Quote:The Police in Lagos have arrested six people for allegedly pasting the posters of the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, at night.

The Police spokesperson, CSP Chike Oti, said the action contravened the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency laws that forbade advertisers from pasting posters at “no other hour other than the day time.”

He explained that the men also violated an agreement reached during a meeting between the state Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, and political parties that nobody would destroy the campaign materials of others.

Oti noted that the suspects were arrested by operatives of the anti-crime unit around 2.30am on Sunday.

He said, “The anti-crime patrol team of the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja Division, around 2.30am on December 9, 2018, arrested six young men, namely, Olagokun Odunayo, Kool-Kloud Henry, Ugaju Joseph, Damilola Omidiji, Michael Kate and Banwo Olagokun, of Take It Back movement, tearing posters of other political parties and replacing them with that of the African Action Congress, contrary to the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency laws that forbid advertisers from pasting posters at no other hour than the day time.

“Recall that an agreement was reached to the effect that no political party should undertake the defacing of campaign posters of other political parties or the destruction of their billboards, at a meeting at the Police Officers Mess, GRA, Ikeja, on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, tagged, ‘Security and stakeholders meeting,’ involving the INEC, chairmen of all political parties in the state and their flag bearers, chaired by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Edgal Imohimi.

“The following exhibits were recovered from the suspects: a poster bearing the picture of the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Mr. Sowore; brush, buckets containing gum and torn posters of other political parties.”

He added that the CP had directed that the suspects be charged to court on Monday for malicious damage and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, to serve as a deterrence to others.

A young lady was left wounded after being attacked by armed robbers on Saturday (yesterday) in Onitsha, Anambra state. 

According to the victim identified as Ochuba Chisom Lois, she and other passengers were robbed inside a bus at gunpoint.

She also disclosed how she was given three slaps on her face which left her red-eyed while she was trying to explain to the robbers that she had nothing else on her after her valuables and cash were already collected. 

The heartbroken lady has taken to Facebook to share her story. Read below;

The only thing that I can remember is "That Gun Being Pointed At My Head Inside The Bus With A Deep Voice That Said Just Cooperate With Us And Turn In Everything You're Holding Of Which We Quietly Did And After Which One Of The Robbers Started Touching Me To Confirm I Wasn't Hiding Any Other Thing And While I Tried Telling That Have Got Nothing Else On Me, 3 Hot Slaps Landed On My Right Eyes.

In The Space Of 2 Minutes  I Lost All The Things I Have Worked Hard For, My Phone, Money Gotten From The Tickets I Sold And My Allowance, After Which They Slowed Down And Pushed All Of Us Down From The Bus. 

I Am Heart Broken. I Have Never Experienced Robbery And At Gunpoint Too. Yesterday Was Actually A Black Saturday For Me.

Please Ignore Any Call From My Line For Cuz I Will Be Offline For Sometime. Please Do Remember Me In Prayers

Thank You.

See more; https://www.nationalhelm.co/2018/12/lady-robbed-by-gunmen-inside-a-bus-in-onitsha-anambra-state.html

Winners Chapel members connecting from

1) Tanzania
2)Kinshasa Congo
3)Pretoria South Africa
4) Nairobi Kenya






Arlington Texas, USA
Dartford UK
Dubai UAE





Monrovia Liberia
Freetown Sierraleone
Madina Ghana

POLITICSNGR

Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu has mocked the ruling All progressives Congress, stating that they have no 'monumental' achievement to promote.

Momodu made this comment via twitter while responding to criticisms from APC loyalists for recently posting a fake photograph in a bid to promote the Opposition Peoples Democratic party, PDP.

He wrote;

"Now I have a little time. The APC trolls have been jubilating that I posted an old picture, which I deleted once I noticed the mix-up, but I don't blame them bec they have no monumental achievements to promote, otherwise they'll be too busy to notice such irrelevant error!"

https://politicsngr.com/bombshell-apc-no-achievement-promote-dele-momodu/

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has shed light on the probe of alleged illegal withdrawal from the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Dividend Account by the Senate, clarifying that there was nothing illegitimate about it.

In a statement, the NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, said the clarification was made by the corporation’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Mr. Isiaka Abdulrazaq, at an interactive session with the media over the weekend in Lagos.

The release stated that in a detailed presentation, the CFO clarified that the Senate probe was not about missing money as was being insinuated in some quarters, but rather an investigation into whether NNPC acted legally in withdrawing the sum of $1.05bn from the NLNG Dividend Account to support fuel importation.

According to the release, while granting the statutory right of the legislators to carryout oversight functions, NNPC CFO said that relevant extant laws such as the Appropriation Act 2018 defines revenue from NNPC as net of cost, indicating that NNPC has the right to defray the cost of its operations from earnings.

He also cited the NLNG Act which explicitly provides that NNPC could defray its cost from the dividends, as one of the legal grounds relied upon for the expenditure without recourse to appropriation by the National Assembly.

Expatiating further on the matter, Mr. Abdulrazaq, according to the release, cited the case instituted by some state governments in 1999 seeking the interpretation of revenue on account of their contention that all accruals from oil and gas operations amount to revenue and should be swept into the Federation Account.

The ruling on that case by the Supreme Court in 2002, according to him, was in tandem with NNPC’s position that revenue is accruals net of cost.

“We have provided the legal authority on which we rely to use funds from the NLNG Dividend Account to the Senate. We believe they will reason with us. But if need be, we will seek legal opinion on it”, the CFO stated.

On the general impression that NNPC and indeed the entire Oil and Gas Industry is opaque, Mr. Abdulrazaq contended that in the light of efforts made by the Management of the NNPC since the inception of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to entrench a culture of transparency, nothing could be further from the truth.

“NNPC is very open and transparent. We publish our NNPC Monthly Financial and Operations reports in the media. No one does monthly reporting, not even the international oil companies or the publicly quoted companies. The best they do is quarterly reports. But we do monthly reports of revenue (profit and loss for the entire corporation, including the subsidiaries). We do operations report on how much oil and gas was produced, sold and the monetary value; how much products the refineries processed and how much was imported and sold by PPMC. We do all these to defuse the perception of opacity. Yet some people still say we are opaque, and I think that is not fair”, he argued.

Abdulrazak disclosed that as part of the stewardship accounting designed to make NNPC’s operations transparent to the public, the inherited six-year unaudited accounts of the corporation have been audited up to date, stressing that the account for 2017 has been fully audited, approved and forwarded to relevant authorities.

On fuel supply and efforts to ensure zero-scarcity throughout the end of year festivities and beyond, the CFO disclosed that NNPC has 2.6 billion litres of premium motor spirit (petrol) in offshore and onshore storage that could last for 52 days at 50 million litres per day consumption.

Also speaking at the event, the Chief Operating Officer, Upstream, Mallam Bello Rabiu, said the major focus of the Upstream Autonomous Business Unit of the NNPC was to drive down the cost of crude oil production and link the Oil and Gas Industry with the economy.

According to him, bringing down the cost of production would lead to cheaper energy cost which would in turn boost industrial and economic growth.

He said security and funding that used to be the bane of Upstream operations have been largely taken care of by the corporation through practical engagement with stakeholders in the Niger Delta region and the cash-call exit programme.

The COO said that as part of efforts to drive down cost, the NNPC was looking at extending the Escravos-Warri crude oil evacuation pipeline surveillance contract model to downstream pipelines to guarantee efficient crude supply to the refineries post-rehabilitation.

“Before now, it was not possible to get crude to Warri and Kaduna refineries. But with the kind of security contract in place for the Warri-Escravos Pipeline, we now have 99% crude oil recovery rate. The balance is paid for by the contractor. That is why we have replicated that model for the Trans-Forcados Pipeline to guarantee security”, Mallam Rabiu explained.

Source: https://naijapolitico.com.ng/nnpc-educates-senate-on-nlng-dividend-account/

Quote:Nigerian govt lying about Boko Haram ‘defeat’; terrorists controlling territories – APC Reps

The claim by the Buhari administration that normalcy has been restored to the north east of the country is a “lie”, the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Humanitarian Affairs, Sani Mohammed, has said.

The lawmaker, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said the region has “failed”, and he feared such failure could affect other parts of the country.

Mr Mohammed spoke while briefing his colleagues on his experience after visiting some states in the region. A video of the speech was published by Oak TV.

“We just returned from an oversight function from Borno and Yobe states and I can say that the description that the northern part of Nigeria is under siege by Hon. Chika is an understatement,” the lawmaker said in a rare frank comment about the situation in the region still facing a deadly Boko Haram crisis.

“The Northern part of the country is failing. Actually, it has failed in so much part of it. My fear is that this grave situation will have a contagious effect on other parts of the country.

“On Thursday when we went to Maiduguri. Upon arrival, Boko Haram insurgents launched an attack on an IDPs camp called Dalori 2 which is just opposite the University of Maiduguri. They burned down a substantial part of that camp, killed eight people and abducted women and ran into the bush unchallenged,” the lawmaker said.

“We went to Bama. The second most important town in Borno state which is also the exit point to three other countries; Chad, Niger and neighbouring Cameroon.”


Apparently referring to the ruling government’s positive references on the war, Mr Mohammed said the statements that stabilisation has been restored to the region was only a lie.

The Buhari administration has consistently said that Boko Haram insurgents had been “technically defeated” before saying they have been “degraded.”

Stepping up the rhetoric, Mr Buhari in his 2018 New Year speech said the armed forces “have since beaten Boko Haram.”

Addressing troops in the garrison town of Monguno in July, Mr Buhari said Boko Haram fighters were surrendering “willingly”.

“It’s evident that we are in a post-conflict stability phase, which has been made possible by the good work of our armed forces,” he added.

The president and his aides have several times received backlashes for such claims as Nigerians question why a defeated group keeps perpetrating deadly attacks.

Recently, mulitple attacks by the group has cost the lives of over a hundred soldiers.

Like many other Nigerians, Mr Mohammed believes the government’s acclaimed defeat does not reflect the true situation on ground.


“There are no 200 persons in Bama today. The talk of safety being restored, the talk of normalcy and stabilisation being restored in part of North-East is a farce, is a ruse. It’s not correct. It’s a lie,” the lawmaker said.

He recounted the experiences he and other committee members had in Borno and Yobe states.

“Before you will be escorted to any of those parts I’m talking about, you need almost a platoon of soldiers. Even the soldiers themselves, in spite of the encouragement we give them, the truth of the matter is that they are not confident.


“On Saturday, we travelled to Gashua in Yobe State. On our way back we were at Damaturu at exactly seven o clock, we could not move to Maiduguri which was just a distance of one hour. By six o clock, up till now there is no movement into Maiduguri. I wonder that my colleagues are not painting this picture on the floor of this parliament.

“So, we had to stay back in Maiduguri (Damaturu) with the only clothes we had. No towels, no brushes, until the following day when we were allowed by the security forces, including our escorts.”


Mr Mohammed said the committee could not go to Chibok due to security situation in the town.

“Part of our assignment would have been to travel to Chibok. Chibok is a no-go area. Only three days earlier, they raided a village where the Chief of Army staff comes from, killed people and went back unchallenged. The fact of the matter is that these insurgents are also in control of some territories,” he said.

How political parties can rescue the process 

•The helplessness of INEC 

Quote:By Jide Ajani 


The general elections of February/March, 2019, may have been insinuated into the sphere of jeopardy, if President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to grant assent to the amended Electoral Act stands. 

This is not because President Buhari is set to directly cripple the electioneering process. However, it is because the amended Act, which packs within it some provisions which are expected to detoxify the old version, may not see the light of day.

The vacillation of Mr. President over the amended Electoral Act, which climaxed on Friday, December 6, 2018, some 72 days to the general elections which will commence with the Presidential and Federal legislative elections on February 16, 2019, with the President returning the amended version to the National Assembly, unsigned, raises concerns of possible disruptions to the elections, if legal changes are introduced so close to the election. But very mean political observers view this rejection as a corruption of the process. 

According to this school of thought, if you examine the definitions of corruption as described by the World Bank (WB) and Transparency international (TI), the vacillations and rejection of the amended Electoral Act, under shallow pretenses, is a form of corruption. To explicate the latter position, the WB defines corruption as a situation where “public office is abused for private gain”; while TI describes corruption as “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain”.

Some believe that the rejection is only a ploy to avoid the use of the Card Reader and thereby instigate electoral fraud and chaos in the coming general elections. They, therefore – probably, rightly so – see the rejection as a major set-back for the Card Reader and the gains made by Professor Attahiru Jega’s INEC and the electoral system for ensuring election integrity. Beyond the Card Reader, is the very significant issue of the transmission of results. 

The amended Act provides penalties for a refusal to transmit, just as the direct transmission of results to the cental point immediately after counting at every polling unit knocks off the possibility of collusion or conspiracy to collude. 

While those who support the President aver that rather than corruption for personal gain, the President was only being careful to avoid legal and political tardiness, a counter-intuitive position insists that it was a tragedy that the demand by Nigerians for presidential assent to the amendment has been jettisoned and in its place the President has voted for the type of chaos and governance uncertainty that befell the APC Primaries where everyone was allowed to choose their own laws for conducting primaries while the party determined arbitrarily which of the outcomes it chose to abide with, to a ridiculous game that will mar rather than improve the integrity of elections. 

