Nigerian Falcons Star, Asisat Oshoala Joins Barcelona

Super Falcons forward, Asisat Oshoala has joined Spanish side FC Barcelona. The former Dalian Quanjian player will be at the Spanish side until the end of the season.

On her Twitter handle, Oshoala expressed her delight at joining the football club on loan from her Chinese club, Dalian Quanjian F.C.

She tweeted, “Delighted to join @FCBfemeni on loan. 2019 let’s go.”

Read More

Court remands 23-year-old-man for stealing woman’s pants

Dutse Magistrate court has remanded a 23-year-old man, Yabo Ibrahim for allegedly stealing a woman’s underwear at Yalwawa quarters in Dutse Local Government.

The accused person was arrested on a two-count charge of unlawful entry into a house and stealing.

The Prosecutor told the court that one woman at Yalwawa quarters lodged her complaint that thieves were getting access to her house whenever she is out for work.

He explained that on receiving the complaint, police and people of the area swung into action and succeeded in arresting the suspect.

Some of the items he stole include seven pants, four braziers, two shorts among others valued at N7000.

The accused person also admitted committing the offense before the magistrate but begged for mercy, saying that he stole the items due to hunger in order to feed himself.

The Magistrate, Muhammad Lamin Usman ordered the accused person to be remanded in prison custody for two weeks.

He said the alleged offence contravened sections 346 and 286 of penal court.

The case was adjourned to February 12, for mention.

Read More

Two dead as fuel tanker explodes in Lagos

Two persons were on Wednesday confirmed dead after a truck, loaded with 33,000 litres of petroleum product, fell and caught fire at Barracks Bus Stop, along the Mile 2/Badagry Expressway, Lagos State.According to TVC, eyewitnesses said the incident occurred around 5 am on Wednesday.

It was gathered that two trucks and three cars were completely burnt.

Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Emeka Oti, said that the two deceased persons were among the three occupants of a vehicle used for smuggling.

According to him, the third person in the car suffered serious fire wounds.

“Four vehicles were involved. A tanker, a truck and two cars. Presently, two persons have been confirmed dead, three others, including the DPO suffered injuries.

“Efforts is ongoing to restore normalcy to the area,” he added.

Read More

INEC swears in new Resident Electoral Commisioner

 

The Independent Electoral commission Wednesday swore in a new Resident Electoral Commissioner from Akwa Ibom State, Monday Udo Tom at the Commission’s Headquarters Abuja.

“It is my pleasure to address you on the occasion of the swearing-in of a new REC whose nomination was confirmed by the Senate last week,” the commission’s Chairman Mahmood Yakubu said during the swearing in ceremony.

“The appointment of Elder Monday Udo Tom from Akwa Ibom State brings the total number of RECs nationwide to 36 out 37 States and the FCT.

“You will exercise supervisory control over personnel, resources as well the legal and administrative processes in the State to which you are posted. You will also interact with various categories of stakeholders,” he added.

The Senate had June 7, 2018 reversed the confirmation of Tom, as a Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission after 24 hours of initially confirming him.

The commissioner’s confirmation was reversed following a point of order raised by Senator Albert Akpan, who informed the lawmakers that there is a petition dated February 5, 2018 against the nominee from Akwa Ibom State.

Consequently, the Senate asked the Committee on Ethics and Petitions to ‎look into the matter and report back. However, nothing was heard about the nomination until Udo’s confirmation on January 18.

Udom holds a BSc. degree in Biological Science and a Master’s degree in Microbiology. He served as lecturer and civil servant in Akwa Ibom State.

Following his swearing in, the commission deployed him to Bayelsa State. Mahmood said they are still awaiting the confirmation and appointment of the nominee for Osun State.

Read More

Declare your assets, Afenifere tells Buhari

Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afrinfere, on Tuesday asked Nigeria president Muhammadu Buhari to fully declare his assets as a public office holder.

“It is now four months to the end of the four-year tenure of Mr President and this pledge has not been fulfilled. Instead of doing what he pledged, presidential aides have been giving all manners of untenable excuses in the last three and a half years,” Afenifere leader, Reuben Fasoranti said in a statement.

“Afenifere, therefore, asks the president to immediately make his assets declaration form public so Nigerians can hold him as a man of his words.”

Buhari declared his assets after he emerged president in 2015. But the Yoruba group argued that Buhari should have redeclared his assets after four years of his tenure as president.

The call for Buhari’s asset declaration by Afenifere is perceived to be related to the recent suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN)) Walter Onnoghen, who did not declare all his assets.

