Nigerians are ungrateful, deserve Buhari govt – Omokri

Reno Omokri, former aide to ex-president to Goodluck Jonathan has given reasons he has been silent on the outcome of Kogi election.

Omokri on Monday announced that his silence was as a result of the attitude of Nigerians towards him and the likes of Femi Fani-Kayode and Dino Melaye.

Describing Nigerians as being ungrateful, the former presidential spokesman further announced that henceforth he will stop criticizing President Muhammadu Buhari government and concentrate on evangelism.

According to him, Nigerians deserved the Buhari-led government.

Omokri on his Twitter page wrote: “Some say I am not speaking on Kogi elections. I‘ve tried. I sponsored buses for democracy to ferry Nigerians to vote. I fed them, I have talked and done.

“It‘s now time for me to accept that Nigerians deserve the government they have. Let me focus on evangelism.

“Do you now see why I have given up? I‘m one of the few who went into government without stealing, yet the same Nigerians I am fighting for will accuse me of stealing.

“The same Nigerians accuse me of making money from Free Leah Saribu. Now, the latest one: I’m being paid by Apple.

“I once thought General Buhari and APC were Nigeria’s problem. In deciding to wash my hands off Nigerian politics, I concluded that we ourselves are the problem. Christ already died for Nigerians, I would not join him to die, I will follow Him and live!

“If Nigerians are grateful people, many people will be willing to die for Nigeria but suppose Femi Fani-Kayode and I are arrested today, who will put their property and money at risk to bail us out the way both of us have put our lives and liberty at risk for Nigeria?

“Fourth and final- Nnamdi Kanu fought for Biafra, and Biafrans appreciate him. If you fight for Nigeria, will Nigerians appreciate you?

“Ask GEJ, Dino Melaye and Shehu Sani. General Buhari, Yahaya Bello and El-rufai are looking at them and me and laughing. Would you blame them?”

(Daily Post)

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Why Buhari is attending UN Assembly in New York – Presidency replies critics

The Presidency has described the 74th United Nations General Assembly, which begins fully on Monday, as Nigeria’s “day in the sun’’.

Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, stated this shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari’s arrival in New York on Sunday for the weeklong global event.

Answering questions from newsmen, Adesina hinged his comment on the recent emergence of a Nigerian, Amb. Tijani Muhammad-Bade, as the President of the UN General Assembly, NAN reports.

He said all eyes would be on Nigeria at the event considering the fact that a fellow citizen, Ms Amina Mohammed, is currently the Deputy Secretary-General of the UN.

“It is very significant; it is like Nigeria’s day in the sun because you don’t have it better than that.

“The Deputy Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly, and then you are the President of that country.

“It is like focus would be on Nigeria, and it is a good one for our country’’, he said.

The presidential aide dismissed suggestions by some opposition elements that Buhari was attending the GA without a national agenda.

“Every country comes (to the General Assembly) with a national statement, and what our president is going to present is the national statement of Nigeria.

“So, anybody that says that does not understand,’’ Adesina said.

The president, who landed earlier at the John F. Kennedy International Airport, was accompanied by some top government officials and senior aides.

The theme for the UNGA74 is, “Galvanising Multilateral Efforts for Poverty Eradication, Quality Education, Climate Action and Inclusion.”

Buhari is scheduled as the fifth speaker during the General Debates billed for Tuesday.

Leaders of countries’ delegations are expected to “present their National Statements and speak to the theme of the session’’, Adesina said in a statement earlier.

Adesina said the president would speak on ‘’administration’s commitment to building on the achievements of its three-point agenda following the renewal of his electoral mandate by majority of Nigerians.

“He will also reaffirm Nigeria’s position on salient global issues,’’ he said.

(Daily Post)

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Senator Diri wins Bayelsa PDP governorship primary

Senator Douye Diri has emerged winner of the governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State.

The Governor Darius Ishaku-led PDP Bayelsa State Governorship Primary Committee conducted the exercise at the Dr. Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre, Yenagoa.

The exercise, which began at 11:30pm Tuesday night ended at 5:00am Wednesday morning.