Anyone following the Presidents preferences since coming to power may easily predict the current outcome. From the President’s suspected initial preference to appoint his Sisters step-daughter, Mrs Amina Zakari, as the Chairperson of INEC, only to perish the thought when public pressure became too much to bear, to the type of outcomes elections conducted under this regime has produced, there are those who, rightly or wrongly, express anxiety at the type of electoral configuration that is in the offing. 

From what has happened so far, it may not be too difficult to come to the disturbing conclusion that the President may either be blatantly unconcerned with integrity or ethics when the matter of election is at issue, or some individuals within the Presidency are the ones pulling the strings in the name of President Muhammadu Buhari. 

This conjures a very strange, nostalgic feeling when interfaced with the fact that the present administration is a beneficiary of the electoral reforms – albeit imperfect – engendered by Jega. However, when pitched against the recent statement of the very progressive-minded First Lady, Aisha Buhari, that two or three individuals are the ones drawing back the progress of this administration, it would, therefore, be safe to conclude that the individuals are now set to draw back the progress of the generality of Nigerians for their own selfish ends, using the instrumentality of the legally defective old Electoral Act for the 2019 general elections Despite the excuses given for returning the Bill to the National Assembly, the actions of the Presidency, prior to this anti-climax, appeared to have betrayed its reluctance to face a general elections under an improved Electoral Act.

Describing the early signs of the reluctance that the President raised concerns of spelling errors, as reasons for earlier refusal to sign the last two versions sent to him, even though the perceived fear was the Card Reader which makes rigging on a large scale problematic, it still beguiles the mind. For instance, the joint collegiate approach to accommodate the concerns of all was adopted and everybody came on board to develop a widely accepted document as the draft electoral legislative framework. 

Further more, it was the Senate Committee, representatives of the Executive, led by the Presidential liaison officer, Senator lta Enag, along with other aides, as well as members of civil society, that all jointly worked together to review the expressed concerns of everyone, which were addressed in the improved document that was again returned by the President.

Very competent sources disclosed to Sunday Vanguard that after the necessary adjustments were made, the collegial copy’s final cleaned-up draft was again given to the Presidential team in advance to review, just in case there were still further concerns. Shockingly, none was raised; before it was officially, finally, transmitted. 

The presidency accepted it after examining and evaluating the advanced copy suggesting that it was okay with it. The President’s excuses for returning the amended copy is only a pretext that appears to lack weight, when weighed against the potential overall benefits. 

The reality is that this Presidency appears to be a front for a few power brokers who are afraid that their gravy train is reaching the terminus. And this amended Electoral Act, which is a legislative bill, is a reminder of that terminus. They appear to be the ones reading the Electoral Act and telling the President not to sign or approve it. 

Whereas those opposed to the Electoral Act as amended may have a false sense of security in trying to operate an electoral regime that is fraught with uncertainties, they seem to have forgotten that they are not in a position to predict what may happen when things go sideways, as it did in Osun State, where the opposition’s candidate gave a good, very good fight, in spite of the disappointing roles, reportedly played by security agencies, acts corroborated by international observers and which also gave the electoral commission a black eye. 

The APC Senate leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, gave an inkling of the type of Senate President he would have been when he openly supported the refusal of Mr. President to assent to the Bill, not minding the deficit this act will create for the needed progress in Nigeria’s march towards the enthronement of better election environment. Worse, Nigeria may be reaching a new low whereby a candidate in an election determines which laws to operate in an election he would participate, not minding the larger implications for other elections. But all hope is not lost.

The reason is that within President Buhari’s All Progressives Congress, APC, there are still individuals who are of the view that a better election environment bodes well for the generality of NIgerians with the eventual possibility of building a trully egaliterian society. By the same token, the plethora of political parties in the country can force the hands of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to sign a binding pact, that promulgates strict penalties for its staff who violates the intended virtue of transmitting results from polling units to the central collation point. 

That way, even without the amended version of the Electoral Act, it would be diffult for staff of INEC not to abide by the simple rule of election results’ transmission. But as it is now, without the amended Act in place, staff of the Commission can choose to disregard the enviable provision for the transmission of results.

This would be a throwback to the ugly aspect of the 2015 election where the use of Card Reader was enforced in the observance in some parts of the country, while it was observed in the breach in other parts, thereby creating an uneven field of contest, a situation which the amended Act seeks to banish, but which Mr. President has refused to grant. It is in the place of the judiciary to determine and interpret which flaws may arise therefrom, and not an individual participating in an election determining which rules to follow. 2019 poll: 

Just as President Buhari, in his own sphere of thought, has rightly expressed concerns regarding the timing, it should be stated for the records that former President Goodluck Jonathan, on March 26, 2015, just 48hours to the presidential election of that year (March 28, 2015), signed an amended version of the Electoral Act, which knocked of Section 52 of that version, which prohibited the use of electronic devise. It was that new signed version that gave gravitas to the efforts of the Jega-led Commission in its drive to conduct what has beecn described as a free and fair election, an election which brought in President Buhari.

Quote:Samuel Ogidan and Ahmed Musa



Abuja – The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) without announcing on the floor of the chambers.

The defections, which never attracted the attention of Nigerians, some political watchers say, were played down to avoid backlash on the floors of the chambers.

The fear of impeachment, another school of thought said was the obvious reason why the defections were not announced like other lawmakers, whose defections were announced before the National Assembly went on break in July.

Some politicians, who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, were of the opinion that announcing the defection will not change anything on the floor of the chambers.

Others however said that announcing it would have generated so much tension to the extent that both chambers would have looked like theater of war.

Even though the parties, especially All Progressives Congress (APC) agitating for change of guards, would not have been able to muster the required number to impeach any of principal officers, but some political analysts, were of the opinion that it would have generated so much crisis.

Recall that before the unannounced defection of the two principal officers, the National Assembly was in turmoil because the ruling APC led by Adams Oshiomole, vowed that Saraki must vacate the seat.

But with all the agitations and counter agitations, the two principal officers have survived till day, less than 80 days to the 2019 general elections.

However, nothing about Dogara defection was known until the day he came to buy and submit his expression of interest and nomination forms at the PDP national secretariat.

Saraki, on the other hand, though didn’t announce it on the floor, but gave out a speech on why he left the APC.

The President of the Senate, in a statement he personally signed, explained that he defected after extensive consultations and after efforts to ensure a harmonious existence in the APC proved futile.

Saraki had said: “I wish to inform Nigerians that, after extensive consultations, I have decided to take my leave of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“This is not a decision that I have made lightly. If anything at all, I have tarried for so long and did all that was humanly possible, even in the face of great provocation, ridicule and flagrant persecution, to give an opportunity for peace, reconciliation and harmonious existence.

“Perhaps, more significantly, I am mindful of the fact that I carry on my shoulder a great responsibility for thousands of my supporters, political associates and friends, who have trusted in my leadership and have attached their political fortunes to mine.

“However, it is after an extensive consultation with all the important stakeholders that we have come to this difficult but inevitable decision to pitch our political tent elsewhere; where we could enjoy a greater sense of belonging and where the interests of the greatest number of our Nigerians would be best served.

“While I take full responsibility for this decision, I will like to emphasise that it is a decision that has been inescapably imposed on me by certain elements and forces within the APC who have ensured that the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist.”

Reacting to this development, while speaking with our correspondent, a Constitutional lawyer, Barrister Ralph Agama, noted that fear of impeachment, was the reason behind why the principal officers refused to announce their defections.

He said: “As to the issue of announcement, if as a member, you defect and you made it known to the leadership of the House, the intention is that once you make it known to the leadership of the House it is expected to become part of the business of the House and if the House decides to announce it, fine.

“But you know, because of the legal implication as to the issue of defection by the provision of the Constitution, which says once a candidate defects from the platform upon which he was elected into the House to another, he automatically loses his seat. So, whether or not it is even announced, the implication of the provision is there.

“Recently, some people decide to go to court for whatever reason, of course because if he does and for the fear of the fact that most of the people who defect sometimes,move to the opposition.”

He noted that some principal officers made announcement of defectors because by so doing it will enrich their party, and reduce the number of other parties.

Agama further noted that “some of those people who defected after announcement quickly go to court to ask that the Speaker or whoever is presiding should not have the power to remove them or declaring their seat vacant.

Giving more insight into why the principal officers would rather keep quiet, the constitutional lawyer said, “you know politicians, they will not want to declare their positions and it is for the fear of the fact that you know when they defected, the issue of we are going to impeach them, remove them, they have to lose their seats, they have to lose their positions, was the issue, so they just decide to go on until there’s no need for formal announcement.”

Agama further pointed out that even though the principal officers didn’t announce formally, the public is already aware of their defections, adding that the fear of impeachment if their defection is announced on the floor played a major role, why they decided to do otherwise.

Asked to give his thought on the situation, one of the APC Reps, Hon. Johnson Agbonayinma from Edo state said they careless whether the speaker announces his defection or not.

Formerly a member of the opposition PDP, Agbonayinma told this newspaper that “everything that we do boils down to the party. Today, he (Dogara) is a member of PDP; he’s taken the card of PDP and denounced his membership of APC. As a member, I decamped from PDP to APC so who am I to challenge him, that’s his fundamental constitutional right. So, I’ve no reason or motive to sit down and start thinking otherwise or challenging him”.

He added, “As a matter of fact, he’s still performing his constitutional duties as speaker and has not changed. So he’s still carrying everybody along whether you’re APC, PDP or APGA and for that, we still see him as our speaker.

“Whatever that’s happening in the National Assembly, particularly in the House of Representatives, let it remain with us. What’s important is for us to put our heads together for Nigeria to be developed, for our nation to be among the leading nations. That’s our fundamental duty now. Not bickering, not in fighting. Whether you’re APC or APGA, if a road is constructed, everybody will benefit from it. If a hospital is built, everybody will enjoy it.

“So, what I’m saying is that this should not be about APC or PDP, but what’s important is your commitment and willingness to adhere to the three principal tenets of democratic doctrines: loyalty, commitment and participation; things that will bring dividends of democracy to the people. That’s what’s important, that’s what matters in all these”, he said.

Asked why it has taken the speaker so long to formally announce his defection on the floor, as it is the tradition based on laid down rules, he said, “Maybe he’s going to do that at his own time, so you have to give him time.

“And since it’s such a matter of convention, let me said that maybe he’s half-member of the APC, half PDP. So if you want to get something out of me, I’ll say he’s half APC and half PDP, but he’s a Nigerian, a true Nigerian and he’s representing all of us.”

• Ex-chair angry over raging instability in party

Quote:“The real problem comes if a party stands in danger of losing its bearing. I am APC and I don’t see myself somewhere else. I cannot just quite envisage it.”



Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

The immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has opened up on several issues concerning his party, especially on the circumstances surrounding his exit as the chairman of the ruling party.

Speaking to Sunday Sun in Abuja, the former Edo State governor revealed his fears for the 2019 general elections, what he is missing most since leaving office and what the Nigerian youths must do to permanently retire the old politicians, among other issues.


Can we kick-start this interaction with an opening remarks from you?

I have decided to deliberately and totally stay out of controversy because we are in a system that is so dynamic and so active that whatever you say is capable of either being misinterpreted or not being particularly helpful. I have decided to keep away from the politics of who is right or who is wrong. As an elder statesman, I want to make an appeal first in the general polity for a lot more decorum and for our leaders to keep away from distractions and none issues. The social media is full of such terrible distractions, insults and humongous percentage of clear patent falsehood. This seems to have become the main issues whereas they are mere distractions. Such issues as whether people have certificate or not, whether they went to school or not, and quite a lot of other manufactured stories against prominent individuals. It looks as if the past time is the search for scandal rather than an attempt to build up issues, debate alternative approaches. We all know the problem of the country, who has answers to these problems and what are the answers.

These are the issues that these coming two and half months should try to address. As far as my own party is concerned, I have only one appeal, there should be peace and that every effort should be made to establish peace such that we will approach the elections with a united front, united voice and as a united party, rallying around a united programme of action. There is no question now that there are lots of very serious disputations within the party, but I am very glad that peace teams have been sent out. I was happy to run into one of them while I was on personal engagement in the Southeast and it is my prayer that they achieve the goals for which they were set up and for which they have been sent out. However, it is necessary to emphasise that for peace to happen, all sides must be ready and willing to give and to take. There must be willingness for compromise that will bring the party back together again in the kind of fighting mood that we need to be in to confront the elections in February next year, which are bound to be challenges given the state of the nation. It is also the appropriate time to say that my attachment to President Muhammadu Buhari started way back when he was a military Head of State. I think outside Murtala Muhammed, he was the first person to appreciate the need for a disciplined society, the need for an orderly society, the need for basic ethics both in our interactions between one another, both in our business undertakings and dealings with the international communities. He understands the need for basic morality, the need for us as a people to start knowing very strongly the difference between right and wrong. That is the challenge we still face as a people. 

It is not the challenge of brick and mortal like how many kilometres of roads we have built, or how many schools we have renovated; it is the challenge of reorienting the basic mentality of us all as Nigerians. It is about learning to do things properly, learning to accept due process and that might not be necessarily right. And because of that, I was sold on him at that early stage and up till today, I absolutely don’t have any reason to change that impression of him. What he needs is our support, genuine support, men and women of passion that will help bring to fruition the corrective measures that he has put in place and still pursuing. Besides that original empathy with him, my support is unflinching. I still consider him by far the best person that we have for president for next year. He has my support in whatever capacity and I will continue to make that available in whatever manner of ways that is necessary to enhance his potential for victory.