Onnoghen’s suspension has been the subject of public debate on Buhari’s respect for the rule of law.

Afenifere, then called on Buhari to lead by example.

Faseronti said, “This is a moral burden as it is said that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands and that examples are better than precepts.”

The Afenifere leader noted that “such power of example sets a greater tone for good conduct in society than a thousand arbitrariness in the name of fighting corruption. The true meaning of leadership is being able to lead by higher standards.”

He, however, accused Buhari of engaging in a partial fight against corruption.

“The jeopardy of President Buhari anti-corruption war has really been one set of rules for the goose and another set for the gander,” Faseronti said.

Read More

ASUU issues stern warning to Vice Chancellors over non-compliance

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened that it would sanction some university Vice-Chancellors who have been “uncooperative” in the ongoing strike by the lecturers.

Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU President, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

Ogunyemi was reacting to the allegation that some vice-chancellors have been intimidating lecturers in their institution and have ordered them back to the classroom, while some have reportedly commenced examinations.

According to him, the union may be preparing for a confrontation with some of the vice-chancellors that have defaulted and failed to cooperate.

“The attitude of some of these vice-chancellors is worrisome; the union will be prepared to engage such vice-chancellor when the ongoing strike is suspended or called off, ” he said.

He expressed regret over some members of the union, who choose to betray their conscience by opting out of the strike.

He added that such members who may be aggrieved ought to take opportunity of available internal mechanism for resolving such crisis, saying that the union will address the issues at the appropriate time.

Ogunyemi, however, noted that there are reasons some members may have opted out of the action in some campuses.

According to him, some vice-chancellors are uncooperative even though they will benefit in the university system what ASUU is agitating for.

“In some places, some of them will misapply the fund. That is why there will continue to be crisis, so when we go back, we are going to engage many of the vice-chancellors.

“Like in some state universities, their governors are playing the ostrich, pretending to be funding their universities.

“Today, we call many state universities TETFUND universities because the bulk of their capital projects in the last ten years came from TETFUND support and lately, the NEEDS assessment grant.

“Governors, who own such universities, will be giving their vice-chancellors directive to go and open the universities.

“They are just not being sincere to themselves because they are actually not doing what is expected of them.

“Another reason is because some of our members are aggrieved for reasons best known to them. Some have threatened to pull out of ASUU and go their own way.

“When you take it on the balance, you find out that within their inner self, they are not opposed to what we are asking for because the Earned Academic Allowances will go to them, revitalisation fund and the salary shortfall, it will be refunded to them,” he said.

According to him, at the end of the day, it is a matter of conscience. Some of our members are, like you find in any group, those who betray their conscience. We cannot stop them because they are exercising their right.

“But for those who pretend to be with us and are not with us, we will take them through our process at the appropriate time because every organisation has its own disciplinary mechanism,” he said.

ASUU had commenced an indefinite strike on Nov. 5, 2018, demanding for increased funding of the university education by the Federal Government.

Read More

Sarri speaks on Hudson-Odoi leaving Chelsea before January 31

Chelsea manager, Maurizio Sarri, has said that forward, Callum Hudson-Odoi will not be leaving Stamford Bridge this January transfer window.

Sarri stated this on Tuesday ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth on Wednesday at the Dean Court Stadium.

Hudson-Odoi, who has submitted his transfer request to Chelsea, is keen to join Bayern Munich this month.

The 18-year-old had refused to commit himself to Sarri’s side due to concerns over his lack of playing time in the first team.

The England youngster currently has less than 18 months left on his current deal with Chelsea but Sarri stressed that Chelsea’s board told him that Hudson-Odoi will stay at the club because the player is out from transfer market.

“On the pitch, [Hudson-Odoi] he’s doing very well,” Sarri was quoted by Telegraph as telling reporters.

“I’m really very happy with him. I’m not very happy with the situation, but I know very well that every big team here in England has the same problem.

“It’s not easy to keep these young players. He is, of course, one of the best 18-year-old players in Europe, so it’s very, very difficult.

“The club told me he’s out of the market for sure and probably he will be out of the market in July.”

Read More

Sarri sends strong mesaage to Chelsea’s board over Fabregas’ replacement

Chelsea manager, Maurizio Sarri has said that he was still “waiting” for the club to sign a new midfielder following the departure of Cesc Fabregas.

Fabregas left Chelsea to joined Ligue 1 side, Monaco few days ago, but Sarri said Chelsea required a replacement for the Spainaird.