Diri, who represents Bayelsa Central at the National Assembly, defeated 19 other aspirants to emerge the PDP candidate for the forthcoming November 16 governorship election in the state.

One of the 21 aspirants, Talford Ongolo, had stepped down from the race on the eve of the primary poll.

Diri polled a total of 561 votes to win the governorship ticket of the PDP.

Former Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs, Timi Alaibe, came second with 365 votes.

Diri and Alaibe are from the same Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.

Keniebi Okoko, son of a former national President of the Ijaw National Congress and Professor of Political Science, Kimse Okoko, got third position in the primaries with 142 votes.

Diri was believed to be the preferred candidate of the state governor, Seriake Dickson, for the Restoration Caucus in the state chapter of the PDP.

Prior to the voting, delegates were accredited at the Ijaw House on the Sani Abacha Expressway from where they were conveyed to the Dr. Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre.

The exercise was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Monday Tom Udoh.

Ishaku said total votes cast were 1, 253 while total valid votes were 1,237 and a total of 16 invalid votes were recorded.

Ishaku, who declared Diri winner of the poll said he scored 561 votes to win the political contest.

“I, therefore, by the authority conferred on me as the chairman of this gubernatorial primary election which took place today in Yenagoa; the highest votes were scored by Senator Douye Diri.

“He has the highest votes of 561 votes. I, therefore, declare him as the winner of this gubernatorial election,” he said.

(Punch)

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Nigeria should be saved from Buhari – Secondus

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Uche Secondus has asked journalists and other vocal Nigerians to rise and challenge the “anti-people” tendencies of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Secondus, who addressed newsmen at the Adamawa State Government House in Yola in the course of a visit to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri on Tuesday, also charged Buhari to release all political prisoners.

He emphasised the issue of the arrest last Saturday of the pro-democracy activist and convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore, demanding that the former presidential candidate be freed forthwith.

The PDP chairman said, “We ask Mr President, Mr Buhari, to release political prisoners. It is not done in any political dispensation. What we are seeing today is as if we are in a military era. He should urgently release political prisoners and allow a political atmosphere and a country where there is freedom of speech.”

He then challenged journalists to lead the charge, saying, “I want to call on journalists and media managers not to sit on the fence. They can’t just sit and watch the country sliding. They played major role in the past, removing the country from the hands of the military. They have tempered with some among them.

“It is time for them to join hands with the good people of Nigeria to stand on the path of truth, on the path of democracy. The president must release political prisoners, particularly the presidential candidate of AAC (Africa Action Congress), Sowore.”

(Daily Post)

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Senate President Leaves for Saudi to Pray for Peace, Unity of Nigeria

The Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, has left Abuja for Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s hajj during which he will pray for the peace, unity and progress of the nation.

Lawan, in a statement on Monday by his Media Adviser, Ola Awoniyi, said while in the Holy Land, he will seize the opportunity to pray for the sustained peace, unity and progress of Nigeria.

He will also pray for the success of the ninth National Assembly, now on annual recess, as the lawmakers engage themselves in legislative activities for the betterment and advancement of the country.

Lawan is expected back home as soon as the Hajj rites are over by next week.

(This Day)

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Southern leaders shun Abdulsalami’s summit for inviting Miyetti Allah

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum has turned down an invitation to attend a security roundtable organised by a former military head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), scheduled for Minna, Niger State.

The roundtable slated for July 29 and 30 is expected to have in attendance heads of security forces and other notable Nigerians.

But the SMBLF, comprising pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere; Ohanaeze Ndigbo; Pan-Niger Delta Forum; and the Middle Belt Forum, said it would not be part of the event because the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria was invited to the meeting.

The regional leaders said this in a statement co-signed by Chief Edwin Clark (PANDEF); Chief Ayo Adebanjo (Afenifere); Chief Nnia Nwodo (Ohanaeze); and Dr Bitrus Pogu (MBF) in Abuja on Sunday.

It read, “We thank you for your interest in the affairs of our country which made us to accept your invitation in good faith.