What is your reaction to the story trending online that you have left the APC?

I had intended to totally ignore that flown kite. I have almost succeeded in doing that but this will be an opportunity to emphasise that in terms of the thinking, I was basically an originator because I knew that what we were doing while in opposition was wrong. We in opposition truly want to present our nation with democratic choice. We need to build a party that can be comparable in levels, strength and acceptability to the Nigerian public not for them to keep saying that they don’t like them yet they don’t have choice. Having been an originator to that process, it will be extremely difficult to see myself elsewhere. Yes, the party has issues and problems, but you don’t run away from the party because it is passing through a phase or difficulty.

I cannot run away. I will rather give what I have to patch the cracks. We will maintain the direction and goals we have set for ourselves otherwise the fluidity of the movement does not make sense and does not show commitment. Yes, there are difficulties, but they are meant to be addressed, sorted out so that the party does not lose its soul and the message that brought it into being. Those are the critical issues. The real problem comes if a party stands in danger of losing its bearing in those respects. I am APC and I don’t see myself somewhere else. I cannot just quite envisage it.


What is your take on the opinion of the Archbishop of Abuja that the two frontline presidential candidates are undesirable to Nigerians based on their antecedents and achievements?

Well, I have the highest degree of respect for the Cardinal because he is a man of very acute intellect and wisdom. He happens to be part of Nigeria’s democracy, which allows us to have opinion on issues. What he has done was in exercise of his legitimate right as a Nigerian. The candidates involved are Nigerians and whether we like it or not, the candidates have been selected by other Nigerians to be their standard bearers. That is democracy and until we can bring angels to run and go through the mill, offer and place themselves and work, I don’t think you can do better than that. We pray that Nigeria will one day be populated all by angels and we will probably have the opportunity to have it.


Would you have adopted other mode of primary elections if you were still in charge and what is your take on the position of some governors that they will only support Buhari’s re-election, but support their candidates in other parties in state election?

I can say one thing for sure. I am not happy as to the state of relative instability in the party. I don’t think there is a single person who is today happy either. However, the good thing is that there are peace missions that are found now all over the country. At this point in time, it will be inappropriate for me to start saying that things went bad because that happened or because that was not how it should happen. As an elder statesman, I should not start passing my own personal judgment when there is a team already out there trying to broker peace. I will not be helping the situation. What we require is peace and I pray that God gives the team the wisdom required to work out the settlement to bring the party into strong political fighting shape.


Will the endorsements of the presidential candidate of the PDP by the Southeast and Southwest elders affect the outcome of the 2019 election?

I don’t think it will affect the outcome of the election. There is one mistake many of our leaders continue to make and that is underestimating the voting public. They underestimate the farmers, market women, labourers, yet they know what is happening in the society and do not need to depend on anybody in particular except the died-in-the-wood party people like us. I can tell you that if any church today says that the entire congregation should vote for party X, they will accept and go home, but will still vote for whomsoever they have decided to vote for. That is the situation we are in in this country. That was why I emphasised issue-based politics. The average Nigerian is eking, he is not a fool not to know that no one person can solve all his problems. 

But he wants to be sure that you are going to make a good trial. He wants to have hope critical that whoever he wants to vote for is likely to start the process of improvement to his personal circumstances so that he will have hope for the future, if not for himself then for his children. That is the motivation of some people. We are going to see more adoptions and I expect to see some presidential candidates withdrawing and supporting one candidate or the other. The trading will soon start and we have more of such declarations. It is part of our politics and some of our leaders do it for their own personal reasons, but at great cost to themselves because they are underestimating the voting public.


What is your advice to the youths, security agents ahead the 2019 election?

I have read a lot about fears of violence for the election, but I think they are highly exaggerated. We are passing through the most difficult times in the process towards 2019. These are the critical periods and I just hope that the campaigns will not also provide platform for groups to clash. Once this did not happen, we are in the clear. My advice is that the youths must know what is in their interest. Most the parties we have today are youths oriented and it shows the kind of difficulty we have as a people and nation. I don’t think any three to 10 of them have been able to come together to endorse one of them as consensus candidate. 

That they are not able to do it raises issues of motive of why they are in politics. Are they there to rescue themselves or impact on the direction of events? I would have been the happiest person if 20 parties with youthful candidates can unite to adopt a particular candidate. It is then that I will know that the youths are truly very serious about their own fate and about their ambition to control the political trend in the country. They said that we should retire; yes we are ready to retire, but are the youths ready to take over. Why should we have 91 political parties mainly led by youthful Nigerians? It shows that they too did not appreciate the predicament and the work that they need to do to convince the older ones that they are ready for leadership. The youths are the ones to help themselves and they cannot do that by been part of the violent groups to get a little change that can last them few months only to return to square one. I feel so strongly the way they are presented ahead of the 2019 general elections.


What are your fears for 2019 general elections?

Once we can go through the campaigns the actually voting process will be more peaceful than what most Nigerians think. I am not saying that there will not be one or two odd happenings, but there will not be nothing much. The other challenge will probably be when the result will be announced. But again, I don’t think there is much to fear because the electoral process has continued to progress. It is now sufficiently technology driven to remove all the issue of ballot box snatching, or involving fake voters or this issue of vote buying. How many voters can one buy to make the difference during the presidential election? I don’t think it will work and believe me, if I know where they are buying votes; I will go and collect my own because it is stupidity to convince people with financial inducement. If you give them money, they will collect and vote according to their conscience. In a nutshell, I don’t have much fear. Yes, we are moving ahead in the democratic process, however, the only problem we still have till this moment is the level of abuses, insults, seriousness in the campaign process to almost total neglect of issues. We have neglected the real issues of how to make this country of nearly 200 million people a great nation and what we need to do to move Nigeria from point A to point B. We need people of that kind of vision to convince us that they are going to make that vision a reality.

This is what we need to do, not all these insults being hauled all over the places. I want to appeal to the media, especially the print to help negate the social media that have gone totally ballistic with the kind of stories they carry these days like the kind of violence. You can imagine people outside this country reading our social media. Are they really alright with the kind of things they now consider as breaking news in this country? It leaves a lot to be desired and I just hope it will not spread to the print and electronic media. This also brings me to the recent unfortunate incident that happened in Borno State, where in a surprise attack; many of our brilliant and gallant military personnel were killed in cold blood. The newsmen are more knowledgeable about this and scholars will advise us to beware of the last kick from a dying horse. There is no question at all that the Boko Haram group are in deep trouble. They have been diminished to the point that they are really not effective, but that does not mean they cannot, once in a while, have this great display which they start feeding the propaganda machine to make our military men look like they were falling asleep on their job. It is not like that. I have been very sad and unhappy reading some things and propaganda that trailed the unfortunate event in that camp in Borno State. We must not do anything to fall for the propaganda of this destructive Boko Haram insurgent. Our men in uniform are doing a valiant job and once in a while the enemy manages to inflict some damage. It is very unfortunate, but it should not happen. What we don’t hear always is the amount of good work that our security agents and the non-uniformed ones are doing every day to safe us. The incidents they are preventing that they cannot go to the press to trumpet are humongous. My appeal is that we must stand four square behind our soldiers in the front. We must not fall for enemy propaganda. We must at all times uphold our men under arms because they are performing wonders under very difficult conditions.


What is that particular thing you are missing so much outside the office?

I have to think very deeply to tell you what I am missing most since I left office. It was a very tough job, it was a very challenging job. Yes, I had my vision for the elections, how to approach it and get very resounding victory, but that is matter for another day. What is important today is that I am at peace. What is important today is that having worked hard all my life from the very minute I got into the public service till this point, I am now beginning to appreciate the beauty of being at peace with myself, the beauty of being able to decide that I am not going anywhere today, the beauty of choosing which reception to attend and the one not to attend. I am no longer under pressure to attend functions based on my position as chairman of this or that. It is a beautiful freedom. So, all told, I am glad that I made the decision that I made.

A terrible accident that happened along Keffi Abuja road has claimed the lives of many.The victims are burnt beyond recognition. It is unclear what led to the accident


Source:http://www.trezzyhelm.com/2018/12/passengers-burnt-beyond-recognition-in.html

The All Progressives Congress (APC) youth leader in ward 8 Oyigbo local government area of Rivers state, has landed in a hospital after he was brutally attacked by unknown thugs.

It was gathered that the victim identified as comrade Emeka Ihu was attacked on Saturday night while trying to prevent the miscreants from destroying the APC billboard of the House of Representatives candidate for Eleme /Tai /Oyigbo federal constituency, Hon Gift Okere.

He was beaten mercilessly and also stabbed in the eye during the horrifying attack that left him injured.

He was rushed to an undisclosed hospital where he is currently being treated. 

His friends and party members are calling on the security agencies to as a matter of fact swing into action and apprehend those responsible. 

See more; https://www.nationalhelm.co/2018/12/apc-leader-stabbed-in-the-eye-for-preventing-destruction-of-billboard-photos.html

I wanna ask a question. My intentions are not to insult you in anyway, just curious.

I’ve learnt first hand that most of these pastors you talk about don't coerce or force the people to pay. They always out of generosity propel themselves to give to these pastors. Now, If you ask the churches or pastors not to receive supports or tithes from the congregation, how do you expect the church to grow and expand the teaching of Gods word?? Or are you saying the churches need not to be run at all?? Even if this big men of God suddenly run down, are the churches going to run down too??

I think what you should be agitating for is that pastors need to be accountable and properly use this money to help the needy. You fighting a full blown war against the church, I said this because of the way you attacked the experience program which isn’t a platform to extort tithe or funds from the people. At this rate, you come against anything that pertains to churches. There are tons of intelligent people in the USA, Canada, China, developed countries like that, still, their churches pay tithes and support the ministry. 

The Catholic Church receives tithes and offerings, there’s no church in the world that doesn’t receive tithe and support from her congregation, if they don’t, how else will the gospel progress. If your fight is against the accountability of Nigerian pastors, that’d be so understandable and logical, but this spilled over outbursts against anything church in Nigeria is in my opinion needless. 

I have never in my 16 years of existence heard where congregations are coerced to pay tithe or support the church. In winners chapel, there’s even a platform where money are lend to borrowers with no interest, There’s a platform where after every service, food , clothes etc are shared among people that need them. In the cell fellowship centers in Winners Chapel, you can talk to your cell ministers when you are in need and those needs would be met ranging from paying school fees to paying rents and so on, you can’t tell me that’s a lie cuz I am living testimony to that. The buses to and fro Canaanland used to be free until running them became hard, now it’s only free for new converts.

So this things aren’t run on leaves but money. And this congregation are always happy to give to the church. After all when people spend huge amount in clubs on liquor, on gamble, or on the needy, on relatives, for friends, on habits, on hubbies.....when people spend on these factors no one complains. So why is that you see giving to church as a waste? 

You blame the church for our country being the world poverty capital of the world. Do you want winners chapel or redeemed or MFM to start running Nigeria with the contributions of its congregations? Contributions that you still bash them about? Imagine what Bishop Oyedepo has done with covenant University of 10 years, now imagine if he has access to a vast national resources that UI or OAU enjoys. Why are you blaming the church for the nations poverty?? Was Jesus in charge of the nation’s economy in his time? Was he in charge of military? In charge of public hospitals? If you want the church to take over the affairs of Nigeria, why don’t you implore the government to handover to the church?? There’s the government and there’s the church. Both have their functions. The church can only voice out and advise the government on what to do, it’s left for the government to do something about it.

I know of course that freeze would spin and spin and grammar everyone against his opinion down but I think at the end of the day he knows the truth.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says President Muhammadu Buhari will neither steal nor allow stealing in his administration.

He said this on Saturday in Lagos as he commenced a door-to-door campaign for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2019 general election.

While speaking with party members from the 57 local council development areas (LCDA) in the state, Osinbajo urged them to go from house to house to tell the people about the achievements of the party after three years in office.

The vice-president said they must prevent people who have stolen money from the nation’s treasury in the past from coming back into government.

“After 16 years of ensuring that the country did not make progress, they want to come back. They will never come back again. We are making progress and we will continue to make progress. We are going to the next level,” Osinbajo said.

“Our major problem in Nigeria is corruption; it’s not plans. There are so many plans. If you allow the resources of the country to be stolen, no plan can work. The difference between Muhammadu Buhari and any other president is that he will not steal and he will not allow stealing.

“The most important thing of all is that we will prevent a situation where people who have stolen our money in the past come back into government. If they do, there won’t be progress no matter what they say.

“The money of this country must be preserved so that it will benefit us all. Education, healthcare, jobs, if you don’t have money, you can’t do them.

“There are only two types of leaders in Nigeria, those who want to steal the money and those want to use the money for the common good.

“If we want progress for our country, we must make sure that we put in place those who want to use the money for the common good, not those who want to steal it.”

https://all-gists.blogspot.com/2018/12/buhari-will-not-steal-our-money-says-osinbajo-as-he-begins-door-to-door-campaign.html

[b]Good Morning... [/

Governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike , has withdrawn his threat to resign as the coordinator of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign in the South -South.

His decision to lead the party’ s campaign in the South - South followed the meeting members of the party ’ s presidential campaign council held with him at Government House in Port Harcourt , on Saturday .