However, Chelsea were close to signing Argentine midfielder, Leandro Paredes from Zenit Saint Petersburg before the player signed for Paris Saint-Germain for £35million on Monday.

Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth, Sarri was quoted by Metro UK as telling reporters: “I thought it was important for us to have two players [arrive]. One has arrived and I am waiting for the other.

“If he arrives I will be very happy, if not I will have to work with these players which isn’t a problem.

“[Ethan] Ampadu didn’t play very well in that position but he is very young and it’s a new position. It’s not easy to play there.

“In the second half we tried Mateo [Kovacic]. He is able to move the ball very fast and very clean but we need to see if he can play there in a defensive match.”

Read More

Dogara formerly dumps APC for PDP

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has formerly announced his defection from All Progre-ssives Congress, APC, to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The Speaker made the announcement yesterday during plenary, alongside two other legislators, Edward Pwajok and Ahmed Yerima.

Dogara, in September 2018, laid to rest speculations of his defection from APC to PDP as he visited the national secretariat of his new party in Abuja, where he submitted his forms for the House of Representatives election.

His actions came a week after hundreds of supporters from his Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa federal constituency of Bauchi State presented him a PDP nomination and expression of interest forms, urging him to leave the ruling APC.

The Speaker, who has been having running battle with his state governor, Mohammed Abubakar, has been long expected to leave APC for PDP.

Unlike other members of the National Assembly, who made public their defections, Dogara kept his decision closely guarded till the last plenary before the 2019 general election.

Speaking at PDP’s office, Dogara said: “I have decided to come back,” as he submitted the 2019 expression of interest and nomination forms.

He said APC in Bauchi State had not delivered on its promises to the people, hence his decision to leave.

Read More

Zamfara APC reacts to victory in court

The state chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara state, Hon. Awali Liman Kaura, has expressed his joy and satisfaction over the victory of the faction of the party in the court.

Addressing newsmen at the Government House in Gusau, the Chairman stated that the victory was a victory for democracy and the party in general since the party won’t be losing out from contesting the general elections in 2019.

He said that now that the serious legal battle was over, the party would settle down to map out strategies on how to take back the state that belongs to the party.

According to him, there was no doubt that there are tough time ahead considering the friction in the party, noting that the dust was beginning to settle down.

He however denied that there were cracks on the walls of the party in the state.

The chairman appealed to all the aggrieved members to sheath their swords and work together to ensure perfect victory for the party in the general elections.

Again, he called on members, who had defected to other political parties, to return to the APC, saying that there was no way they could run away from the reality.

Read More

Ex-Gov Nwobodo Dumps APC For PDP, Gives Reasons

Former Governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, Friday, dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC.Nwobodo, who defected to the APC on the wake of the massive defection across the country, has rejoined his former political platform, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

He was conspicuously absent as the All Progressives Congress flagged off its presidential election campaign in the State on Thursday.

He announced his defection during a visit by key leaders of the PDP in the Southeast to his Amaechi country home, in Enugu.

On the entourage were S.N Okeke, former chairman, Police Service Commission, Prof. A.B.C Nwosu, Chief Oseloka Obaze, the Secretary to the Abia State Government, among others.

They had asked Nwobodo to return to the PDP, a party he co-founded in 1998.

“Why we are here is that a house you built has been vacant, we are calling on you to most respectfully step back to your house,” Okeke had pleaded.

Responding to the please, Nwobodo said he was stepping aside from the All Progressives Congress, APC, chronicling various issues plaguing the nation.

He said prominent political leaders from the Southeast had earlier met him in Abuja few days ago over the same issue.

“It is difficult for me to ignore their call and I cannot do that. Where will I go if I’m not with you. I’m back to PDP.

“I’m a democrat, I believe in democracy, those around Mr. President should tell him the truth,” he declared questioning some of the activities of the APC members.

He described attempt to arraign the Chief Justice of Nigeria illegally as a mockery and desecration of the the judiciary and the rule of law, stressing “I will not be part of it.”

Read More

Breaking: CJN Justice Walter Onoghen suspended

President Muhammadu Buhari suspend the CJN Walter Onnoghen and appoint Ibrahim Tanko Muhammed as the Acting CJN


Details later.

Read More

Victor Moses: Chelsea Winger Completes Fenerbahce Medical

Chelsea winger Victor Moses has completed a medical before his proposed loan move to Turkish club Fenerbahce.