“It was in the thick of our preparations for the journey that fuller details of the roundtable came to our attention, some aspect of which has necessitated this last minute communication with you.

“We were comfortable up to that point until we saw the following: Gan Allah Fulani Development Association; Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.”

It added, “While we do not know the members of the first group, the lumping of Miyetti Allah, a trade association for cattle herders and whose members have been accused of various violations of rights, including life, across the country sends worrying signal to us.

“It falls into the categorisation of our respected socio-cultural platforms with Miyetti Allah by Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu.

“We consider the above a grave insult to our bodies and our coming to a roundtable with the group would mean acquiescence to the narrative that put us in the same bracket with those wielding illegal AK-47 all over the country and inflicting terror on fellow citizens.”

(Punch)

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Sowore’s AAC declares protests across Nigeria August 5

The African Action Congress (AAC) has declared August 5, 2019, the commencement date of revolution protests tagged ‘Days of Rage’ across the country to demand for a better Nigeria.

The presidential candidate of the party in the 2019 general elections, Omoyele Sowore, disclosed this on Saturday in Abuja at the end of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the AAC.

Mr Sowore said that the protest would be sustained until the country is put on the right path of honour where justice will prevail.

He stated that the action of the government compelled them to take the decision noting that there was no level playing field in the last elections.

“Election is a place we would have carried out a revolution of the ballot box but they stole the ballot box. They hijacked materials that was meant for free and fair election and as a result they did not organise any election that was credible enough for people to have faith in the ballot box,” he said.

Mr Sowore who is also a human rights activist maintained that for the country to have free and fair elections in the future, there must be a showdown and people must define who should be their electoral officers.

He said, “The revolution has therefore become inevitable. We didn’t choose to go for revolution they choose it by ensuring that there was no level playing field in the last election.

“As you know they did it in Sudan and it was started by some females. They were making fun of them but they did not stop until doctors joined them, the labour union joined them and what started as 5 people became 5,000 and 500,000 and became 5,000,000 and the regime fell.

“So don’t let anybody deceive you that in asking for a better government or country you are committing any illegality. The biggest illegality being committed in Nigeria as of today is the rigging of election in 2019.

“The moment you don’t allow people to express their God giving rights to choose their leaders, you are committing an illegality and inviting resistance.”

He said that the proposed revolution is inevitable adding that the group has mobilised people in Lagos and many parts of the country to create places of community resistance.

Mr Sowore said the party has succeeded in creating awareness for the people to speak up and be resistant to all form of poor services from the government.

He added that the consciousness being raised among Nigerians was not to promote or encourage violence but to create the culture of resistance in them.

“I am not the only one asking for a revolution; 84% of Nigerian according to a poll we conducted want a revolution. They don’t want war but these people want to drive us into war so that we can all be exterminated at once.

“We don’t want war, we want a very clean, quick and succinct revolutionary process that will put an end to the shenanigans of government, oppression and corruption.

“Don’t ask me weither I am afraid or worried about the legal implications of what I am saying. I am carrying out a historical duty and only history can judge me not a prosecutor or a federal judge. You can’t kill somebody who is not afraid of death,” Mr Sowore said.

(Premium Times)

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Killings Should Not Divide Us —Tinubu

National leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu, has called on Nigerians not allow killings across the country to divide them.

He said this when he paid a condolence visit to the home of the leader of pan-Yoruba sociopolitical group, Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, over the killing of her daughter, Mrs Funke Olakunrin.

Tinubu, while speaking, urged the people not to allow the incident to divide Nigeria, but let it serve as a means to provide solution to security challenges confronting the country.

He said the security challenges like killing, raping and kidnapping should not be blamed on one particular ethnic group, saying “these challenges had been with us for a long time.”

The former governor of Lagos State said: “I am a nationalist and the security concerns and challenges right now must be faced squarely throughout Nigeria.”

While calling on Nigerians not to blame any ethnic group over the happenings in the country, Tinubu said: “I am extremely concerned about security. I don’t want a stigma; I can go through history of kidnapping in Nigeria; we know how and where it all started, there are a lot of copycats.