Read More: https://www.hgsmediaplus.com.ng/2018/12/wike-withdraws-threat-to-quit-as-pdp.html?m=1

Ahead of the 2019 general elections, former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday urged Nigerians to vote for credible candidates who will drive growth and development.

Obasanjo, who spoke at the 27th annual Owu National Convention held in Iwo, Osun, said credible leadership would promote good governance.

The former president, who said he would not campaign for any particular candidate, urged Nigerians to vote wisely.

The Chairman of the Supreme Council of Owu Obas, Oba Hammed Oyelude, said Owu being the largest Yoruba speaking ethnic group in the South West Zone had been contributing to policy development in the country.

Oyelude, who is the Olowu of Owu Kuta, said the Royal Union of Owu People had been contributing to policy development in the country.

He called on Owu people to participate in politics in order to contribute to national development.

Oyelude also called on indigenes of Owu to support and vote for any indigene contesting for any political office.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that dignitaries present at the occasion included Owu monarchs as well as indigenes of the ethnic stock.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/08/vote-for...nigerians/

The Adoration Ministry Enugu, headed by Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, on Saturday alleged that there is an assassination attempt against its director, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka.

This is coming amidst controversies generated by Mbaka’s message last Sunday during the church harvest thanksgiving service and bazaar which has attracted wide criticisms, including from the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria.

In a statement signed by Chief Aka Emmanuel, President, National Adoration Family, Chief Okolo Godwin, President, Adoration Fathers’ Associations World Wide, Mrs Ann Aligwe,-President, Adoration Mothers’ Association World Wide, Chukwu Agoziem, President, Adoration Youths’ Association World Wide and Barr Ike Maximus Ugwuoke- Media Chief, they said Fr. Mbaka was shot in Enugu, the State capital.

The statement made available to DAILY POST read:

“It is with rude shock and utter surprise that we received the report of the attempted assassination plot of the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria last made Thursday evening by some unknown gunmen who fired gun shots at him on his way in Enugu.

“This incident has added to several other assassination plots targeted at Fr Mbaka since after the first plot that was carried out on him on his way from the Bishop’s house where he had gone to answer an impromptu call by his Bishop during the regime of Governor Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State .

“This assassination plot against Fr Mbaka is coming barely few days after the 2018 Harvest and Bazaar of the Ministry whereat Fr Mbaka had come under massive media attack for asking Peter Obi, the PDP Vice Presidential Candidate for the 2019 General election who attended the Bazaar programme, to make public his support or donation for the Church Project of the Ministry.

“Many Supporters of Peter Obi and even clergies have misconstrued this as embarrassing to Peter Obi and to the Catholic Church and this has consequently given rise to the statement issued by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) that same Thursday on the issue. The issue had lingered.

....https://janefblog.com/4787-2rev-fr-ejike...-in-enugu/

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued President Muhammadu Buhari over “failure to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN, and/or appropriate anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations of bribery against Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, as contained in the widely circulated video clips allegedly showing Mr Ganduje receiving bribe.”

SERAP had in November asked the president to direct the investigation of Mr Ganduje, stating that, “if there is relevant and sufficient admissible evidence, for him to face prosecution at the expiration of his tenure as governor.” The organization also sought protection for the journalist Jaafar Jaafar, who reportedly published the video clips.

However, SERAP said since the receipt of its letter and to date, President Buhari has failed to grant its requests. Also, a Kano State high court last week stopped the Kano State House of Assembly from investigating the $5 million bribery allegation against Mr Ganduje.

Consequently, in the suit number FHC/L/CS/2055/18 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, SERAP is seeking “an order for leave to apply for judicial review and an order of mandamus directing and/or compelling Mr Buhari to immediately direct the investigation of allegations of bribery against Mr Ganduje.”

SERAP said: “The Applicant’s requests are not onerous but simply based on issues of public interest, good governance, transparency and accountability. It is in the interest of justice to grant this application, as the Respondent has nothing to lose if the application is granted.”

The suit is also seeking an order to compel Mr Buhari to “instruct appropriate security and law enforcement agencies to ensure the protection and guarantee the safety and security of journalist Jaafar Jaafar.”

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its counsel, Ms. Bamisope Adeyanju read in part: “Investigating allegations of bribery against Mr Ganduje would be entirely consistent with the provisions of section 15 subsection (5) of the 1999 Constitution, which requires the government of the Respondent to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power, regardless of the state where such practices are taking place. The Constitution defines ‘government’ to include federal, state and local governments.”

“Growing allegations of corruption against many state governors have not been investigated and several of the governors involved are getting away with their alleged crimes. Granting the reliefs sought would assist the Respondent to succeed in his fight against corruption and help to combat corruption among many state governors, who continue to allegedly mismanage their states’ resources with almost absolute impunity.”

“The Attorney-General of the Federation has power conferred on him by section 174(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and anticorruption agencies have the powers to act on the allegations of bribery against Mr Ganduje for the sake of discharging their mandates, ensuring transparency and accountability, promoting the common good, peace, order and good government of the federation (which includes Kano State).”

“Under the provisions of section 5(1)(b) of the Constitution of Nigeria,1999, the Executive powers of the Federation extends to the execution and maintanance of the Constitution which is the grundnorm and all laws made by the National Assembly, including the provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, which SERAP is requesting the Respondent to effectively implement.”

“Under Section 61(2) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC) Act, a law of general application throughout the country, public officers accused of bribery may be prosecuted by the appropriate authority for such an offence.”

“Although primarily a matter of concern for Kano State, the allegations of bribery against Mr Ganduje have assumed such a proportion as to become a matter of concern to the federation as a whole, and therefore, to the government of the Respondent.”

“Vigorously seeking to enforce anticorruption legislation and the United Nations Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party regarding alleged corrupt state governors, will show that the Respondent is concerned with the overall well-being of the federation and willing and able to enforce important constitutional principles.”

“Given the history of corruption in Nigeria, especially unresolved allegations of grand corruption against many state governors, the government of the Respondent cannot and should not look the other way regarding the allegations against Mr Ganduje. Any allegations of bribery and abuse of power in any state of Nigeria is of concern to every Nigerian, and should therefore, be of concern to the government of the Respondent.”

“It is important to reiterate that a sitting governor can be investigated under Nigerian laws. Any criminal allegation against a sitting governor can and should be investigated pending the time the governor leaves office and loses immunity.”

“SERAP has sufficient legal interest in monitoring the way and manner public funds are being utilized in Nigeria, hence our request for the Respondent to perform his public duty.”

“The Respondent has failed, neglected and refused to instruct the Attorney General of the Federation and/or anti-corruption agencies to investigate Mr Ganduje over the alleged bribery. Given his anticorruption commitments, the Respondent ought to have acted on SERAP’s requests to improve transparency and accountability among state governors.”

“As the Supreme Court of Nigeria stated in Ugwu v. Ararume (2007) 31 WRN 1 at 42: ‘If we want to instill sanity into our human affairs, if we want to entrench unpolluted democracy in our body polity, the Unclad truth must permeate through the blood, nerve and brain of each and every one of us. Although credit may not always have its rightful place in politics, we should try to blend the two so as to attain a fair, just and egalitarian society where no one is oppressed. Let us call a spade a spade!”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

http://serap-nigeria.org/serap-asks-cour...ibery.ngo/

The Federal government said oil marketers would be paid N236 billion out of N348 billion approved by the National Assembly as outstanding subsidy claims on Friday Dec. 14th.

Quote:

The Chief Operating officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Downstream, Mr Henry Ikem-Obih disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday.

“The Debt Management Office (DMO) will by next week, precisely on Dec. 14th, pay oil marketers first part of the subsidy arrears of N236 billion as agreed by both parties.

“We agreed that after the first tranche is paid, the marketers will form committee to work on details of how the next tranche will be paid in 2019 and the last paid in 2020.

“Government is fully committed to pay the first tranche as promised and will be paid through promissory note that will be issued by the DMO,’’ he said.

Ikem-Obih said that oil marketers equally owed government some debt which would not be deducted from the first tranche of payment.

He said that it was unfortunate that Depot and Petroleum Product Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) had issued a counter statement from what was agreed at the meeting held with all stakeholders on Thursday.

It will be recalled that stakeholders in the oil sector held a meeting at the ministry of Finance on Thursday and reached an agreement on how to pay outstanding subsidy claims to marketers.

DAPPMAN on Friday issued a counter statement saying that there was no agreement reached with government because it failed to reach legitimate demands of the association which was that the claims should be paid in cash instead of through the promissory notes.

He said that Independent Marketers Association, DAPPMAN, Major Oil Marketers (MOMAN), CBN, PPPRA, among others were part of the meeting.

“Government is committed to doing what we agreed on and that is why they get the first tranche by next week.

“We have told marketers that what government is doing now is honest and highly transparent,’’ he added.

Ikem-Obih urged Nigerians not to panic as the NNPC and all other stakeholders will ensure that there was no scarcity of the product throughout the yuletide season.

“Currently, we have 55 days of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) storage in the country which translates to 2.8 million litres in volume and 90,000 metric tonnes of diesel.

“The 90,000 metric tonnes is supplied by NNPC and it’s subsidiary PPMC and we will continue to import,’’ he added

He said that apart from imported products, the Warri refinery had on Thursday started refining products and the Port Harcourt Refinery would soon kick off refining.

This, he said would continue to boost the quantity of product in the country.

In an interview, some marketers who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) commended government and assured that they would support efforts towards ensuring smooth supply and distribution of petroleum products in the country.

Alhaji Aliyu Sa’id, Managing Director of AA Rano filling station said that national interest must be upheld and it would be wise for DAPMAN to give government a chance.

“We have enough products and we will not shut down for any reason, we do not want Nigerians to suffer during this period and that is why we are supporting government effort,’’ he said

Also, managing Director of AYM Shafa filling station, said that they would work to ensure that there was not scarcity of products in the country during the yuletide season.

“We will support government efforts to ensure smooth supply and distribution of products especially during the Christmas season,’’ he added.

NAN reports that other marketers who promised to ensure free flow of the product in the country include Obat oil PLC, ED Tonimas Nigeria Limited, among other. (NAN)

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

SUNDAY, 9TH DECEMBER.

TRUST HIM WITH YOUR LIFE AND FUTURE.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart… In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

One day, as I studied the Bible, some thoughts went through my mind. I pondered, “If the Lord really does know everything, that means He knows tomorrow.” Then again I thought, “Since He knows the future, then He knows everything I’ll ever do, say, think, and everywhere I’ll ever go.” Now, all that while, I was meditating on the Scriptures and having this soliloquy.


The result was, I realised that the Lord could actually see in my tomorrow or in the future if I’m going to do or say something that’s not right. And since He already knows, He can fix things ahead for me. Then I said, “Lord, since you know my tomorrow, can you effect some corrections ahead before I ever get there?” Interestingly, He wasn’t quiet about it, and He didn’t reprimand me either for having all those thoughts. Rather, He said to me, “You’re right; I can do it if you want me to.” This reveals how truly kind and gracious He is. We can, and should, actually trust Him with our future.

Imagine that you have a child crawling on the floor, and you can see something dangerous in front of him, and you know the child is going to pick it up.

Surely, you’re going to go ahead of the child to eliminate that danger. If you’d do that, how much more our heavenly Father! That’s one of the reasons you can trust God to lead you. If you trust Him with your future, He’ll direct your path. If you trust Him, He’ll go ahead of you, and fix things. He can change anything for your good; for your advantage. Even if you’ve gone in the wrong direction all your life, if you’d embrace Him today, He’ll make everything right. He can create for you a new destiny. He’s God Almighty!

Not only does He know everything about you, He knows everything about life. The future belongs to Him; He made it; without Him, there’s no future. Put yourself, therefore, into His guiding arms, under His Lordship, for His Lordship is the lordship of love. Trust Him without reservation, and He’ll make your life beautiful; He’ll lead you in glory and excellence, to fulfil your destiny in Him.

PRAYER

Dear Father, thank you for your love. You’re the Lord of my life; and you know everything, including my future. Thank you for taking responsibility for my life, and for being more interested in, and passionate for, my success than I could ever be for myself, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Isaiah 1:19 TLB If you will only let me help you, if you will only obey, then I will make you rich!

Proverbs 3:5-6 AMPC Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 6 In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Revelation 2:1-17 & Hosea 1-2

2-Year Bible Reading Plan
Revelation 10:1-11 & Obadiah



#AFFIRMATIONTRAIN

9TH DECEMBER.

I affirm that I am eternally victorious in Christ. I have power over crises; I’m prospering exceedingly, manifesting the righteousness and dominion of Christ everywhere. I live above, and far beyond the distracting elements of this world, because I live in Christ! At all times, I manifest God’s majestic splendor; I display His perfections and unveil His multifaceted wisdom to the world.

God’s Word is effectual in me, producing excellence and glory. I am well positioned for the triumphant life through the Word, with circumstances aligning with God’s will, thought, purpose and destiny for my life. I walk in the light of God’s Word and exude wisdom and sound judgment. Hallelujah! I am in charge, and nothing will ever take me by surprise.

I am an heir of salvation, and my way is paved of the Lord! God’s angels have been assigned on my behalf; therefore, as I make affirmations of the Word, they are dispatched in the Name of Jesus, to establish the words of my mouth and ensure that the words that I speak do not come back to me void but accomplish that which I please. Glory to God!