Moses is set to sign a deal until the end of the season after arriving in Istanbul on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old has been restricted to five appearances this season, with his only start coming in September's EFL Cup win at Liverpool.

Moses arrived at Stamford Bridge from Wigan for £9m in 2012 and has scored 18 goals in 128 games.
Since joining Chelsea, the former Nigeria international has had loan spells at Liverpool, Stoke and West Ham.

Read More

INEC rejects Oby Ezekwesili’s withdrawal from presidential race

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is too late for any candidate to withdraw from contesting any position in the upcoming elections.

INEC said this in reaction to Oby Ezekwesili stepping down as presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN).

Ezekwesili announced her withdrawal on Thursday, saying she wanted to give room for a coalition against candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

But reacting via a statement, Rotimi Oyekanmi, chief press secretary to the INEC chairman, said November 17 was the last date for withdrawal.

“It is impossible for any presidential candidate to withdraw from the race now. According to the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2019 General Elections, the last day for withdrawal by candidates or replacement of withdrawn candidates by political parties was 17th November 2018 for Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

“The deadline for Ezekwesili or any candidate in that category to withdraw or be replaced has passed,” the statement read.

Read More

Appeal court declares Duke SDP presidential candidate

The court of appeal in Abuja has declared Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River, as the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The appellate court set aside the judgement of an Abuja high court which declared Jerry Gana, former information minister, as the party’s presidential flagbearer.

The court also awarded N500,000 cost against Gana.

Duke had approached the court to reverse the decision of the lower court which held that he was not the authentic candidate of the party, having emerged from a process said “to be contrary to the party’s provision for the primary election.”

The three-man panel held that the application is illegal and unconstitutional, which ought not to have been entertained by the lower court.

The court held that the position of Gana in section 18 of the party’s amended constitution contravenes the electoral acts stipulation for the validity of a candidate in any election.

The court also held that the amendment relied upon by Gana did not take effect until October 8, 2018, two days after its ratification and the election of Duke as the party’s candidate was in line with section 222 of the electoral act.

An high court sitting in Abuja, had on December 14, 2018, declared Gana as the winner of the presidential primary election of the SDP.

Hussein Baba-Yusuf, the judge, had nullified the candidacy of Duke as the party’s flagbearer.

Read More

Higuain Signs for Chelsea

Gonzalo Higuain has joined Chelsea on a 6 month loan move from Juventus.

According to Juventus, Chelsea has the option to sign Higuain on a permanent deal after the loan spell for the sum of £31m.

Higuain had spent the first quarter of the season on loan at AC Milan where he made 22 appearances and scored 8 goals.

The striker has reunited with former coach Maurizio Sarri with whom He worked together suring His time at Napoli.

Higuain told Chelsea website “When the opportunity to join Chelsea presented itself, I had to take it” It's a team I've always liked that has a lot of history, a wonderful stadium and they play in the Premier League, a league I've always wanted to play in.

I now hope I can give back that trust Chelsea have shown me out on the pitch. I can't wait to start and I hope to adapt as soon as possible.

Higuain will not be available to play against Tottenham in the carabao cup semi final second leg today. But he will be available for the FA cup tie against Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday.

Read More

Ezekwesili withdraws from presidential race

The presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria Dr Oby Ezekwesili Thursday withdrew from the race to dislodge President Muhammadu Buhari from Aso Villa, her campaign spokesman Ozioma Ubabukoh said.

She confirmed her exit from the race shortly after Ubabukoh broke the news.

“I have decided to step down from the presidential race and focus on helping to build a Coalition for a viable alternative to the #APCPDP in the 2019 general elections,” Ezekwesili said on Thursday morning.

Ezekwesili, a former World Bank vice president for Africa, was one of the bright sparks in a presidential campaign that has seen the two leading political parties – ruling All Progressives Congress and People’s Democratic Party – regurgitate tired talking points.

Ezekwesili was one of the three candidates that participated in the debate held for presidential candidates on Saturday. The decision to quit came after series of consultations were held in the days after the debate.

She, however, insisted she was ready to help build a viable coalition that will wrestle power from the APC/PDP binary.

“I have not hesitated to offer my willingness to step down my candidacy in order to facilitate the emergence of a strong and viable alternative behind which Nigerians can line up in our collective search for a new beginning,” Ezekwesili said.

A reluctant politician, she told Guardian Life in November 2018 that having to choose between the PDP and APC was not the best way forward for Africa’s most populous country.

