Amitez:


You are corrupt ... otherwise, you should have notified EFCC and not NL

OlujobaSamuel:
Public sector in Lagos?
Abeg, I don't know if it's the illegal pay that's making them rich, but those guys are rich, irrespective of the cadre compared to other states

ON DECEMBER 6, 20183:16 AMIN NEWS

By Chioma Gabriel

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has picked holes in a statement credited to a Niger Delta militant leader, Asari Dokubo, which said that boycott of 2019 general elections by the south-east and the south-south will not help the Biafra cause.

IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu had urged IPOB supporters and sympathizers in the two geopolitical zones of south east and south south to shun the 2019 general elections unless the Federal Government announced a date for Biafra referendum.

But Asari Dokubo had expressed disagreement over the call for the boycott of the 2019 general elections by Nnamdi Kanu. Dokubo had argued that heeding Kanu’s advice was suicidal since it would be tantamount to empowering those opposed to the Biafra aspirations with resources from the national treasury to frustrate the people’s struggle.

Dokubo went further to point out that pro-independent agitators in Spain, Ireland and Palestine contested elections and won seats into political offices in a bid to push their agenda rather than boycott general elections in their respective nations.

But Kanu’s deputy, Uche Mefor has picked holes with Dokubo’s position. According to a statement by Uche Mefor, Deputy Leader of IPOB, “Whether Catolonia, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Hamas, used election to control their territories or not, that is their business. Their examples are incongruent and serves no purpose in our circumstance as it stands. On our part, IPOB has taken a decision to use civil disobedience manifesting in so many ways including election boycott and that we must do.

“We do not believe in the recalibration nor extinguishing of our avered principles on the altar of political expediency and certainly, don’t need any lectures on what or how to go about the path we have chosen.

“Hamas started by fighting wars, IRA started by fighting wars and same with Catalonia and even Scotland and these violences gave rise to their attaining political statuses they have today. Why then are those who claim to be Biafra freedom fighters not fighting like Hamas, IRA, etc if citing them is a standard?”

haffaze777:


I don't think dapo abiodun popularity can be compare to Amosun of then,Amosun was loved back then by majority of Ogun state indigene,while Dapo Abiodun is unknown to most people here,I don't see APC winning Ogun west with either Dapo Abiodun or Akinlade,Ogun east will likely go to Gboyega nasir isiaka,they now left with Ogun central which is Amosun stronghold, The Guber election in 2019 in Ogun state will be interesting but I don't see APC retaining the state unless they settle their dispute.

haffaze777:



With Dapo abiodun I doubt that,I don't see him winning kashamu in his ijebu axis

Mrblaster:
Who told you party men are dumping amosun. Lol. Bro don't be deceived. Amosun have them all in his agbada. How do you think someone like dapo can win? With what exactly bro? I'm a card carrying apc for Pete's sake. Are you telling me what I know? Triple A might not win next year but it's definitely not that dapo. Do you think dapo can even beat kashamu in his domain or you think dapo will win ogun central. Amosun is a force in ogun politics. I live in abeokuta bro and I know things. Apc send people to ogun state weekly to pacify amosun to work with dapo because they know he have nothing to lose if he decide to work against dapo so stop living in dreams thinking all is uhuru for dapo yet.

Mrblaster:
your guts is miscaculating because gni is the next governor. Majority of you just do guesswork online without facts and figures. Apc is a goner in ogun state.

By: Dare Odufowokan On: December 2, 2018

Fresh trouble is looming for the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the southwest zone of the country allegedly over suspected efforts by handlers of the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to curry the favour of embattled Senator Buruji Kashamu and the Bayo Dayo-led state executive committee of the PDP in Ogun State, reports, Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan.

Barely three months to the 2019 general election, and with its poor showing in two governorship elections held in Ekiti and Osun states still affecting its popularity in the zone, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West is faced with a fresh crisis with many of its chieftains threatening to dump the party any moment from now. Although the new disquiet in the opposition party is yet to become a full blown crisis, findings revealed that it is capable of tearing the party apart in the region if not properly managed.

