Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone Phase 2 project being undertaken by Galaxy Backbone Limited and Huawei Technologies Limited.