“I never had interest in politics. Anyone who knows me knows that I detest politics,” she says. “But I had to get to the place where listening to the political class say to us that we have to choose the lesser of two evils got me infuriated.”

There are now 69 persons in contention to defeat incumbent Buhari at the poll next month. But PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president of the country and ex-ally of Buhari, is seen as the main challenger.

Neither of the two men is fit to lead Nigeria, Ezekwesili said.

“This coalition for a viable alternative has now more than ever before become an urgent mission for and on behalf of the citizenry,” she said.

Read More

Private school bus driver rapes four-year-old girl after school hours in Osun

A driver with an unnamed private school in Osogbo, Osun State, Oluwatomisin Oyelakin, has been arraigned before an Osogbo Chief Magistrates Court for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor after school hours on January 15th 2019.

While being arraigned in court yesterday, the police prosecutor, Sergeant Temitope Fatoba, the accused was a driver in the school the four-year-old victim attended and allegedly committed the act after school hours. Sergeant Fatoba said on the day the incident happened, Oyelakin dropped off the other pupils in his vehicle at their various homes and he was left with the victim. He then poceeded to have canal knowledge of his victim in a secluded place.

The prosecutor said the offence contravenes sections 360 and 218 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. 11, Laws of Osun State, 2003.

The mother of the victim, simply identified as Mrs Gbadamosi, explained amidst sobs that after the incident, her child was taken to the hospital where she was subjected to X-ray and scan.

Read More

Governor Okorocha speaks on being suspended by APC

Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has insisted that he remains a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC), contrary to claims by the factional chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Imo State, Marcelinus Nlemigbo, that he has been suspended from the party.

Okorocha denied the suspension controversy in a statement he issued through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo,

The Governor also maintained that there is no faction of the APC in Imo State.

According to him, “There is only one APC in the State with Hon. Daniel Nwafor as the Chairman and Owelle Rochas Okorocha as the leader. Any other group claiming to be a faction of Imo APC must obviously be a gang of 419ers or league of fraudsters who are experts in issuance of dud cheques and collecting billions for jobs not done.

“The only contentious issue in Imo APC is that the National Chairman of the Party, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, imposed a known PDP member and a known character in the state on the party as its governorship candidate, and by so doing pushing the party and its members to a very tight corner especially when it comes to the issue of marketing a candidate.

“If Mr. Oshiomhole didn’t want the preferred candidate of members of the party in the state, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, for any reason, and if he actually meant well for Imo APC, he would have taken one of the guber aspirants that formed the coalition who are known members of the party, and who is also from Owerri zone, since that was the reason some of them in the coalition claimed that made them to leave the government. ”

Further to buttress his claim, Governor Okorocha said “but the APC National Chairman preferred a PDP man and also from Orlu zone. And he imposed the Candidate on the party and at a time the man was facing charges on corruption. That is the problem with Imo APC and its guber candidate.

“Aside this problem, Oshiomhole also told his audience that he has dissolved the EXCOs of the Party from the State to the wards in total disregard of a ruling by Hon. Justice O.A. Musa of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Bwari Abuja, delivered on August 14, 2018 inSuit No: FCT/HC/BW/CV/103/2018.

“In the ruling, Justice Musa stated; “An order of perpetual injunction is hereby made restraining the 1st and 2nd Defendants either by themselves, the National Working Committee, or National Executive Committee from either removing, substituting, replacing, suspending or interfering with the tenure of the 3rd Defendant/Claimant, his Executive and all elected officers of the 1st Defendant contained in exhibits A,B,C and D from their elected offices”.

“And to the best of our knowledge, Justice Musa’s ruling has neither been appealed against nor quashed. In other words, Mr. Oshiomhole decided to urinate on the High Court ruling when he said he has dissolved the Daniel Nwafor EXCO and has set up the M.O. Nlemigbo Caretaker Committee. One therefore does not need to be a SAN to know that the National Chairman’s action was null, void and of no effect. It was effort in futility and that is why a contempt charge has been filed against him.

“We are worried that the elections are around the corner and some people who are expected to know better, are behaving as if they have nothing at stake. Governor Okorocha and APC members in the State will deliver President Muhammadu Buhari and other marketable Candidates of the Party. And the party in the State shall outlive these yahoo folks,” the statement added.

Read More

18,000 APC Members Join PDP In Benue; Declare Support For Atiku, Ortom, Moro

No fewer than 18,000 members of the All Progressives Congress have defected to the All Progressives Congress in Benue South Senatorial district.