The Nation gathered that former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, embattled factional governorship candidate of the party in Ogun State, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, and majority of the party’s chieftains who are Board of Trustee members in the zone, may give cold shoulders to both the PDP and its presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, if the situation is not addressed as they desire.

Findings within the party indicated that an alleged move by the Atiku camp to accommodate embattled Senator Buruji Kashamu and his camp in the PDP, contrary to the position of the National Working Committee (NWC) and most of the party’s leaders in the southwest that he remains expelled from the party, is at the root of the brewing crisis threatening to pitch many PDP leaders in the zone against Atiku.

“Even the blossoming rapport between Atiku and former President Olusegun Obasanjo may be truncated if those urging the former vice president on to support Kashamu succeeds. Like Obasanjo, many PDP leaders in the southwest don’t want to have anything to do with Kashamu. It is important for Atiku to look beyond the acclaimed popularity of the Senator and consider the effect of forcing him on the PDP at this crucial time,” our source claimed.

The Nation gathered that following the failure of the national leadership of the PDP to amicably resolve the fictionalisation of the party in Kashamu’s Ogun State and the continuous victory of the Senator and his faction in court despite the insistence of the Prince Uche Secondus-led NWC that the Sikirulai Ogundele-led state executive committee, loyal to Adebutu, is the authentic leadership of the party in the state, may have prompted Atiku’s camp to seek a political solution to the crisis.

Sources within the camp of the former vice president, while confirming alleged ongoing discussion between the group and Kashamu’s men in Ogun State, said it has become very important for PDP to address the division within the party in Ogun State if it is serious about winning the 2019 general elections. Our source added that the ongoing talks between the two camps are not aimed at rubbishing any of the warring factions in the state.

It was also gathered that the rapport with Kashamu by Atiku’s men may be without the consent of the national leadership of the party which is still insisting that the Bayo Dayo-led faction of the party in the state is illegal. The Secondus-led NWC of the party is still in court seeking a judgement that will dislodge the faction and enthrone the Sikirulai Ogundele-led state executive committee in its place before the 2019 elections.

“We are prosecuting a presidential election. Elections are won and lost through votes; Ogun State is one state we need to win if we want to give APC a good fight in the next presidential election. And the state is ours to take if only we can put our house in order. The APC in the state is in disarray and the people have turned to the PDP. But our people there too are not united.

“The leadership of the party took a decision and we all respected it. But the courts have been saying no to that same decision, given the Kashamu faction the right to call the shots in Ogun PDP instead of the people our NWC supports. The Kashamu they expelled is now the gubernatorial candidate of our party in the state courtesy of the same court judgements we are talking about. Can we continue to look the other way?

“It is upon considering all these that a group of party elders, with strong commitments to Alhaji Atiku’s aspiration, opened a channel of discussion with the distinguish Senator with a view to finding a way the crisis can be politically resolved. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) window is still open and a lot of concessions can still be made here and there to accommodate everybody. The party leadership, because of the court cases, may no longer be in the best position to do this, but it has to be done,” our source explained.

Testing the waters?

Confirming the alleged moves to bring the Kashamu camp into the Atiku train to The Nation on Wednesday, a chieftain of the party in Lagos State, Adeyemi Kola-Daisi, who is also the coordinator of SouthWest Coalition for Atiku (SWCA), said the major interest of the PDP currently is to win the next presidential election. “The party is doing everything possible to liberate Nigerians from the stronghold of Buhari and his people.

“Senator Kashamu, in spite of his face-off with the party at a time, has shown that he is a loyal party member. He had all the reasons and time to dump the PDP and move his structure into another party. But he stayed and fought his case in the courts. He has won major victories and it is in the interest of the party to consider his usefulness and loyalty especially at a time like this.

“So, all these talks about people opposing moves to bring him back into the party are not true. Yes, many of us in the Atiku support groups have been going to him and he has been showing readiness to support both the PDP and Atiku. So, it is a good thing talks are ongoing to bring him back home. Those saying Fayose, Adebutu and others will leave should wait and see if they will not open their arms and welcome Kashamu,” he said.