SPEAK IN OTHER TONGUES NOW


God bless you

At least 13.5 million Nigerians voted manually in the 2015 presidential election, according to data from the Independent and National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Based on an analysis of the data, 75 percent of votes cast without PVC were in states won by President Muhammadu Buhari, then candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The data, obtained by DeepDive Intelligence, also shows that Buhari won in nine of the 10 most-affected states.

The 2015 presidential election had two major contenders; Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s first incumbent president to lose a re-election bid.

Of the 31,746,490 accredited voters in the election, 13,536,311 representing 42.6 percent of voters voted without biometric accreditation.

Out of this number, 10,184,720 votes are from states won by Buhari and 3,351,591 votes came from states won by Jonathan, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, representing 75 percent and 25 percent of accredited voters respectively.

Below is a table showing votes cast manually in the 2015 elections:



https://www.thecable.ng/shocker-13-5m-nigerians-voted-without-pvc-in-2015/amp?__twitter_impression=true

A man identified as Wagbara David who owns a mortuary in Rumuosi by East West road in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state capital, has been killed.

The deceased was reportedly stabbed to death by a tanker conductor who parked in front of his office in Rumuosi area.

Report has it that his offence was that he asked the driver to take his tanker from the front of his office and the conductor pulled out his dagger and stabbed him to death.

He was rushed to the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) where he was confirmed dead.

According to reports, the tanker driver zoomed off after stabbing the victim but was intercepted at Choba junction.

https://zenithnaija.com/conductor-stabs-mortuary-owner-to-death-in-port-harcourt/

A secondary school student was allegedly shot dead by police during a violent protest in Oyo state. It was alleged that the student was trying to attack the policeman during the protest before he was shot dead. 

This made the Oyo State Government to shut down the Community Grammar School, Olodo, Ibadan with immediate effect.

The decision to close the school was announced on Monday through a statement by the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Ibironke Fatoki.

Fatoki said that the school was shut over the incident of arson that occurred in the premises on Friday during a mob action by some hoodlums and miscreants after a violent protest by secondary school students the day before.

She stated that the government had set up a six-man administrative investigative panel to examine the immediate and remote causes of the incident, adding that the panel is expected to submit its report in seven working days.

Fatoki added that  a block of 3 classrooms and four cars were burnt during the protest, adding that one life was also lost during the mayhem.

See more; https://www.nationalhelm.co/2018/12/ss3-student-allegedly-shot-dead-by-police-during-protest-in-ibadan-photo.html

@POLITICSNGR

Below is a press statement from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP made available to PoliticsNGR, signed by its national Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan;

"The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) decries the stoppage of transactions on all accounts belonging to PDP Vice presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, wife, his family members and their businesses by agencies of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Since his nomination, Peter Obi, apart from facing series of failed attempts by the APC to destroy his reputation, has also continued to receive all manners of threats and blackmail, including threats to his life and those of his wife and children.
Having realized that the majority of Nigerians are rallying behind the duo of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi as the our Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates respectively, the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have resorted to all manners of machinations, including smear campaigns and direct attacks on their persons and business concerns, in a bid to run them down.

The Buhari Presidency is intimidated by Peter Obi’s resume, particularly, his general acceptance as epitome of fiscal responsibility, frugality and transparency in governance.

Otherwise, why is the Presidency on a wild goose chase in investigating Peter Obi, who left office as Governor of Anambra state five years ago with a nationally acclaimed clean record, intact reputation for frugality, transparency, zero tolerance for corruption and leaving behind a huge saving of N75 billion naira in cash and investments; without owing any salaries, pensions, gratuities or even contractors for contracts executed.

The fact remains that the Buhari Presidency and the APC are merely shadow boxing in their attacks on Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, as their records before Nigerians speak for them.

All discerning Nigerians know that the reasons for an investigation on a man like Peter Obi, is a journey to no where aimed to stifle him of funds as well as attempt to distract our campaign and divert attention from the failures of the Buhari administration.
It is ludicrous that President Buhari would continue to condone the looting of our treasuries by his party leaders and the cabal in his Presidency, which even, the First Lady had even alluded to, only to be using government agencies to attempt to blackmail our Presidential and vice Presidential candidates whose reputations stand clear before all Nigerians.

The PPCO reminds President Buhari that neither he nor Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was in 2015, as candidates, harassed, attacked at the airport or subjected to blackmails, and wonder why they are now employing such tactics just because Nigerians have resolved to do away with them, come 2019."

https://politicsngr.com/breaking-pdp-vp-candidate-peter-obis-bank-accounts-frozen/

The National Conscience Party (NCP) says Wednesday’s endorsement of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar by Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) as consensus candidate for 2019 election was an affront to the spirit of the alliance.

NCP National Publicity Secretary and member, Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) Media/Publicity Committee, Dr Emmanuel Okereke disclosed this in a statement in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that CUPP), had on Wednesday announced that it endorsed Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as consensus candidate for the election.

But, Okereke said the purported endorsement is an affront to the spirit and vision of CUPP.

He noted that the NCP entered into alliance with some political parties with the aim of producing consensus presidential candidate that would be financially and structurally supported by CUPP.

“The NCP National Executive Committee and National Coordinating Council unanimous resolve to fully go into alliance with the CUPP) for credence.

“Disappointedly today in CUPP, same poor Nigerian masses we all came together to rescue are alarmed as just few elements against the letter and spirit of CUPP purportedly adopted the PDP’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar as a consensus candidate for the February 2019 presidential election.

“This is a rape to the ethos of political alliance viz social re-engineering; an affront not only to the NCP which gave the alliance credence but also to CUPP, therefore must be unfalteringly resisted.

“NCP dissociates itself from this macabre dance of shame,” he said.

Okereke, also frowned at the CUPP steering committee chairman, Mr Olagunsoye Oyinlola for not following the guidelines for selecting a consensus candidate.

He said the Oyinlola’s committee invited all political parties in the coalition to forward intelligent memoranda.

“The same persons changed the goal post now, right in the middle of the match, no, and never, this is unacceptable! “NCP resists this shenanigan in totality, hence CUPP initial procedures for this exercise is not only dubiously jettisoned but clandestinely emasculated,” he said.

NAN reports that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) had also on Thursday distanced itself from the endorsement.

SDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Mohammed Alfa who disclosed this said the party already had a candidate, Mr Donald Duke whose name was submitted to INEC as its presidential candidate for the 2019 election.

https://sunnewsonline.com/atikus-endorsement-by-cupp-an-affront-to-the-spirit-of-alliance-ncp/

While most Nigerians are blaming the government for the problems in the country, a man has decided to expose the theft/scam being carried out by some traders in order to make quick money.

In a trending video posted online (watch below), some women were caught removing about eight Derica cups from each bag of rice after which they will use a new bag to repackage it and make it look 50kg bag of rice.

This is what they do to make extra cash as the bags of rice are later sold to unsuspecting customers who have no idea how they've been scammed.

Nigerians while reacting to the video, urged the government and appropriate authorities to look into the issue carried out by the corrupt traders.

Watch the video below.

See more; https://www.nationalhelm.co/2018/12/man-exposes-what-traders-do-to-bags-of-rice-before-selling-them-photos.html

Quote:By Johnchuks Ouanyim 


Facts have emerged why the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, turned down an offer by the presidency and national leadership of the party for him to lead President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign for the 2019 presidential election. A source close to the former governor of Lagos State told Saturday Telegraph that Tinubu asked to be left out of Buhari’s campaign, so that he can have enough time to reorganise the party in the South-West zone ahead of the 2019 general elections. His words: “There is no doubt that Asiwaju is committed to President Buhari’s second term bid and have started mobilising towards that, but he pleaded to be left out of the national campaign committee, so that he can reorganise the APC in the South-West ahead of the coming elections. “You know very well that the party is now in control of the six states of the zone given the outcome of the recent governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, but Tinubu feels that it is not yet a done deal.

“His thinking is that measures should be put in place to sustain the gain by ensuring that the party retains Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, where governorship elections will hold in the forthcoming general elections. So, his request should not be misconstrued as opting out of the APC presidential campaign.” But, another source close to the APC leader told our correspondent that Tinubu’s main reason for excusing himself from the APC presidential campaign was for him to seize the opportunity of the 2019 general elections to consolidate his grip on South-West APC ahead of the 2023 general elections. The feeling is that the APC national leader wants to further energise his base in the South West following the various crises and discontent that emanated from the primaries in some states.

As the saying goes, charity begins at home, so Tinubu’s action is consistent with this adage as his eyes are firmly fixed on the horizon in 2023. According to the source, Tinubu played a major role in the emergence of APC governorship candidates in Lagos, Oyo and Ogun states and feels that it would be a costly political gamble to leave the candidates for the presidential campaign given the opposition against their candidacy from within and outside the party.

“There is no pretence that Tinubu is gearing to run for the presidency after Buhari might have concluded his second term and the time for the ground work is now. So, the APC national leader has practically launched that bid with the game he played during the party’s governorship primaries.

“The calculation was to install his loyalists as governors in order to have a solid base as well as to cripple other party chieftains, who may pose a threat to his ambition in 2023. That informed his support for the party’s governorship candidates in Lagos, Oyo and most importantly, Ogun State. “Though he had his way during the primaries, the battle is yet to be over because those who lost out have not given up. That is why you see fresh alignments and realignments about two months to the elections. Ogun State is a typical example; you saw how APC lawmakers in the state and other chieftains dumped the party in their numbers.

“So, for Tinubu to keep hope alive ahead of 2023, he has to stay back home and make sure that his anointed candidates; Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Lagos, Dapo Abiodun in Ogun and Adebayo Adelabu in Oyo, emerge tops in the governorship elections though he is also working for Buhari’s re-election,” the source said. It would be recall that the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, recently urged the people of South-West to vote for President Buhari in the 2019 elections to guarantee a return of power to the region in 2023. Fashola said besides the massive investments by the Buhari administration on infrastructure across the country and in South-West in particular, the zone would benefit more politically by voting for Buhari.

The minister, who spoke in Yoruba language and with a proverb said: “Did you know that power is rotating to the South- West after the completion of Buhari’s tenure if you vote for him in 2019? “Your child cannot surrender her waist for an edifying bead and you will use the bead to decorate another child’s waist. A vote for Buhari in 2019, means a return of power to the South West in 2023. I am sure you will vote wisely.” Already, the APC national leader has a firm grip of the party’s structures in Lagos and Osun states, but he is working to take over those of Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Oyo states.

Meanwhile, National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Lanre Isa-Onilu, who allayed fears over Tinubu’s position, said there is no doubt that the party’s national leader remains committed to the party and that whatever stand he takes would be in the interest of the party. His words: “I have not seen the report you are talking about, but in the first place, that could be a bit hypothetical as members of the campaign council have not been announced. “What you should be certain of, is that whatever position Asiwaju Bola Tinubu takes, as someone who has demonstrated uncommon leadership for this party, it must be in the best interest of the party.

“So, if for any reason it is true that Asiwaju said he was not going to chair the campaign council, by the time you get the details, you will know he has taken the best decision. “As l said, l have not seen that report and l don’t know the reasons he gave and in any case appointments have not been announced as far as the council is concerned. That is why l said it is hypothetical, but l am at peace and nobody in the party will lose sleep because they are certain that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is working 24/7 in the best interest of the party.”

The General Overseer of Living Faith Church Worldwide, aka Winners’ Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo has mocked critics urging him to withdraw his statement concerning the President Muhammadu Buhari being dead and cloned as Jubril Sud

Oyedepo had last week while reacting to report that Buhari was dead and the President in Aso Rock was Jubril El Sudan, urged the congregation to pray to God to deliver Nigeria from slavery, shame, and reproach as the report of alleged cloning was disturbing.

But, reacting, the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Digital and New Media, Tolu Ogunlesi described the cleric as a ‘hater of Buhari’.


He had wondered why the cleric would go to a far length to discredit Buhari.

However, speaking from Living Faith church HQ at Canaan land, Ota, on Saturday, Oyedepo vowed not to withdraw his statement because it was not a hate speech.

According to him, his statement was a self esteem speech.


The cleric said,

Quote:“I have never been asked to withdraw a statement in the past but today they are saying it is hate speech.

“That is no hate speech, it is self esteem speech; someone is stepping on toes and you say it is hate speech?

“Why will I withdraw my statement? God sent me and not you. You fear the one God sent and not any other because I have dominion.”

Nigerian hackers plan to scam 50,000 finance execs, world’s biggest banks in 2018

Quote:by Mayowa Tijani


A group of Nigerian Hackers known as “London Blue” have plans to swindle 50,000 finance executives across every sector of the globe in 2018, a recent investigation has revealed.

The hackers, who operate in 17 languages, mainly target chief financial officers via email, tricking them to send company funds.

In a new report by cybersecurity firm Agari, which investigated the group after coming under attack itself, London Blue has collaborators in the US, UK, and Europe.

“Targets included companies in a very broad range of sectors, from small businesses to the largest multinational corporations,” the report read.

According to CNN, the FBI estimates that businesses around the world lost more than $12 billion through this kind of email scam between October 2013 and May 2018.

Agari said it has shared its findings with the US and the UK authorities, following the group’s plan to swindle some of the world’s biggest banks.

“Several of the world’s biggest banks each had dozens of executives listed,” Agari said.

“The group also singled out mortgage companies for special attention, which would enable scams that steal real estate purchases or lease payments.”