“For how long have we been battling insecurity in the country? There are cases of kidnapping. Is Evans, who was arrested and made disclosure also a herdsman? I don’t want to be political, but I will ask ‘where are the cows?’

He noted that the security challenges being faced by the country required more police personnel to be recruited, trained and deployed in various locations to fight insecurity across the country.

Speaking on the killing of Olakunrin, he said “this one that affected a member of our family, Mrs Olakunrin, is seriously sad and unacceptable, but nobody can return her alive; she has answered the call of her creator.

“Funke was very close to me and she died prematurely. Only four or five days ago, we chatted and I know what she discussed with me about Baba’s health condition. We just pray that this will not happen again.”

He, however, said: “We must not use this incident to divide us, but must use it as a cure to the security problems. Additional police, additional patrol and additional security reinforcement on the Ore Road and various flashpoints across the country are necessary and I have discussed this among the various authorities. The governor is eminently aware and being proactive about this.

“The security challenges are numerous across this country and to fight them, more police are being recruited and it takes time to train and deploy them in various areas.”

Also, a former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who called at the residence of Pa Fasoranti, described the death pathetic and unfortunate.

He attributed the increase in the cases of kidnapping and killing across the country to the non-prosecution of the offenders, saying kidnapping had evolved into a lingering pervasive security threat and multifaceted criminal enterprise.

Daniel, who called on government at all levels to revisit and address the issue of security in the country, said “ I am particularly worried that our dear and once beautiful country is facing this challenges and the omen is not good at all.”

Speaking on the increase in kidnapping and other criminal activities, he said “it is all about body language, because not many of these criminals or kidnappers are prosecuted or punished and this is not sending the right signal.

“When criminal offences are committed, we expect the government to act swiftly and to be seen to punish the criminals concerned.”

Earlier on Sunday, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, on behalf of the Federal Government, had paid a condolence visit to the home of Chief Fasoranti, with an assurance that the Federal Government will deploy all options to put an end to the security challenges in the country.


He described the death of the daughter of the Afenifere leader, Mrs Olakunrin, who was killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen on Friday, on Benin/Ore Road as a massive tragedy.

Osinbajo, who arrived at the Fasorantis residence at exactly 9.10 a.m., was accompanied by the state governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu. He said the Federal Government would explore all options, including deploying soldiers on the highways, towards addressing the growing cases of security challenges in Nigeria.”

According to him, the Federal Government IS working towards a workable overhauling of the nation’s security architecture, disclosing that President Muhammadu Buhari had met with all the security chiefs toward restrategising to fight the war against security breaches.

He confirmed that the Inspector-General of Police had also laid out a new policy on community policing to enhance intelligence gathering, and assured Nigerians that the government was committed to providing all logistics to prosecute the fight against criminality.

He appealed to Nigerians to be calm, while assuring that the present administration remains committed to security of lives and property.

“As you know, I am here to commiserate with the families of Olakunrin and Pa Fasoranti.

“This is a massive tragedy as you can imagine. We have seen it replicated here and there, I mean kidnapping and killings.

“As you all know, the president has very recently met, not only the service chiefs, but also the IGP and he has laid out a new policy on the community policing.

“One of the most important things is intelligence gathering; that is why we have the community policing system where policemen would be trained in their own local government areas and would remain there. This is as close as we get to the community policing structure that we expect to have.

“The other thing of course is that we are also engaging the army so that there will be a bit of more military presence, especially on our roads. The Inspector-General of Police has already committed to ensuring that there is full coverage of the police and even helicopters.”

“To fastening the search for these killers and also to ensure that there is adequate presence to deter this kind of terrible situation from recurring. We are looking at the whole security architecture and trying to ensure that we are able to scale up and ensure that we are able to protect the lives and properties of Nigerians.

“Security in a big county like Nigeria as you can imagine has challenges that are dynamic and we also have to be consistently dynamic to ensure that we are able to beat the challenges as they appear.