And in a move many analysts have described as the first step towards the coming realignment within the party, the PDP in Ogun State on Wednesday inaugurated a 42-man committee to be in charge of the campaign organisation of the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in the state. Senator Kashamu was named the chairman of the committee and the party chairman in the state, Bayo Dayo as vice chairman.

Dayo who addressed party members at the party’s secretariat in Abeokuta, on Wednesday, charged them to work hard in every ward to ensure victory for PDP. He said PDP was set to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state. “The power of incumbency will not work for Amosun again since he’s not contesting. “There is still room for the aggrieved. Those parading themselves as candidates of the party are doing so to promote PDP in Ogun State.”

The state party chairman did not say whether the committee has the blessing of either the national leadership of the party or the Atiku Campaign Organisation. But reliable party sources claimed the committee is the first fruit of the looming political solution expected to end the fictionalisation of the party in Ogun state, being midwives by prominent supporters of the Atiku presidential aspiration.

“As I told you earlier, we are making progress. The PDP in Ogun State is obviously the party to beat in 2019 in all the elections, not just the presidential election. All we need to do is put our house in order. And you can see signs that that is being done. The APC in Ogun State, and indeed in many parts of the southwest, is not united. Go to Ondo, Oyo and Ekiti and you will understand what I am saying.

“With Kashamu heading Atiku’s campaign in Ogun State, you don’t need to be told that he is back in the PDP. What remains now is for all other issues to be resolved, especially the issue of who flies the governorship banner of the PDP in Ogun State. All these will be thrashed out and everybody, including Adebutu and his people, will be happy in the end. No loyal party member will leave the PDP at this stage,” our source said.

But a chieftain of the PDP in the state and a former ally of the embattled Senator, Chief Kole Ogunjobi, warned the PDP presidential candidate and his supporters against worsening the situation within the party ahead of the 2019 general elections. According to the PDP stalwart, Kashamu’s return to the PDP will chase away numerous other party leaders, not only in Ogun State, but across the southwest.

“We are daily hearing and seeing things that point to the fact that the Atiku camp feels without Kashamu, PDP cannot win in Ogun State. We have made efforts to warn those thinking like this to desist from harming the party more before the election, but one can only hope common sense will prevail. With Kashamu back in PDP, the party will lose numerous other strong stalwarts in quick succession.

“This will not happen only in Ogun State, but across the states of the southwest because many of you can still recall what party members and leaders suffered in the hand of Kashamu and his gang before we succeeded in getting him out of the party. He is not a team player. His type of politics is strange and he has a penchant to want to lord it over everyone else. These were the major reasons the party was so troubled for many years,” he said.

Unending face-off

The current face-off between Kashamu and the PDP started when INEC formally adopted the list of PDP candidates for Ogun State, submitted to it by the Dayo-led State Executive Committee of the party, which is loyal to Senator Kashamu, stating clearly that its decision to adopt the list is based on the various Federal High Court verdicts on cases between the two factions of the party in the state.

The commission, in a letter dated October 25, 2018 signed by its acting secretary, Okechukwu Ndeche, and addressed to the national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, said it would only recognise the governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly candidates from Kashamu’s camp until the judgements in his favour are set aside by superior courts.

This is in spite of the fact that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party had earlier expelled Kashamu, Adedayo Dayo and two members of the Ogun State chapter of the party over alleged anti-party activities. But their expulsion was later overturned by the court. Nonetheless, the PDP and the Adebutu faction in the state continued to seek his ouster from the opposition party.

But in spite of endless efforts to shove him aside in the scheme of thing within the party in his home state of Ogun, Kashamu had continued to have the upper hand. Just last Monday again, the hope of the national leadership that it will get INEC to reverse his decision concerning the list of PDP candidates in Ogun State was dashed as the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, struck out the motion for stay of execution of the orders given in favour of the Dayo-led Ogun State Executive.