Agari added that the information retrieved shows “CFO victims at one of the world’s top private universities, a major enterprise data storage company, a famed guitar maker, casinos and hotels, a retirement home, and small and medium-sized businesses of all types.”

The individuals behind London Blue remain largely unknown.

Quote:There’ll be no cabal in my govt. – Atiku
vanguardngr.com 

By Dirisu Yakubu

Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2019 general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has pledged to form a government of national unity if elected into power.

Trump names ex-Bush official William Barr as new attorney general

The former Vice President stated this yesterday at a meeting in Abuja with leaders of the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, who earlier in the week, endorsed him as their sole Presidential candidate.

A visibly elated Atiku told the opposition leaders to dismiss any fear of a cabal in his government stressing that since same would be broad-based, no room would exist for a cabal to operate in the corridors of power.

He said: “I want to commit myself to the continuation of the doctrine a government of national unity.

“We believe as a political party in a government of national unity and there must be stability before you can do anything, whether to implement your economic programme or implement your healthcare programme. Right from the beginning, I have been a member of the PDP and I know we have always believed in a government of national unity. It takes a long time for a country as diverse as Nigeria to be united and stable even before we start talking about which ethnic group we come from or which religion we practice.

“I want to assure you that as long as we are having a government of national unity, there will not be a cabal”, he said

He called on the coalition to do a public presentation of its decision to work together “so that Nigerians will be further enlightened, so that every nook and cranny of this country can be informed.”

On the clamour for the participation of young people in partisan politics, Atiku said what is paramount is the involvement of all and sundry, adding that democracy as a process does not pitch the old against the young.

“Democracy is not a process where one group replaces the other but it is a process where all groups participate. It is not a process where one group, young or old, rich or poor exclude the other but a process where everybody participate,” he noted.

Amidst a thunderous applause from the crowd, Atiku narrated his journey into politics, stressing that were it not for the effort of democracy advocates like him, President Muhammadu Buhari would not be seeking participation in the polity today.

“In the 1980s when some of us joined politics, the reason was to drive the military out of power and restore democracy. That was what late General Yar ‘ Adua told me. He said, come and join me. I was in my late 30s and in the public service. I abandoned it and followed him. That was the beginning of my political career.

“If we did not drive the military, he won’t be here today talking about political parties and wanting to be President,” he stated.

Nigerians are hungry— Saraki

Also speaking, Senate President, Bukola Saraki said President Buhari since his election in 2015 has demonstrated a lack of capacity to find solution to the question of hunger and poverty in the land.

He called on the coalition to work hard to ensure victory for Atiku whom he described as a man “who understands the issues.”

He said: “The message everywhere we go is that this country must move forward and we have agreed that the existing President must give way because he is not leading us in the right direction.

“We have met with Nigerians all over the country, the old, the not-too-old and the message is that the President cannot lead us the right way.

“We must be part of the process to usher in a new direction. The most important thing is that we want a change, a new direction. We want a man that understand the issues.

“We have been to three zones and there is a common message and that message is one of insecurity and hunger. Everywhere in this country, hunger and poverty are the issues. So the challenge before us is how to bring back prosperity to this country. Unfortunately, our President today cannot do it. He cannot do it because he does not have the ability to do so.

“Government alone cannot bring prosperity to this country because close to 80% of the revenue of government are going into personnel and servicing of debts. The remaining percentage cannot bring about development.

“To bring development to this country today, you need an environment that encourages people to bring in investment. Nigerians are even afraid to bring out their monies and so they need somebody that they have confidence will bring about the right environment for their business.

“At the moment, the verdict is that this government and this President do not give that confidence and without that investment, we are going no where,” he said.

The meeting which held at the Kano Hall of Transcorp Hilton was attended by prominent opposition leaders including Olagunsoye Oyinlola (national chairman, African Democratic Congress, ADC) Peter Ameh (national chairman, Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA), Gershom Benson (national chairman, Democratic Peoples Party, DPP) among others.

#ImoRescueReporters

#ROCHASLegacy
HEALTHCARE

OKOROCHA BUILDS 1000 BED-MOTHER & CHILD HOSPITAL @DOUGLAS ROAD

-Says "I will not handover Imo to armed robbers"
-As Imolites besiege him

The Performing Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state is not relenting in his efforts to leave lasting legacies in the sands of time by building monumental projects even as he counts down to the end of his administration in the next five months.

Apart from building 27 General Hospitals in each of the respective LGAs of the state,Owelle is at the completion stage of a people-oriented project, the One thousand bed "Mother & Child" hospital situated at the former New Market site barely few months after the relocation of the popular spare parts hub to Imo International Market Naze.

While addressing mammoth crowds of Imolites who besieged him during inspection of the project Thursday evening, the Governor said; "This is a free medical facility for our pregnant mothers and poorest of the poor children who can not afford high cost of medical bills.Also, no fewer than Eight hundred youths will be employed at the completion of the hospital including,Paediatrics and gynaecologists, nurses & other medical science related personnel. He assured the crowd that,he will not handover power to those who will destroy the state or rob it".

It is on record that,Owelle has more than one thousand monumental & verifiable projects to his credit the past seven years and counting and has promised to complete all ongoing projects before May 2019.

#ROCHASwillfinishSTRONG

Mazi Anayochukwu Abasiodu Idiong
Special Assistant to the Governor
On Social Media Networking
www.Facebook.com/Imosocialmedia

2019 presidential poll result may take five days to announce –Investigation

The presidential election, which is scheduled to hold on February 16, 2019, may take five days to collate and announce its result, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.

Multiple sources within the Independent National Electoral Commission told our correspondent that they envisaged three to four days because of the large number of candidates, which now stands at 73, as well as the number of registered voters, which is about 84 million.

Checks by Saturday PUNCH showed that only two parties — the Peoples Democratic Party and the Alliance for Democracy — participated in the 1999 presidential election, which held on February 27 but its outcome was announced on March 1, two days after.

In 2003, when 20 political parties contested, the presidential election held on April 19, while the result was announced on April 22, three days after.

In 2007, when 18 parties contested, the presidential poll was conducted on April 21, while the outcome was announced on April 23, two days after.

The presidential election of 2011 saw 20 parties contesting for the highest political office in the country. It held on April 16, while the result was announced on April 18.

Fourteen candidates contested the presidential election in 2015, while the number of persons who voted was less than 30 million out of 68 million registered voters.

The 2015 presidential election, which began on March 28, continued into the afternoon of March 29, while the outcome of the poll was announced in the evening of April 1, 2015.

However, a senior INEC official told our correspondent that it might take five days to collate and announce the results from the over 120,000 polling units across the country.


He said, “In 2015, only 14 candidates contested the election in which about 30 million persons voted. Today, there are 73 to 79 persons running for President, so, obviously, it will take longer than it did in 2015.

“You know the size of this country and one thing Prof. Attahiru Jega did during his time was to make sure that he did not rely on the electronic copy of the results but waited for the Returning Officers from all the 36 states to come to Abuja and authenticate what they sent to the head office.

“This is because we must see the handwritten results and compare them with the electronic one. But I believe it should not take more than four days in all. All the Returning Officers will have to travel from their respective states to announce the results of over 73 parties one after the other in Abuja.”

The source stated that INEC would also be doing the collation manually and electronically in 2019 in order to avert the kind of political crisis that Kenya faced in 2017.

He added, “No one can say for sure if it will be four or five days because, for us, the most important thing is to deliver a credible election. Even in the United States, the governorship election in Georgia State during the last mid-term elections took 10 days before a clear winner could be announced.

“But we are planning to ensure that it doesn’t go beyond that. It could have been shorter but we cannot rely on the electronic results sent in from states.

“If you recall what happened in Kenya last year, they tried to announce results obtained electronically very quickly but they messed up and the main opposition candidate, Raila Odinga, discovered loopholes and took the matter to the Supreme Court and the whole process was annulled. This plunged Kenya into crisis.”

Incidentally, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, had told reporters in April that INEC would do the collation of results electronically and manually in order to ensure that the process was thorough.

He added that this was meant to prevent Nigeria from being plunged into the kind of Kenyan controversy.

According to INEC, in collating the results of presidential elections, Presiding Officers send results of polls to the Ward Collation Officers, who in turn send it to the Local Government Area Collation Officers, who shall collate results and send them to the State Collation Officer.

The State Collation Officer collates results and sends to the Chief Electoral Commissioner who is the Chairman of INEC.

The Chief Electoral Commissioner (Chief Returning Officer) collates results from the State Collation Officers, declares the result and returns the winner as President elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Also speaking with our correspondent, a former INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Lai Olurode, stated that timeliness was very important but noted that a credible election was more important.

Olurode said the fact that the results of the elections in 120,000 polling units would be sorted in 79 places could imply that the process would take longer than that of 2015.

He added, “When you look at the population of the electorate, which is about 84 million, and consider the 79 political parties and the fact that you need to do sorting, it will take some time but whether it will take longer than 2015 will be difficult to say.

“Don’t forget that some of the parties may record zero votes but, again, you need to do sorting in 79 places. Even if it is one vote that a candidate scores, you must sort it for him. You must count the votes in 79 places.

“So, definitely, it will take more time to do sorting and more time to do collation and when you look at the entire country, it is large. About 120,000 polling units and you will move from ward level to local government to state constituency before you end up in Abuja.”

When contacted on the telephone, the INEC Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, said he could not say how many days it would take to collate and announce results.

He stated, “I don’t think the number of candidates will affect the credibility of the election but on how long it will take, I don’t know.”


https://punchng.com/2019-presidential-poll-result-may-take-five-days-to-announce-investigation/

Quote:Operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Adeniji-Adele Annex, have busted a two-man robbery syndicate terrorising Idimu, Ikotun and Igando areas of Lagos State.

The suspects – Sunkanmi Emmanuel, aka Federal, 30 and 28-year-old Ahmed Agunbiade, aka Omojoyibo – were arrested last week in the Igando area while they were reportedly going for a robbery operation.

It was learnt that the suspects specialised in robbing club goers of their belongings, including motorcycles in the communities.

One Dotun Ogunsanya, aka Dotman, was also arrested for buying stolen phones and motorcycles from the syndicate while a commercial motorcycle rider, Nurudeen Agbeyewo, was nabbed for allegedly taking Federal and Omojoyinbo for operations.

City Round gathered that a team of detectives swooped on the gang following complaints to the officer-in-charge of FSARS, Adeniji, DCP Ibrahim Kaoje.

It was gathered that the team, led by one SP Olaniyi Festus, also tracked down two members of a gang, Segun Okiande and Olude Usman, that specialised in burglary in the Igando area.

The police said 15 motorcycles, three cut-to-size guns, cartridges and a plasma television, were recovered from the robbery suspects.

“Emmanuel, aka Federal lives at Totowu, Ogun State while Omojoyibo resides in Igando, Lagos State. A river separates the two communities. “They specialised in robbing people at night at gunpoint. Three guns were recovered from them. They have a standby motorcyclist who takes them to locations where they carry out their operations. The two prime suspects (Federal and Omojoyibo) were traced to a hotel at Totowu. A motorcycle was recovered from them.

“Ogunsanya, aka Dotman is the major receiver. There are other suspects at large who sold stolen items to him. Federal is a member of Eye Cult. They would go to clubs and hotels and rob visitors there while they were leaving. They terrorise Idimu, Igando and Ikotun areas of the state,” a police source said.

In an interview with our correspondent earlier in the week, Federal, a native of Ondo State, admitted to being a robber and a cult member.

The 30-year-old father of five, however, said his targets were Internet fraudsters (popularly known as Yahoo boys), claiming that he did not rob innocent people.

He said, “I came to Lagos in 1998. I was an apprentice mechanic. In 2003, the government demolished my boss’ shop and he went back to his village. I became a commercial motorcyclist. After some time, it was seized by the police. I joined Eye confraternity in 2015. Our leader bought a gun for me. He is dead now.

“I started using the gun to rob. I would go to clubs on Fridays and mingle with Yahoo boys who spent lavishly there. As they were leaving, I would follow them. On getting to a deserted place, I would point the gun at them and collect their money and phones.

“I usually freed Eye cult members among them once they told me they did not have money. I have collected about six phones and sold them to Dotman. I got to him at Totowu area, where I live. I don’t rob innocent people. It is Yahoo boys who have money that I rob. I use the money I get to take care of my family. I have five children from two wives.”

Federal also confessed to have stolen six motorcycles, identifying Omojoyibo as his accomplice.

The motorcycles, our correspondent learnt, were parked by their owners around a mosque bordering Igando and Totowu, while they boarded boats to Totowu.

Federal said they took away the bikes before the owners returned to the spot.

He added, “We have sold five motorcycles to Dotman. We sold each for N30,000. I also stole one at a site.

Omojoyibo and I were going to a club in Igando on a Friday when the police arrested me but he escaped. They found ammunition on me. We were not going to rob that night. I took them to my house where I kept my gun. The police later tracked down Omojoyibo and Dotman.”

Omojoyibo, 28, who hails from Ilorin, Kwara State, said he was a cobbler and commercial motorcyclist, adding that he took to robbery in 2017 after his motorcycle was seized by the police for plying highway.

“While I was looking for other means, I met Federal in Igando. We lived in the same area before he relocated to Totowu. He told me how he robbed Yahoo boys in hotels and clubs and we started working together. I also brought the idea of stealing motorcycles parked at the back of the mosque between Igando and Totowu. I have a wife and two children. The police should have mercy on me,” he added.