They were received by the party in Ohimini LGA of the state during the ward to ward tour of the PDP in the area on Thursday.

Among the defectors were former chairman of the APC, secretary and council member.

The defectors hinged their reason on the failed government of the President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, leader of the group, Oche Ogbu, said they decided to join the PDP because they no longer understand the ruling party.

He said APC has not been able to fulfil single promise it made during the 2015 electioneering camapaign.

“Buhari is a curse to Nigeria. That is why he’s stumbling and making blunders. He would continue to fall until he stumbles out of power. We were there and can testify that Buhari is a failure to Nigeria,” Ogbu said.

Receiving the defectors on behalf of the party, Mike Iduma, former Commissioner for Health in Benue State, described their action as encouraging.

Iduma, who was also chairman of the PDP in Benue Stated, welcomed the defectors, assuring them of equal treatment.

“In PDP, we don’t know new comer or old member, we are all one. You have made the best and right decision and we are happy about that.

“We are all aware that the APC government has failed. I overhead Comrade Abba Moro, our party’s senatorial candidate saying that the APC promised change but ended up bringing hunger to our land. That is the truth. We have seen situations were food get missing from people’s kitchens. It wasn’t like this under the PDP government.

“I am sure our people have learnt their lesson and won’t repeat same mistake they made in 2015.

“We must vote Atiku as our President, Samuel Ortom as our Governor, Abba Moro as our Senator, Egli Ahubi as our house of reps members and Chris Adaji as our state assembly member,” Iduma said.

Read More

2019 Election: PDP rejects INEC’s move to accommodate APC in Rivers

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) totally and vehemently rejects contemplations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accommodate the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the general elections in Rivers state.

PDP’s position is predicated on the unacceptable and compromising suggestion by INEC, through its National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, that certain circumstances could lead to the postponement of election, in Rivers State, to accommodate the APC, which currently do not have candidates in the elections, following the quashing of its congresses in the state by the Court.

Such suggestion by INEC is distasteful and only points to a collusion with the APC in its plot to stalemate electoral processes in some strategic states to pave the way to postpone elections in such states and use compromised security forces to effect massive rigging, as was the case in the 2018 Ekiti and Osun states governorship elections, a scheme, which will be firmly resisted by Nigerians in the 2019 general elections.

Currently, the APC is not on the ballot and has no candidates for the governorship, Senatorial, House of Representatives and State Assembly elections in Rivers and Zamfara states following the voiding of the APC congresses in these states by the court.

In line with this reality, the ballot paper in all elections in Rivers and Zamfara states must, under no circumstance, bear the logo of the APC.

The PDP insists that INEC must base all its actions and contemplations for the elections on this reality and should under no circumstance predicate any action on a hypothetical condition.

It is also important for INEC to know that Okoye’s advocacy for the APC detracts from the commission’s neutrality and exposes it as a compromised umpire.

The PDP therefore charges the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to be appropriately guided in the conduct of the general elections.

Unlike the APC, our party is fully prepared for the elections and will never allow the APC and some compromised INEC officials to manipulate the elections, just because the APC has seen that it has no chance of winning.

The PDP therefore calls on all Nigerians to unite in condemnation of this cowardly scheme by the APC in its bid to foist itself back to power against their collective will as a people.

Read More

Mr. Eazi Reveals Why He Doesn't Own A Car

 

Nigerian music star, Mr Eazi who revealed why he doesn’t own a car in a new interview has also disclosed that he was once offered an N80m deal in UK but he turned it down.

According to the “Surrender” singer, he never had up to N300,000 in his account at the time he turned down the N80m deal in UK. He further stated that if one’s self-esteem is based on how much he or she has in the bank account, then such a person has a serious self-esteem issue.

“If your self-esteem is based on how much you have in your bank account, then you have a serious self-esteem issue. Right from when I sang my very first song, someone offered me N80m record deal but I turned it down and at the time, I did not have N300,000 in my account.

“My first record deal offer from the UK was £356,000, I turned it down but at the time, I had done a tour and the total amount I earned was £12,500. I used the money to shoot the videos of some of my songs. I was left with £20; they were offering me £365,000, but I turned it down. The reason I did that was because my value was not dependent on what was in my account.

“Till today, I use Uber but I do not care and by the way, I don’t even pay for the ride because I was given Uber credit. But if you see me in the Uber vehicle and feel that Mr Eazi is poor, what is my business (with that)? For instance, everybody around me has cars, and besides, I buy cars for people. If it makes sense for me to use an Uber, why should I drive? Why would I pay about N100m for a car that I would probably drive just five times a year?