This followed the withdrawal of the appellants’ newly filed motion for stay of execution, among others. The court also awarded a N20,000 cost against the appellants – the PDP, its National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, and Senator Umar Ibrahim Tsauri. Represented by Emeka Etiaba, the appellants withdrew all their previously filed applications which included motions for stay of execution, abridgment of time and amendment of appeal following which the court struck out the said applications having been withdrawn.

Following the mutual consent of parties’ counsel, the court gave the appellants one day from Monday to file their brief of argument, 14 days for the 1st – 9th respondents to file their brief from the date of service and one day for the appellants to file a reply brief. In their amended and newly filed Notice of Appeal, the appellants’ are asking the court for an order setting aside the orders of the lower court and reassignment of the suit at the Federal High Court, Abeokuta.

A date for hearing of the appeal will be communicated to parties upon the conclusion of exchange of briefs. It would be recalled that the pro-Ladi Adebutu national leadership of the PDP filed an appeal against the orders of the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, which directed the PDP and INEC to “accept, process and publish” only the list of candidates that emerged from congresses/primaries endorsed by Dayo-led Exco.

The suit is an appeal against a judgment enforcement proceedings. The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, had on the 24th of June, 2016 delivered a judgment in favour of the Dayo-led Exco as the only Ogun State PDP structure that is known to law. The judgment is yet to set aside and is no pending appeal against it. The three-man panel of judges of the Court of Appeal included the Hon. Justice H.S. Tsammani, JCA, (Presiding), Hon. Justice N. Okoronkwo, JCA, and Hon. Justice F.A. Ojo, JCA.

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

…Grow revenue by 27.7% in H1 2018

…As Lagos, Rivers, Ogun, FCT top IGR table

…Get N1.23trn allocation from FAAC in first 6 months

The 36 States of the federation and FCT have recorded an Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N579.490 billion in the first half of 2018, as against N453.833 billion posted in the corresponding period of 2017, representing a growth of 27.7 per cent year-on-year, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has shown.

The latest statistics showed that 28 states recorded growth in IGR while 8 states, including Abia, Anambra, Benue, Taraba, Kebbi, Kwara, Ebonyi and Enugu, recorded a decline in 2018 H1.

In the first and second quarters of the year, the states generated N280.835 billion and N263.343 billion respectively.

The revenues generated by the states came mainly from Pay-As-You-Earn Tax (N352.509 billion), Direct Assessment (N26.293 billion), Road Taxes (N11.681 billion), Other Taxes (N84.033 billion) and revenues from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (N104.972 billion).

A breakdown of the report showed that Lagos, Rivers, Ogun, FCT and Delta were the best five performers during the period under review.

For instance, Lagos State generated total sum of N196.395 billion, increased by 16.88 per cent from N168.025 billion in H1 2017, to top the list.

In second place is Rivers with N60.906 billion, an increase of 36.13 per cent, from the N44.742 billion recorded last year.

Ogun State improved by 6.70 per cent to N42.519 billion from N39.849 billion in the comparable period of 2017.

As for FCT, it recorded N35.311 billion during the period, while Delta State posted N29.797 billion, a growth of 17.80 percent from N25.103 billion in 2017.

In 2017, the states generated N931.23 billion, an increase of 12.03 per cent from 2016.

In the second half of 2017, the total revenue generated by states was N432.65bn, compared to N409.09 billion in first half of the year.

Meanwhile, the net allocation from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in half year 2018 stood at N1.23 trillion while the total revenue available to the states was put at N1.74 trillion.

However, the value of foreign debt stood at $4.22 billion, while domestic debt had reached N3.38 trillion as at the end of June 2018, compared to $4.11 billion and N3.35 trillion as at December 2017.

The NBS, in its State Level IGR report for the second quarter (Q2, 2018), further explained that some states declared high level of increases including Akwa Ibom with a 61.5 per cent increase in IGR to N11.8 billion as at June 2018 from N7.32 billion a year earlier.