“I think we can be very hopeful that we would see peace and calm as some of the steps we are taking come to fruition. You know also that we met with the governors in the South-West and in the different zones, and everybody is coming to ensure that security is adequate and everyone feels safe and secure,” he said.­­­­­

(Nigerian Tribune)

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Gov. Fayemi talks tough over gender-based violence in Ekiti

The Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has inaugurated the Gender-Based Violence Management Committee and the State Child’s Right Implementation Committee, with a renewed vow to rid the State of gender-based violence.

He said the news of child’s right violation and women abuse currently dominating social media and other news media has confirmed that the enactment of the Gender-Based Violence Prohibition Law in 2011 was a step in the right direction.

Fayemi stated that his administration has zero tolerance for gender-based violence and would continuously strive to make the society free of all forms of gender violence.

“Gender Based Violence is an issue that has assumed the proportion of a pandemic. It is pathetic to note that one in every five women will be raped, beaten, coerced into sex or abused in her lifetime and in conflicts.

“The situation is a pervasiveness of Gender Based Violence and its negative impact is borne by the victim, her immediate family and community. All of us must do everything in our power to prevent and end this ugly trend of violence in and around us and to support victims and survivors,” he said.

While lamenting the high rate of child’s right violation in recent times, the Governor said the resuscitation of the two committees became imperative for special safeguard and care using appropriate legal protection, since most children are physically and mentally immature.

Fayemi urged members of the two committees to justify the confidence reposed on them and work towards making the State free of violence against women and children.

In her response, the Ekiti State First Lady and chairperson of the Gender Based Violence Management Committee, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, thanked the Governor for inaugurating the two committees.

She lamented that the fight against gender-based violence was discontinued in the State in 2014 shortly after the expiration of Fayemi’s first tenure.

The governor’s wife expressed delight that efforts have now been redoubled to push forward in the fight against gender-based violence.

Erelu Fayemi recalled that the Gender Based Violence Prohibition Law had gone a long way in addressing domestic violence in the State, adding that the committee set up on Child’s Right would ensure that no child in Ekiti State is denied his or her fundamental rights.


(Daily Post)

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NASS Leadership: PDP rejects Elumelu, insists on Chinda

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted on Kingsley Chinda as its Minority Leader.

The party made this known in a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Wednesday contrary to the party’s decision, named Ndudi Elumelu as the house Minority Leader.

Mr Elumelu from Delta State was named alongside Toby Okechukwu as Deputy Minority Leader, Gideon Gwani as Minority Whip and Adesegun Adekoya as Deputy Minority Whip.

The action was vehemently rejected by some PDP lawmakers.

The opposition party had in a letter announced Mr Chinda as its nominee for the position of minority leader in the House.

The party also nominated Chukwuka Onyema as Deputy Minority Leader; Yakubu Barde as Minority Whip and Muraina Ajibola as Deputy Minority Whip.

The PDP accused Mr Gbajabiamila of trying to impose leaders on the lawmakers.

“It is instructive to state that the PDP had duly written to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, after consultation with other minority members in the House of Representatives, notifying him of members that have been selected for leadership position in the House of Representatives, in line with dictates of the rules and parliamentary practice.

“However, to our utter dismay, the PDP had discovered that the Speaker attempted to smuggle in names other than those recognised and forwarded to him as the leaders of the Minority in the House of Representatives.

“The PDP, in the strongest terms, cautions against this abuse of rules, parliamentary practices and procedures as well as the convention and we urge the Speaker to respect the rules and read the list submitted to him by the leadership of the PDP.”

(Premium Times)

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Senator Elisha Abbo breaks silence on alleged assault inside Abuja sex toy shop

Senator Elisha Abbo (Adamawa North District) has admitted that he is the man in a video that has gone viral, physically assaulting a woman in a sex toy shop in Abuja.

However, Abbo, speaking to the Daily Sun, claimed the video was distorted.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker, who is the youngest Senator in the ninth National Assembly, was seen in a 10-minute video footage repeatedly slapping a woman after she pleaded with him not to physically assault the shop owner whom the senator had accused of calling him a drunk.

The assault reportedly happened on May 11, 2019, nearly three months after he became Senator-elect.