Dotman, a 31-year-old father of two from Remo, Ogun State, said he started buying stolen items after his inability to get enough capital to run his phone accessory shop in Totowu.

He said, “I finished my National Diploma in 2008. I have a phone accessory shop. My father is in the United Kingdom. He has been there for 17 years. I begged him to give me the capital to run the business properly, but he did not honour my request. I decided to be buying motorcycles and phones from Federal and Omojoyibo. I buy motorcycles for N30,000 each and sell it for N35,000. I have bought nine motorcycles from them. The police have recovered three of the motorcycles from me. I also bought six phones from them.”

The commercial motorcyclist, Agbeyewo, accused of taking the robbers to locations where they robbed people, denied the allegations, claiming that he only rented out his motorcycle to them on the grounds that it would be used for commercial purposes.

The 19-year-old said, “I did not know anything about this case. I only rented out my machine to Federal and Omojoyinbo. I am the owner of the motorcycle. I did not know they used it for robbery. They told me they wanted to use it for commercial purposes.”

One of the suspected burglars, Okinade, 20, said he only operated within his neighbourhood on Isuti Road, Igando.

He stated, “I finished from secondary school two years ago. It was a friend called Gatuso who introduced me to burglary. We usually tore window nets at night and stole whatever items we could lay our hands on.

“We later met Usman and we went for an operation in a church together. We stole a fan and a generator in the church. There was also a time I burgled my father’s tenant’s room. I stole the man’s Plasma TV.”

Usman, 23, explained that he usually worked with one Kenny whom he knew at a shop where he was learning tailoring.

The secondary school leaver said he and Kenny stole a motorcycle, but the police arrested him (Usman) with it.

“I took the motorcycle to my family house. Unfortunately, somebody saw it and alerted the owner. I was arrested and charged to court. I spent a month in Kirikiri Prison before I was released.

“My father locked me up so that I would not be able to go out at night. A few weeks ago, at night, I told my mummy that I wanted to urinate. She opened the door for me and I escaped. I went to steal a generator. As I wanted to carry it, its owner attacked me with a machete. I sustained injuries. It was Segun (Okinade) who mentioned my name to the police.”

Operatives of the IGP Intelligence Response Team, IRT, have handed over three suspected Advance Fee fraudsters to the Ibadan office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for further investigation.

The suspects who are between 22 and 29 years of age include Ebenezer Adeniyi Oluwafemi, Kolade Samuel Sogo, and Olwagbenga Majeed Ejikunke. They were arrested Tuesday 4th, December, 2018 in Ilesha, Osun State following series of intelligence gathered by the operatives.

Preliminary investigations further revealed that the suspects allegedly got involved in different romance scam posing as female foreigners to fleece unsuspecting victims on the social media.

At the point of arrest, varied fetish materials, two laptops, and five different brands of telephones were recovered from them. Several documents containing false pretences were also recovered from the suspects.

According to the Head, Ibadan Office, Abdulrasheed Bawa, the handing over of the three suspects brought the total number of Advance Fee fraudsters arrested in the Ibadan office to 40 in the last couple of weeks. “The zone is no longer a hiding place for the fraudsters”, he stated.

Investigation is still ongoing and the suspects will soon be charged to court.

SEE MORE: http://starnation.com.ng/three-yahoo-boys-paraded-with-their-charms-and-concotions-in-osun-state-photos/

Quote:The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo Stormed Ilorin Kwara State for Tradermoni.

The people went gaga. The crowd that welcomed him was overwhelming as the VP's security had a hard time controlling them. The VP was seen waving at them.

Watch videos HERE and see reactions.

Source: http://www.thefamousnaija.com/2018/12/tradermoni-osinbajo-storms-ilorin.html?m=1














 

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

SATURDAY, 8TH DECEMBER

WE LIVE BY WORDS.

…for he hath said…So that we may boldly say… (Hebrews 13:5-6).


Christianity is called the “Great Confession”; it’s a life of words. As Christians, we live by words. In Romans 10:9, we see the confession principle as the very basis for salvation. It says, “…if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved....” The vital aspect of salvation is activated and becomes real when you make the confession of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Thus, in Christianity, your words—your confessions—are so important. The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 12:37, “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” In Mark 11:23, He said, “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith”; He placed a premium on words.

Your confessions create realities. You create new realities for today and the future with your words. The Bible says, in the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth, and tells us how He did it: He did it through words. Through the power of the spoken word, He reframed and brought order to the world, which had become a chaotic mass (Genesis 1:1-6). What God did at the beginning was to reveal to us how to bring order, beauty, and glory to our lives, circumstances, and situations through words.


Chart your course in victory and success with your words; make your life perpetually triumphant. Even now, speak words that are consistent with God’s divine provisions, plans, and purpose for you in Christ, and whatever you say will surely come to pass. Affirm that good things are coming your way, and glorious things are happening for you and around you, because you’re the seed of Abraham.

CONFESSION

The Word of God in my mouth prevails as I speak it forth. Good things are happening for me, and around me today. My words are infused with divine energy, creating new and glorious realities, transforming circumstances, and changing situations to conform to God’s provisions, plans, and purpose for me in Christ. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY:

2 Corinthians 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

Hebrews 13:5-6 [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Revelation 1 & Daniel 11-12

2-Year Bible Reading Plan
Revelation 9:11-21 & Amos 8-9

From Gistvic.com

A lady is currently battling for dear life, after allegedly guzzling a bottle of popular insecticide, Sniper, this morning, in Ogudu, Lagos State.

According to reports, the lady took the decision because of her incessant misunderstandings with her husband, coupled with their landlord decision to give them a quit notice.

It was gathered that their fight always stems from the fact that the husband, who is poor, is constantly cheating on her. 

The man was also accused of preventing the wife from interacting with people on their street.She, thus, decided to commit suicide, today, by drinking Sniper. However, she was rescued and was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in a wheelbarrow.

Read more: https://www.gistvic.com/2018/12/lady-drinks-insecticide-after-fight.html

Another jungle justice was meted out on some suspected robbers yesterday at Ariara intl. Market in Aba, Abia state. According to reports, three men were caught while trying to snatch a tricycle popularly known as Keke Napep from the driver.

The angry mob descended on them with series of beating before setting them ablaze.

This latest incident of mob action is coming weeks after two suspected thieves who specialised in snatching the money withdrawn by bank clients, were mobbed and set on fire.

It was gathered that the duo were on their bike, waiting for their next victim in front of a bank at Abayi, Aba, Abia State.

As soon as their target left the bank, the suspects swooped in and snatched the bag of money.

However, they were nabbed while trying to escape and subsequently set ablaze alongside their operational bike.

See more; https://www.nationalhelm.co/2018/12/3-suspected-robbers-mobbed-and-set-on-fire-in-abia-graphic-photo.html

Two men went on their knees yesterday to thank God after they were released from prison in Onitsha.According to report,they were abandoned in Onitsha Prison because nobody could speak for them.

A charity organisation named 
Igbos Love Themselves Charity Foundation masterminded their release. 

Through the family of Alpholsius Uchichi and relations living in USA that sent N426,000,they were released.

See photos below

Source: http://www.trezzyhelm.com/2018/12/see-what-two-men-did-after-they-were.html

PDP National Leaders meet at Government House, Port Harcourt and the PDP Campaign Office in Port Harcourt.

Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Prince Uche Secondus, Governor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor Prof Ben Ayade , Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Governor, Engr Dave Umahi, former governor of Ekiti, Ayo Fayose and other leaders and governors.

fuel tanker crushed a commercial motorcyclist, simply identified as Kayode, to death, at Oma Junction, Alagbaka area of Akure, Ondo State capital on Friday.

The incident happened when the fuel tanker which was heading towards Yeoma Plaza was stopped by the traffic warden on duty. The tanker driver lost control of the vehicle and rammed into the motorcyclist who was approaching the junction, killing him on the spot. 

"The tanker was stopped by the traffic warden but the driver claimed he lost control of the vehicle and rammed to the bike man and crushed him. The tanker first dragged the cyclist forward and eventually crushed him before stopping. We tried to rescue him but it was too late because the vehicle was on him.”


The younger brother of the deceased escaped unhurt from the accident but lamented that Kayode got married a couple of weeks ag, while his wife is pregnant.

Angry Okada riders, however, besieged the scene of the accident and descended on the driver of the vehicle. He was quickly rescued by some security operatives who took him away.

Source: https://www.mediahelm.com.ng/2018/12/motorcyclist-died-in-fatal-accident-few.html

@POLITICSNGR

Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal has responded to comments by Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-rufai that the mammoth crowd witnessed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP during its presidential campaign in the northwest, was 'imported' from neighbouring country, Niger.

PoliticsNGR gathered that in a statement to newsmen on Thursday, signed by Akibu Dalhatu, Special adviser to Tambuwal on Mobilization and enlightenment, the governor described El-rufai as 'Cold-hearted'.

The statement read;

“The outcry by el-Rufai is a testimony to the fact that APC and its leadership were shocked by the gargantuan crowd the rally recorded in Sokoto which serve as the final burial of APC government in the Northwest and Nigeria in general because of perpetual failure, bad leadership, massive corruption, failure to end terrorism and other security challenges bedevilling our nation since the inception of Buhari’s administration in 2015.

For the purpose of setting the record straight, el-Rufai should not forget so soon that his hands were deeply involved in messing up of the present administration as a result of his bad governance and policies as a governor of Kaduna state, through mass sacking of innocent primary school teachers, unnecessary demolition of peoples landed properties, disregards and disrespect for traditional rulers, Northern elders, leaders and other respected institutions, escalation of insecurity, refusal to obey the court orders and rule of (law).

El-Rufai is cold-hearted. It was the same Northwest people that he and his party begged for support in 2015. But because of the failure of APC government, incessant hunger and poverty all over the region that have made them to decamp to PDP, he is now calling them foreigners.

What scared el-Rufai and his co-travellers was the success recorded at the Sokoto PDP campaign rally. The Sokoto gathering, no doubt, instilled fear in the minds of el-Rufai and his cohorts so much that in their wildest imaginations, their party – the APC – will find it impossible to record a replica of such mammoth crowd in any state of the Northwest including El-Rufai own state of Kaduna. We, therefore, challenge el-Rufai and APC to do same if at all they can in any of the state in Northwest.

With Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal at the helm of affairs as Governor of Sokoto state and campaign coordinator of PDP in Northwest, El-Rufai will receive the shock of his life in Kaduna state and entire Northwest during the forthcoming general election.

Tambuwal as a master political strategist who came second during the Presidential primaries of PDP will defeat APC hands down and deliver the entire Northwest to PDP because of massive support, love and loyalty of the people of the Northwest to him.

Governor Tambuwal appreciates the political courage of the entire people of Northwest, their support and loyalty to PDP and sincerely thanks them and appeals to them to come out enmass during the forthcoming general election to lead PDP to victory.”

https://politicsngr.com/atiku-presidency...wal-opens/

Architect Audu Sule Katagum is the Deputy Governor of Bauchi state. In this interview with BODE GBADEBO, he bares his mind on the controversies surrounding the last governorship primaries in the state and the chances of the APC at the 2019 elections.



Recently, There has been a reconciliatory move by the national headquarters of the APC on the contentious primaries that took place in Bauchi. We want to know whether these issues have been resolved and if not, what is the government doing to stop possible implosion in the party?

First and foremost, I don’t really think there was any contention to the primaries as far as Bauchi state is concerned. Of course, for any election that you need, one person will only be the winner and on such cases, the loser will not agree because everybody wants to be a winner. Now, with regards to Bauchi primary election of the APC elective seats, we all know initially that, what the stakeholders of APC here in Bauchi wanted, was indirect primaries but at the end of the day, we had to talk to the leadership of the party at the national level and we conducted election as they directed us to do. In most cases all over the state we had to conduct election very late, in the evening and night in some cases and at the end of it, as far as the government is concerned, the rightful people won the tickets. For example, there were three other contestants for the governorship ticket and at the end of the day, there was no doubt His Excellency won. After the election, of course, there were a lot of issues including decamping. Some people decided to go to court but the government immediately set up a reconciliatory committee that sat down some of these people who lost out in the election and I believe we were able to convince more than half of them to understand the situation that only God gives whom he pleases. Some agreed to that, some wanted refund of their money while some wanted some other incentives from the government and I am happy to let you know that a lot of issues have been resolved. Some came back and agree to

assist the party while some decided to leave the party. We wish them well and we will face them in the general elections.



There are three prominent members of the party who are contesting the outcome of the party’s governorship primaries. Don’t you think that not reconciling with them mayt affect APC’s chances at the polls?