Cross River and Gombe states marked 47.44 and 40.9 percent increases from N6.6 billion to N9.75 billion and from N1.7 billion to N2.4 billion respectively, during the review periods.

But going by the revenue and debt profiles of the states, it is apparent that several of them would likely collapse without allocations from the federally collected revenue.

Already, many states are incapable of paying monthly salaries to their workers without the monthly disbursement from the FAAC. The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, had advised state governments to slash bogus overhead spending by embracing fiscal discipline in order ensure higher deliverables.

Ahmed, made the call in Kaduna State during the week, while speaking at the ongoing 2018 Conference of the National Council on Finance and Economic Development (NACOFED).

She maintained that states should look inwards to harness various avenues to improve on their financial resources in order to meet demands in their states.

By Victor Edozie, Port Harcourt



Port Harcourt/Aba express road junction, Oyigbo, Rivers State

Garden City of Port Harcourt is the popular name given to Port Harcourt in Rivers State years back because of its clean, tidy and serene environment.

Between 1980 and 1990 Port Harcourt was rated the cleanest city in the country as a result of its beautiful landscape, good road layout and the environmental consciousness of residents.

‘Pitakwal’ as, the capital and largest city of the state has been fondly nicknamed, was the dream city of many Nigerians but as urban explosion began to take a heavy toll in the once beautiful ‘Garden City’. People now fear that the city is gradually assuming the status of “garbage centre of Nigeria.”

Port Harcourt residents are not happy about the poor state of the environment. At Creek Road in old Port Harcourt township, the road which leads to the market is an eyesore. Heaps of refuse dot adjoining streets emitting offensive odour.

A resident, Tamuno Ibisiki, said “Creek road is turning to be the dirtiest part of the state. The traders in the market are not helping matters as they dump the rubbish generated from their businesses on the road. The stench is terrible and constitutes a very serious health challenges to residents,” he said.

At Ikwerre road, near the popular Mile One market, the heaps of refuse dumped close to a new generation bank have been a source of worry to residents. The area is designated as a collection centre for refuse by the State Waste Management Agency. However, the heaps of refuse take some time before evacuation and the stench from the eyesore are worrisome.

A resident whose office is located in the area expressed worry over the health implication of the refuse dumps, saying, “It’s very embarrassing that a popular area such as Mile One should be used as a collection centre for refuse by the Waste Management Agency. The stench from the refuse is very offensive and could be very hazardous to human health.

“Refuse collection centres should be located in isolated areas and not in highly populated areas. I have complained to the agency responsible but they seem not to be bothered about the nuisance the site constitutes to residents,” stated the man who pleaded anonymity.

Other areas such as Mile 3, Mile 4, Echue Street, Sangana Street, Education Bus Stop, Abali Park, Sangana Street and some parts of Oyigbo are not left out of the refuse problem.

Traders at the popular Sangana Street litter the area with heaps of refuse comprising of rotten fruits and vegetables, waiting for evacuators.

The popular Oyigbo Express Junction which hosts the Garden City’s statues of Port Harcourt, is also home to heaps of refuse which have not been evacuated for a very long time suffusing the area with offensive odour.

Peter Dozie, a resident of the area said “the mountain of refuse deposited at the Express Junction was terrible because it is a gateway to Port Harcourt and links the city to other states such as Abia and Imo.

“Meanwhile, the state government spends millions of naira every month to pay service providers but much is left to be desired. The stench coming from the uncollected refuse is terrible and can be a health hazard. Government should do something about this without delay,” Dozie said.

A school teacher in Oyigbo, who pleaded anonymity said “this place is designated as refuse collection centre and almost all the residents bring their refuse here for onward evacuation. In advanced countries refuse dumps are located in isolated areas and receptacles are provided to deposit them.”

“We have complained to the authorities but nothing has been done about it. The lives of pupils in this school are under serious threat,” he said.

Meanwhile, successive administrations in the state have tried to restore the beauty and serenity of Port Harcourt through policy actions but which are yet to yield positive result.