Abbo, however, insists he was not a Senator at the time of the incident and suggested that the footage was doctored.

“There is a video of me on social media. Let me state very clearly that when it happened, I was not a senator. It happened a long time ago.

“There is an aspect of that video that they took off. They didn’t show where my sister who accompanied me there collapsed and had to be rushed out in an ambulance. But we will provide our own response soon,” Abbo said.

(Daily Post)

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EFCC re-arraigns Fayose, grants him permission for medical trip abroad

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos yesterday granted permission to former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose for medical trip abroad.

This followed his re-arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an 11 counts charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering amounting to N2.2 billion.Ruling on Fayose’s application, Justice Aneke granted him permission to travel to South Africa for medical treatment, ordering him to return his travel documents to the court on or before September 16, 2019.

Fayose, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on the same terms and conditions earlier granted by former trial judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun. Justice Aneke thereafter adjourned the matter to September 16-19, September 21, 2019 and October 25, 2019 for trial.

The former governor, who was re-arraigned alongside his company, Spotless Limited, was accused of misapplying N1.2 billion 2014 for his gubernatorial campaign in Ekiti State.EFCC said the action was a criminal breach of trust and stealing, as it was contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) and (4) of the Act.

He was also accused of receiving $5 million from former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through a financial institution, saying the offence is contrary to sections 1 and 16 (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 16 (2) (b).EFCC also accused him of retaining N300million in his fixed deposit account about April 7, 2015, among others.

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court, Abuja granted an application by founder, Daar Communications Plc, ‎Raymond Dokpesi, seeking release of his international passport to enable him travel for medical check-up abroad.

The sitting, which was originally slated for Dokpesi to enter his defense in the money laundering allegation suit the Federal Government brought against him was however, stalled as lead defense counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), was away on election matters.However, at resumed sitting yesterday, prosecution counsel, Adeleke Atolagbe told the court that the case was adjourned for the defendant to enter his defense, but he was presented with a letter stating that trial would not proceed.

Responding, a defense counsel holding brief for Agabi (SAN) explained that the lead counsel was at an election tribunal in Taraba State and that it may take some time for him to conclude his assignment there.He, therefore, prayed the court for some time to enable the lead defense counsel return to commence the defense.

(The Guardian)

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Senate Leadership: Legislators Disagree Over Voting Method

Barely three weeks to the election of the presiding officers of the ninth National Assembly, signs of discord that could mar the entire exercise at the Senate as well as the inauguration of the lawmakers have emerged.

Senators from the camps of the two most prominent candidates for the position of Senate president are now locked in exchange of threats and counter-threats of violence. The source of contention is the method of voting to be adopted for the election.

 

The current Senate standing rule, copies of which have already been distributed to all the senators-elect, dictates that the method of voting shall be by secret balloting. In compliance with the subsisting rule, an All Progressives Congress (APC) senator-elect, who is loyal to the camp of one of the two prominent candidates, Alli Ndume, warned during an interaction with journalists that the management must sustain the secret voting method as provided in the current Senate standing rule to avoid any violent clash on the inauguration day. 

The senator-elect, who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “Members of the Ahmed Lawan group are jittery that their candidate would not win if the management should adopt the current rule book to conduct the election.”

(Guardian) 

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Kano State Government Opens Fresh Corruption Case Against Emir Sanusi

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday summoned top Kano emirate member to appear before it over alleged financial misappropriation. 

A letter signed by the commission’s Director of Operations, CSP Sulaiman Aliyu Gusau, invited an aide to the Emir, Alhaji Isa Bayero for investigation. The letter, written on behalf of Executive Chairman, Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, may signal fresh corruption charges against Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II. 

“Pursuant to provision of section 31(1) (a) and (b) of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Law 2008 (as amended) requested release of the officer to explain payment vouchers from 2013 to 2017. “It directed Isa. S. Bayero to be at the commission conference room by 12.00noon on Thursday, May 9, over an investigation on alleged violation of section 26 of the commission’s enabling Law in the management of Kano State Emirate Council Fund,” the letter reads. 