“There are better things to do with that money. In the short time I have spent on earth, I have made a lot of money. While I was into mining, I had so much money that I was living at a place that was a stone’s throw away from the airport in Accra and I was paying my rent in dollars.

“I was making a lot of money. That shows you how expensive it was but I went from there to squatting with my friend in a one-room apartment. I was sleeping on the floor in his room. Also, when I was doing the business of selling beverages, we started with a crate and in a short while, we began to import four containers every two weeks. From importing four containers every two weeks, we went back to nothing. In my life, I have had ups and down. If my self-worth was based on material things, I would have killed myself.”

On the backlash he has faced so far for dating Otedola’s daughter, Temi, Mr Eazi said;

“People can say what they want to say and if you want to let everything they say about you bother you, then you are not going to live, especially when you are in the public eye.

“You have to realise that as an entertainer, your life becomes a form of entertainment to others. I really do not care about what anybody thinks. He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world, so why care about what the world is saying?”

The singer has been enjoying massive airplay since the release of “Lagos to London” album and is considered one of the most successful Nigerian musicians at the moment.

Read More

Buhari, Atiku Absent As Presidential Debate Commences

President Muhammadu Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, are absent from the NEDG/BON presidential debate currently holding at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

Both candidates had been invited for the debate along with the presidential candidates of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Oby Ezekwesili; Alliance for New Democracy (ANN), Mr Fela Durotoye; and Young Progressives Party (YPP), Kingsley Moghalu.

But they were absent at the start of the debate with no reason given for their absence or if they will still show up.

All three other candidates are present.

Read More

One person injured as PRP, APC supporters clash in Bauchi

Some supporters of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi state clashed on Saturday, leaving one person seriously wounded and a car destroyed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondent who witnessed the incident reports that the fight occurred at Bauchi Club roundabout along Ahmadu Bello when the PRP was preparing to flag-off it’s gubernatorial campaign in the state.

An eyewitness, Mr Yusuf Yaro, told NAN that trouble started when one of the vehicles of a PRP supporter broke down in front of APC supporters office at the popular roundabout, due to mechanical problem.

“Today is the flagging off of PRP campaign exercise. The PRP supporters were conducting their rally and moving from Zaranda Hotel to Kobi street and to other selected areas chosen for the occasion.

“Unfortunately, a vehicle belonging to a PRP supporter broke down in front of an APC campaign office at the Bauchi Club roundabout, thus resulting in the clash,” Yaro said.

Another eyewitness who identified himself as Ibrahim Sani, said the faulty car was parked in front of the APC supporters office, with loud campaign music coming out from it.

“Honestly, I don’t know whether the vehicle was faulty, but it was parked in front of this APC supporters office.

“There was loud music coming out of it and from other PRP supporters conducting their rally.

“Maybe the APC supporters believed the action was deliberate and aimed at to mocking them, hence the clash that occurred,” he explained

The vehicle destroyed was Honda Accord with registration number DR-892-ABJ and the person injured, a PRP supporter, was simply identified as Abdullahi, who was taken to the hospital for treatment.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kamal Abubakar , told NAN that the command was yet to receive formal report on the incident.

As count-down to the Election Day commences, clashes among party supporters in the state, mostly youth, have become frequent.

Most of the clashes were over the positioning of campaign posters and billboards within the metropolis. (NAN)

Read More

Dankwambo's Aides Dump PDP For APC

A special adviser and three senior special assistants to Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State have announced their defection to APC from PDP.

These included Abdul-Garba Tallasse, a special adviser; Ubayo Danzaria Kedengs, Bakoji G. Gayus and Ado Umar, all of them senior special assistants to the governor.

In their separates letters of resignation addressed to Governor Dankwambo, all the aides hinged their defection to lack of recognition on the part of the governor and neglecting people of Gombe South, despite giving him massive support in 2015.

The politicians who were from Gombe South Senatorial district of the state, also accused Dankwambo of not paying gratuities to retired civil servants “with bulk of them from Gombe-South despite receiving billions of naira as bail out and Paris club refund from the Federal Government.”

Sources said the defection of the PDP chieftains alongside many others might be a setback for the ruling party in the state.

Read More

2019: APC has lost struggle to PDP – Wike

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, yesterday declared that the All Progressives Congress, APC, has lost the political struggle in the state due to the greed of a political godfather.