The previous administration, conscious of restoring the Garden City status of Port Harcourt in 2008 engaged a private firm to carry out landscaping of some designated areas of the state and plant grasses and flowers. Over N400 million was expanded on the project.

The contractor based in Calabar, immediately swung into action. Buildings and structures that fell within the areas designated for landscaping and grassing were demolished.

The areas were landscaped and flowers and grasses planted but less than six months after, the areas were again completely defaced with refuse dumps resurfacing and the green areas converted to foot paths and driveways.

Also, a monthly environmental sanitation exercise was begun to engage residents in the cleaning of their environment and refuse contractors were also engaged from all the nooks and crannies of the state.

It was gathered that over 25 contractors were engaged and that the state government spent about N500 million monthly in paying them. It was learnt that at a point the contractors were mandated to use Compactor machines and those who were unable to procure them were sacked by the state government.

But despite the huge sums of money spent monthly to keep the state clean, Port Harcourt remains very dirty, with an untidy environment.

Governor Nyesom Wike, on assumption of office in 2015, inherited huge tonnage of uncleared refuse littering the streets of Port Harcourt. The contractors had stopped work because of being owned several months’ payment. Governor Wike cleared the debt and they resumed work but still no significant improvement in the general sanitation of the state.

However to improve the state’s environmental status, government recently declared a state of emergency on environmental sanitation in the state.

The Commissioner of Information and Communications, Barrister Emma Okah, who stated this recently, said the decision was aimed at improving on the state of sanitation in the state.

“Government frowns seriously at the deteriorating urban sanitation and environment in the state, particularly in Port Harcourt and Obio Akpor metropolis.

“Consequently, government has decided to declare a state of emergency on the set of people who are in the habit of trading on the roads, the medians and all of that,” he said.

The State Executive Council has also set up a Special Task Force chaired by Governor Nyesom Wike himself to clear illegal traders from major roads and streets in Port Harcourt and its environs.

By: Duku JOEL, Maiduguri On: November 24, 2018

Indications emerged yesterday that the attack on troops by Boko Haram insurgents at Metele village, Guzamala Local Government Area, Borno State, which claimed many lives on Sunday, was possible because the attackers disguised as friendly soldiers.

A soldier, who escaped the attack by a whisker, said an advanced team of the insurgents had come into the base as friendly forces and went into the office of the commander where they fired him and five other soldiers that were with him in the office.

According to the source, the troops became confused when they heard the sound of gunshots from their commander’s office.

He said: “We saw some people dressed in full military uniform who came into our camp, but we thought they were friendly forces.

“They went straight to the office of our commander and shortly after, there were gunshots in the office.

“We became confused, waiting for orders but it was too late. Boko Haram had already surrendered us.

“They killed the commander with five other soldiers that were with him in the office.

“Before we knew it, there was heavy fire from Boko Haram from all sides of the camp with more fire at the entrance.

“One of our anti-bomb vehicles tried to charge through the barbwire but got hooked. It was a terrible fight.

“We couldn’t do much because their number and fire power were more than our own.”

Meanwhile, the army command in Maiduguri has evacuated the bodies of the soldiers that were killed by Boko Haram insurgents.

A military source disclosed that more than 70 bodies were evacuated to Maiduguri by the military after the Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole and the GOC, 7 Div yesterday went to Monguno and strategised on recovering the bodies.

The Nation checks revealed that the first rescue and evacuation team was foiled after Boko Haram launched an attack on them and they were forced to withdraw.

The military source who spoke on condition of anonymity said more than 100 soldiers were feared dead in the Metele attack.

He added: “As at today, the bodies of some of the dead soldiers have been evacuated and brought to Maiduguri. More than 70 bodies have been brought, but I am sure many may not have been recovered.

“I am not sure, but the soldiers that died in that attack will be more than 100.”

The Nation could not verify the story with the army authorities yesterday as calls and text messages to the Army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Chukwu Texas, were not responded to.