The commission had in 2018 commenced large-scale probe against Emir Sanusi before the state House of Assembly intervened, which forced the commission to stay action on the matter.

(Guardian)

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North Korea has no economic future if it has nuclear weapons: Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that North Korea does not have any economic future with nuclear weapons as the Pentagon confirmed the United States and South Korea had agreed to end joint large scale spring military exercises.

“North Korea has an incredible, brilliant economic future if they make a deal, but they don’t have any economic future if they have nuclear weapons,” Trump said at a Conservative Political Action Conference.

He added that the relationship with North Korea seemed to be “very, very strong.”

According to a statement, acting Pentagon Chief Patrick Shanahan spoke with his South Korea counterpart on Saturday and they agreed to adapt their training programs.


The two “made clear that the Alliance decision to adapt our training program reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner,” the Pentagon said.

South Korea’s military issued a similar statement also confirming plans to end the spring joint military exercises.

Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon is planning to visit the United States in the coming week to meet U.S. officials to discuss the second U.S.-North Korea summit as well as the future agenda, according to a South Korean official.

The Pentagon said the U.S. and South Korea had agreed to “newly designed Command Post exercises and revised field training programs.” U.S. officials have long said the scope of the spring exercises, known as Foal Eagle and Key Resolve, would be reduced.

Reuters and others reported on Friday that such an announcement would take place. To encourage talks, the United States and South Korea have suspended a number of military exercises since the first summit last year between Kim and Trump.

South Korea’s joint Chiefs of Staff and South Korea-United States Combined Forces Command said on Sunday that the two countries will conduct a military exercise from March 4 to 12.

The exercise,”Dong Maeng”, which means “Alliance” in English, has been modified from the previously held spring exercises Key Resolve and Foal Eagle and will focus on strategic, operational, and tactical aspects of general military operations on the Korean Peninsula.

“Exercise Dong Maeng provides us the opportunity to train and rehearse with our Republic of Korea, United States, and United Nations Sending State Partners,” said the ROK Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Park Han-Ki and the CFC Commander, Gen. Robert B. “Abe” Abrams in a statement.

“It is important for professional armies to train and maintain to a standard of readiness. These exercises are crucial in sustaining and strengthening the alliance,” the statement added.

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump meet for the second North Korea-U.S. summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, in this photo released on March 1, 2019 by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). KCNA via REUTERS

In Vietnam this week, the second meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended without a deal on sanctions relief North Korea would get in exchange for steps to give up its nuclear program.

Trump on Saturday addressed criticism from the parents of Otto Warmbier, an American student who died after 17 months in a North Korean prison. They had complained when Trump said at a Hanoi news conference that he believed Kim had nothing to do with Warmbier’s death.

Trump said he was trying to maintain “a delicate balance” to coax the North Koreans into giving up their nuclear program.

The United States and North Korea have said they intend to continue talks, but have not specified when.

Some observers credited Trump for refusing to be drawn into a bad deal. Others criticized him for praising Kim’s leadership and accepting his assertion that he had been unaware of Warmbier’s treatment.

Analysts believe North Korea has 20 to 60 nuclear warheads which could threaten the U.S. mainland if fitted to its intercontinental ballistic missiles. The United Nations and the United States ratcheted up sanctions when North Korea conducted nuclear and ballistic missile tests in 2017.

Washington has demanded complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization before sanctions can be lifted, a position Pyongyang has denounced as “gangster like.”

(Reuters)

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More women, youth to be considered for appointments – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to give Nigerian women and youth more appointments in the next four years of his administration.

Mr Buhari acknowledged the significant role played by women and youth toward his re-election.

The president said his administration would not disappoint them in the next four years.

He gave the assurance on Sunday night while speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women and Youths Presidential Campaign team dinner to celebrate his re-election in Abuja.

“I appreciate your coming here tonight, but we have to congratulate ourselves for succeeding. We indeed thank God for this success,” he said.

The president, however, promised that only those with integrity and interest of Nigeria would be considered for appointments in the next cabinet.