Speaking during the flag off of the PDP State Campaign Rally in Tai Local Government Area of the state, yesterday, Wike said that the APC was presently looking for a political party to support during the 2019 general election.

He said that the APC had attracted no value to Rivers State, hence Rivers people will overwhelmingly vote PDP candidates.

“I hear that the APC in Rivers State are negotiating for a political party to support during the 2019 general election. But it is already too late,” he said.

He said that he has entered a covenant with Tai people to deliver more projects for them during his second term, noting that they are under obligation to protect their votes during the elections.

The governor said that over the last three and half years, his administration has planted key projects in the area.

He announced that in the coming days, he will flag off the construction of General Hospital.

“This is a project I have agreed with Tai people to execute for the benefit of the masses,” he said.

He charged the people of Tai council to vote overwhelmingly for PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar during the Presidential election.

“Buhari does not like Rivers State. The only person that will help Rivers State is Atiku Abubakar. That is why we will vote for him,” the governor said.

He said despite the assurances of the New Inspector General of Police, IGP, Rivers people should remain vigilant.

He said: “Anybody who rigs election in Rivers State will suffer God’s wrath. If you leave your home to come and rig in Rivers State, your family will suffer the consequences”

Wike said all the people of Rivers State are looking for, is free and fair elections, where the people will be allowed to choose their leaders.

Rivers South East Senatorial District PDP Candidate, Mr Barry Mpigi said the people of the area will vote Governor Wike because the Rivers State Governor is the father of modern Rivers State.

Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah said Tai Local Government Area is a fertile ground for PDP because of the key projects executed by Governor Wike.

Read More

Gov. Dankwambo under probe over death of personal cook

The Presidential Investigation Panel on the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has resolved to summon Gov. Ibrahim Dankwanbo of Gombe over the death of one of his personal aides.

Mr Tony Ojukwu, chairman of the panel disclosed this at its resume sitting on Wednesday in Maitama, Abuja.

This was in relation to a petition written by Law Chambers of Mr Sunny Olorunmola on behalf of one Mrs Okon, over the death of her husband Mr John Okon who was a personal cook to Dankwanbo.

Mrs Okon alleged that her husband died as a result of injuries sustained due to beatings and torture by men of SARS.

She further stated that he was in custody of the men of SARS headed by one SP Jummai of the anti crime department, Kaduna.

Okon said the problem started after a burglary at the Kaduna residence of Damkwanbo where the deceased was living with his family.

“The deceased who lived in the boys quarters of the governor’s private residence in Kaduna woke up on Nov. 8, 2018 to discover that the house had been burgled and four theatre TV cinema sets carted away by unknown persons.

“The deceased, his wife and other domestic staff reported the case at the Kabala Costain Police Station, where they were all arrested.

“They were subsequently transferred to the state Police Headquartres on Friday Nov. 9, 2018 for further investigation.

“My husband fell sick and died on Nov. 13 as he was being rushed to Barau Diko General Hospital, Kaduna for medical attention,” she said.

Counsel to the petitioner, Ms Gloria Balkson, brought a pathologist, Dr Godwin Ayuba who performed autopsy on the deceased. Ayuba led by Balkson narrated their finding to the panel.

“He died as a result of multiple traumas; break down of blood due to infection or drug and so much bile stain, signifying leakages in the gall bladder.

“His stomach had undigested peppery liquid food and the small intestine was ballooned at intervals,” he said.

When cross examined by counsel to the police, Mr Taiwo Malik, the pathologist said the coroner from the police paid for the autopsy and was the one who asked for the autopsy.

He said further that he doesn’t know why the police pathologist was not invited to the sitting.

Dr Iheanyichukwu Ogbonna, obstetrician and gynecologist who served as an observer to the autopsy told the panel that the gall bladder was ruptured, obviously traumatised.

He stated further that the bile stained the entire intestine green, showing that no enough food was in the stomach.

When the wife of the deceased was led in evidence by her counsel, she said that she identified one Insp. Baba Yakubu as the police officer who dragged her late husband and tortured him.

“They did not allow him to drink water or eat food,” she said.

The panel led by Mr Tony Ojukwu asked Yakubu to respond to the allegation but he denied dragging the deceased.

“I am not working at the counter, my office is upstairs and the ones responsible for feeding suspects are those working at the counter,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the panel was set up by the Federal Government to investigate the allegations of human rights abuses by the men of Special Anti-Robbery Squad. The panel is to make useful recommendations to government on the way forward.

Read More