The Nation checks also revealed that Boko Haram has sacked six military formations from that axis since September, each coming with a heavy casualties on the side of the Nigerian troops.

It will be recalled that Nigerian troops in Metele suffered a similar attack in September this year when about 18 Nigeria soldiers were killed while another 151 soldiers and six officers were declared missing in the same area in another devastating attack on 157 Battalion on October 8, 2018.

However, the official figure released by the military was that only seven soldiers were killed while 16 others were injured. They claimed to have killed at least 76 Boko Haram fighters in Metele as at then.

Some ladies who feign blindness and use rented kids to beg for alms, were, yesterday, arrested by the taskforce team of Anambra Ministry of Women Affairs, Social welfare and Children Development.

One of the suspects revealed that one Edith, who hails from Ebonyi state and is currently at large, brings the kids to them every morning for them to rent at N1,000 per day. .

During interrogation, the Commissioner in-charge of the Ministry was able to discover that the kids don't even know where their real parents are. It is being speculated that they are victims of kidnapping or trafficking.

It was also discovered that the group of fake beggars camp at Army Barracks, Onitsha and none of them are from Anambra State. Most of them are from Ebonyi, Abia, Kogi and Imo states.

ON NOVEMBER 15, 2018 4:53 PMIN NEWS,

Abakaliki - The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Thursday, declared that Ndigbo have not decided on any Presidential candidate to cast their vote for in the 2019 general election.

In a statement issued in Abakaliki by Comrade Obinna Achionye, the Deputy President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, the group insisted that “no few and outdated leaders in the political circle would mortgage the political future of Ndigbo as they did in 2015.”

According to him: “The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide had a consultative meeting in Abakiliki and appraised the state of the nation with coalition of Igbo groups and resolved as follows: “Ndigbo have not decided on which direction to vote in 2019 and no fewer and outdated leaders will mortgage the political future of Ndigbo as they did in 2015.

“We shouted then that things were not done properly in the South East especially to the PDP chieftains but now they’re heading the same way which is another political catastrophic mission which will be resisted by the Youths and coalition of Igbo groups.

“Ndigbo will not be carried away by euphoria of vice Presidential candidate, an additional State Creation is better in the South East.

“We call President Buhari to seek redress and appease Ndigbo before the years run out to regain the loss of confidence of Igbo Youths, especially in terms of job creation and minimum wage issue, though we applaud Buhari on the massive road rehabilitation in the South East.

“We believe that Ndigbo will have a rethink if the Federal Government revamps Enugu coal mine, creates jobs and creates additional State to south East. With a new state, there will be more political space; with additional Governor, 3 Senators,10 Federal Representatives, 24 House of Assembly members, 20 LGA Chairmen, many Councillors, its better than Vice President.

“We call on Ndigbo to collect their PVCs immediately without further delay from INEC offices in their various LGA. We frown at the information of over 500 thousand uncollected PVCs in IMO state and insist that INEC should make it easier for Ndigbo rather than hoarding PVCs.

“We insist there will be election in 2019 in South East, and we will continue to persuade our Agitators to have a common ground.

“We urge Ndigbo, especially Youths, to be law abiding as operation Python dance is about to commence and by intelligent reports, this Python Dance 3 will be more provocative than the previous ones and agitators should shun acts capable of losing the lives of Igbo Youths especially the incident of a church where Biafran flags was hoisted in Aba, “We call the Army to be more friendly in the Operation Python dance 3,and not to provoke Ndigbo in anyway. Ndigbo will choose who they will vote for in 2019 Presidential election when the chips are down. Nobody will decide for Ndigbo in 2019.

“We call on those Igbo elders to take the back seat as Igbo Youths and Agitators have taken over the driver’s seat on where Ndigbo will vote, as any Presidential candidate dealing with few elders will have a repeat of 2015 episode, where elders collected millions and betrayed PDP, and Igbo Youths boycotted voting, “Ndigbo will decide by January. APC and PDP have equal opportunity in grabbing Igbo Votes in 2019.”