He said more fertilizers were being made available to Nigerian farmers at a lower rate.

According to him, that resulted in an increase in agricultural production and a reduction in food importation.

Mr Buhari also called on Nigerian youth to embrace agriculture to ensure more food sufficiency and food export.

The president faulted the sixteen-year rule of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which he said, wasted the nation’s resources.

According to him, the country witnessed rampant infrastructure decay in spite of the huge resources earned during the period

(NAN).

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NLC vows to shut down government on Tuesday

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has expressed its readiness to shut down Ogun State on Tuesday.

The labour union said it was embarking on a massive peaceful protest that will paralyse major activities in the state.

According to the NLC, this was in line with the decision of the 12th National Delegates Conference of the Congress in February on the alleged anti-labour stance of Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the NLC President, in a statement on Saturday, also said this was in response to Amosun’s threat that he would disgrace NLC should it go ahead with the planned protest.

He said, “The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has taken cognizance of a statement credited to the Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, where he threatened to disgrace the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress if the Congress insists on embarking on a protest scheduled for Tuesday, March 5, 2019 in Ogun State. This was reported by Premium Times on 1st March 2019 and other platforms.

“The decision of the 12th National Delegates Conference of the NLC to confront and engage governor Amosun would be carried out to the letter on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.”

Wabba outlined issues against Amosun to include, “the non-remittance of statutory deductions from workers’ salaries for pensions, cooperative, ileya, Christmas etc. over a period of one hundred and five (105) months;

“The non-utilization of the last tranche of the Paris Club refund for the payment of gratuity for both state and local government workers since 2013 despite signing a collective bargaining agreement with organized labour in Ogun State;

“The refusal to pay workers at the Tai Solarin College of Education salary arrears that have accumulated for the past 10 years and now grosses to a financial liability of about N9 billion; and

“To make matters worse, Governor Amosun sacked the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress from his employment for standing firm in the defence of the rights of workers in Ogun State.”

(Daily Post)

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Don’t Come Near Polling Units, MASSOB Warns Soldiers

The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra has warned the Nigerian military to stay clear of the polling units during this weekend’s rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly polls.

In a press statement issued in Owerri, the Imo State capital, by the MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu, the separatists contended that the military had no constitutional right to stay at polling units during elections. MASSOB said that the statement by President Muhammadu Buhari that the military should deal with ballot box snatchers was a product of desperation and “frustration”. 

The group said that the President and the Independent National Electoral Commission were working with the ruling All Progressives Congress to rig elections in the South East using Operation Python Dance 3.

(This Day)

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Why I Kicked Against My Wife’s Third Term — Tinubu

National leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has revealed how some influential members in the Lagos APC Governor’s Advisory Council, GAC, upturned one of his critical decisions not to return his wife, Remi, for a third term in the Senate. Tinubu, explained that the “coup” was hatched prelude to the conduct of the last primary elections across the 245 wards of the 20 Local Government Areas in the state, last year.

He said this while addressing party leaders and members at a stakeholders’ meeting, prior to the postponed Presidential and National Assembly polls, at Police College, Play-Ground, Ikeja in Lagos. Tinubu, who was reacting to the allegations of imposition levelled against him, said some of his decisions are also being influenced by leaders in the party.

(Vanguard)

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Buhari: No Plan To Remove INEC Chairman Yakubu

There is no plan to remove Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Mahmood Yakubu over the abrupt postponement of the general elections, the Presidency said yesterday. A leading politician has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari was planning to give Yakubu the push over last Saturday’s postponement of the elections. “It is not true,” a Presidency source said. The denial came amid claims that Prof. Yakubu has taken charge of logistics for the elections. Besides, The Nation learnt, the electoral agency is to release details of the state-by-state collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs). 

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, debunked the reports that Yakubu was to be removed. Shehu said: “Those reports are utterly baseless and false. There is nothing like that. “Whoever is saying the President is removing INEC chairman is just displaying his illiteracy. Let him go and read the constitution. “You need a resolution by two-thirds majority of the Senate for any such action.”

(Nation) 

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