No. If you look at the primaries, the votes that were garnered by his excellency, the governor of Bauchi, was the highest. The three aspirants did not get more than one per cent of what the governor got. So, with regards to them becoming some sort of stumbling blocks to the governor’s chances, I don’t think so. In the first place, they failed to realise that the people of Bauchi state themselves are happy with their current governor and this issue of the primaries were conducted everywhere in Bauchi state fair and free. Like I told you earlier, the stakeholders of APC in Bauchi have chosen to do it by indirect mode as recommended by constitution of the party but a day before the exercise, we got a directive from the party headquarters in Abuja that we should do it using ballot boxes and the instruction given by the headquarters was that, if the committee that was to conduct the election comes, they should not even see the governor, because they don’t want any situation whereby the committee might be compromised by the state government and this was accepted by the governor. In fact, when the committee came and wanted to see him, he said ‘don’t see me, call all the other contenders let us sit down four of us’. And this was what happened. The people who were contesting the governorship also insisted that a certain group of people should conduct the election, that is the National Union of Teachers, which the governor conceded. The election materials were brought to Bauchi. All the contenders had their agents at the election office in Bauchi, they all verified that the election materials were not tampered with and each local government had agents of each aspirants, who escorted the same materials to each local government. So at the local governments, again they had their representatives, everybody saw what was brought in and at the end of the counting, nobody said anything. The governor garnered 75,000 votes while the highest among the rest was about 7,000 or 6,000. So if you look at the figures, I don’t think they will say they can constitute any hurdle to our re-election. We are just praying that they will come back and see reasons. People elected this governor in 2015 because they know what he was going to do and he has delivered on the promises he made to the electorate.



One of the states that Apc is banking on to win the presidential election is Bauchi State. do you think the APC and President Buhari still have that kind of support they onced enjoyed?

Look! Mr President is probably one individual that nobody can say something bad about him. As far as the general populace is concerned, especially in the North, nobody is blaming Buhari on what has happened. If you look at what has been happening all over Nigeria, nobody is saying it is the president who has done this. Honestly, all elections in Bauchi since 1999 have always been since he started

contesting election in 2003, Bauchi state is probably the state after Kano state that gives Buhari the highest votes and nothing has changed. I will show you, go into the towns, villages and talk of Buhari, he is the same, he is in the hearts of the people, nobody can change that, nobody can change that perception people have about him, especially in the North. This is a man of integrity, this is the man that we need to continue our leadership. So we clearly understand that what has happened in the primaries will not affect election of Mr President or thinking pattern or love the people of Bauchi have for him.



There is plan by the governor to give interest-free loans to small-scale business owners but some people believe it is a votes-buying plot. What is your take?

My take is that I don’t think the government want to use this as a political leverage and I don’t think His Excellency the governor of Bauchi state needs to do that. Like I said earlier, even from the primary election, we are going to be honest with ourselves, the governor has already made his mark in Bauchi, he has already proved that he is governor of the masses. Now on this issue of loan, this did not start with this administration, because the last government also gave such loans to business men and small market people in Bauchi and this offer actually came in as early as two years ago. The market people asked the governor for this kind of loan because Bauchi as you know we call it a civil service state and how do you improve economic activities or industry? They were able to present

their case to the governor as far back as two years ago but that time the governor told them ‘look, I don’t have the resources but I assure you we will look at it carefully and then by the time we are sure that it is going to be of economic interest, of course, we want to help all the marketers’. Now, every business man in Bauchi is benefiting from this loan. So, it is something that has been ongoing and this is the time that the government realise we can afford to do this right now and this is why it is coming right now. If you say it is a political move, I think whatever one does now till election will be considered a political move and I think it’s not really a bad idea to support the government to be re-elected to continue doing what we are doing now.



Bauchi state has been relatively peaceful under this administration. What is your magic wand regarding security?

Governor Mohammed Abubakar has a good relationship with the service chiefs in the state. Security is a major priority to this administration, he is always on top of things and there is a beautiful synergy between this government and the Police, Army and the Civil Defence Corps. So this good relationship has translated into a working cooperation. The governor is accessible to the service chiefs in the state to come to him any time there is any issue that requires attention. That is just the template and of course, he has been taking care of them.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/07/bauchi-people-will-vote-massively-for-pmb-katagum/

Quote:Temidayo Akinsuyi, Tony Ezimakor and Anolu Vincent


Lagos / Abuja / Owerri – After exhausting all means to placate some critical stakeholders in the party who are aggrieved owing to the fall-out of its controversial primaries, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has decided to wield the big stick on party members, especially state governors who are working against the interest of the party to achieve victory in 2019 general elections, Daily Independent has gathered.

On the cards to be punished, according to a credible source, are Governors Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun, Rochas Okorocha of Imo and Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo, among others.

The party leadership last month set up a reconciliation committee but majority of the governors refused to cooperate with members of the committee thereby foreclosing any chances of rapprochement.

Speaking with Daily Independent on Thursday, a member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) said Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the national chairman of the party will soon set up a disciplinary committee which will “look into the activities of some of the stakeholders especially some of the governors who are encouraging their supporters to join other parties.

“I think the party has had enough of the governors and actions will be taken against them. Through their actions and utterances, they have shown utmost contempt for President Muhammadu Buhari who has done everything humanly possible to resolve the issue. They have also disregarded other national leaders such as Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and others.

“The party leadership will in the coming days set up a disciplinary committee which will look into the activities of this men and make recommendations to the party. There is a need to sanitise the party, remove the bad eggs and reposition it ahead of the 2019 general elections”, he said.

On what can be done to the dissidents, our source said they may be suspended, expelled or have their tickets withdrawn.

In Ogun, loyalists of Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, have announced their defection from the APC to the Allied People’s Movement (APM). Adekunle Akinlade, Amosun’s preferred candidate, is the governorship candidate of the party.

The governor who is at daggers drawn with Oshiomhole over the outcome of the primaries said he will remain in the APC to contest the senatorial election in 2019 while ensuring the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governor, who said that he would not support the governorship candidate of the APC, Dapo Abiodun, however, said aggrieved party members who defected to the APM have his blessings.


The same scenario also played out in Imo State where Uche Nwosu, the son-in-law to Governor Rochas Okorocha, has dumped the APC for the Action Alliance (AA).

Nwosu, who lost the APC ticket to Senator Hope Uzodinma blamed the loss on the party’s leadership.

Okorocha, who has also given Nwosu his blessings, is working to move his loyalists en masse from the APC to AA, sources in Imo Government House said.

Meanwhile, on Thursday 19 out of the 27 lawmakers of the Imo State House of Assembly joined AA, denouncing their memberships of APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The speaker of the state House of Assembly, Acho Ihim, who read the notice of defection signed by the lawmakers during plenary, equally announced that he had joined his colleagues in AA.

Reading the defection notice, Ihim said that the members elected on the platform of PDP have also joined AA.

According to him, the defection notice was dated November 7.

The former PDP lawmakers are Ken Agbim, Bruno Ukoha and Mike Iheanatu.

Apart from the speaker, the former APC lawmakers who joined AA are Ikechukwu Amuka, Authur Egwim, Uju Onwudiwe, Uche Ejiogu, Ngozi Obiefule, Lugard Osuji, Lloyd Chukwuemeka and Victor Onyewuchi.

Others are Chinedu Offor, Kennedy Ibe, Lawman Duruji, Max Odunze, Henry Ezediaro, and Obinna Egu.

In Ondo, loyalists of Governor Akeredolu such as Tunji Abayomi has also dumped the APC for AA.

Abayomi, who has the governor’s full backing, claimed to have won the senatorial ticket of the APC to contest the senatorial election to represent Ondo North Senatorial District at the National Assembly. He also alleged that the national leadership of the party gave the ticket to the serving senator, Ajayi Boroffice automatically at his expense.

Following these developments, the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) also advised the national leadership of the APC to withdraw the ticket of any party leader backing candidates in other political parties for the 2019 general elections.

BMO, said in a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke that such acts amount to anti-party activities that should not be encouraged.

Speaking to Daily Independent, Prof. Itse Sagay, Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), said having immunity does not stop a governor from being disciplined.

“Of course, governors can be disciplined by the party. There is no immunity in party affairs. They can be suspended or expelled as the case may be depending on the level of their offences. Immunity is against the state bringing criminal charges against a sitting governor. The whole idea is to prevent a situation where a governor will be so distracted by civil or criminal charges. That has nothing to do with the party. The party can discipline a governor”, he said.


APC Aspirants In Court Working For Opposition – Oshiomhole

Meanwhile, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has claimed that some aspirants of the party who are currently in court over the last party primaries were actually working for opposition parties.

Oshiomhole made the claim on Thursday while addressing a consultative meeting of the APC NWC, governorship candidates, and state chairmen at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.

He observed that some aggrieved aspirants were seeking justice and asking the courts to declare them winners and candidates of APC in the forthcoming elections, and pointed out that those asking the court to declare that APC did not hold any primaries were working for the opposition.

He said: “I am aware that we have some instances with some people who have chosen to go to court and they are in two parts: those who are asking the court to declare them as winner.

“It is not easy to comment on such cases but where people are going to court that there was no primaries, such persons are not looking for solutions.

“Such persons are more or less agents of opposition because, based on their prayers, our party would have no candidates in such states.

“The implication is that the opposition is unopposed. So, we have to distinguish between those who are in court in pursuance of justice and in fairness and those working for the opposition.”

He also urged the candidates to play active role in the ongoing reconciliation by reaching out to aggrieved members and running inclusive campaigns that exclude no one.

The APC national chairman said the actions and inactions of the candidates would go a long way in either healing the wounds and reconciling the aggrieved members back to the mainstream or deepen the divisions.

He also cautioned the state chairmen to make the structures of the party available to all candidates.

“Your actions will help the process of reconciliations. It could also deepen division.

“For example, in constituting your campaign organisations, if you want to find out that those who want to be governor like you or who has what it takes to be a governor, or somehow the primaries did not favour, I think it is left for you to identify such persons and make conscious efforts in making them part of your campaign organisations.

“If possible, ask them to lead the campaign because when you find out, I think it will be helpful,” Oshiomhole said.

In his response, Governor Mohammed Isah Bello of Niger State said the party in the state had taken the bold step in refunding the cost of nomination forms to aggrieved aspirants in the state to quicken the healing and reconciliation process, and urged other governors to do the same.

He warned that the party was losing time in calling for urgent action in mobilising support in the state.

Bello said: “It is good that we are one united APC and together on one platform.

“I think we should start working together. We are already losing time even though it is not too late.

“We are going to come out in full force even though we cannot take things for granted.

“What is left now is for us to return to our states and start putting up formidable campaign structures to take off.

“Many have been asking when we are going to kick-start the campaign, which is an indication that people still love the party. They cannot wait to see us start.”

On his part, Governor Solomon Lalong of Plateau State urged all Abuja-based politicians in the party to return to their villages and campaign for party.

He said all politics is local. He said a situation where governors toiled to elect leaders only to be shoved aside by Abuja-based politicians would not augur well for the party.

Meanwhile, the APC consultative meeting, which had state chairmen and secretaries in attendance, passed a vote of confidence in the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Oshiomhole.

It also urged the candidates to run issue-based and inclusive campaigns, while frowning at attempts by some leaders of the party to polarize the APC in their domain.

A statement by Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC National Publicity Secretary, said the meeting, among other things, resolved that party leaders must campaign for all candidates of the party (presidential, governorship, and legislative positions).

“A situation where leaders engage in selective support by picking and choosing candidates to campaign for and support was declared anti-party,” the statement said.

https://www.independent.ng/apc-moves-to-punish-yari-amosun-okorocha-akeredolu/

@POLITICSNGR

The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria has reiterated that Catholic Priests under the canon law of the Church are barred from active involvement in Partisan Politics.

This reaction is coming shortly after an altercation between controversial catholic Priest, Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka, Spiritual director of Adoration Ministries, Enugu and Ex-governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi.

CSN’s Secretary General, Rev. Fr. Ralph Madu, who spoke to journalists at a press conference, in Abuja on Thursday said that the Catholic church was disappointed with the altercation and had asked appropriate authorities to take necessary action.

“While we are sure that Enugu Catholic Diocese, where Fr. Mbaka is incardinated, has or is taking appropriate measures on the reported incident, we wish to categorically reiterate that no Catholic priest is permitted to be involved in partisan politics.

All liturgical ceremonies must never be used as an occasion for campaigns ahead of 2019 political activities. Catholic church remains apolitical and would never support or subscribe to any political party.

Our concern is for peaceful election process, seen to be free, fair, credible and just, and a democratic governance that would herald peace, justice, equity, development and religious freedom for the common good.”

Mbaka has faced criticisms online over his 'embarrassment' of Obi during the church's recent Bazaar.

https://politicsngr.com/breaking-catholic-church-bars-mbaka-others/

UACN Shares Rise as Elemide is Appointed Acting Group Chief Executive
Friday, December 07, 2018  BUSINESS

                         
UAC of Nigeria Plc was among the price gainers at the stock market Thursday as the company announced a board change that brought in a new group chief executive officer(GCEO).


Although the market closed bearish halting a two-day positive performance, shares of UACN appreciated by 5.2 per cent or 50 kobo to close at N10 per share.

The stock closed as the eight highest price gainer as market reacted positively to the news of a change on the board. In a notification to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), UACN announced the GCEO, Mr. Abdul Bello would be proceeding on retirement from January 1, 2019.

According to the board of the company, the Executive Director, Corporate Services of the company, Mrs. Omolara Elemide, has been appointed as acting GCEO with effect from January 1, 2019.

Chairman of the UACN, Mr. Dan Agbor thanked Bello for his dedicated service to the company and wished him the very best in his future endeavours.

Elemide, who joined UACN board on 1st January 2018, is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). She joined UAC in October 1983 and has worked in various capacities within the UAC Group including Group Audit Manager, Finance Director of UACN Property Development Company Plc from where she joined the Board of CAP Plc as Finance Director/Company Secretary in February 2005. She was appointed the Managing Director of CAP Plc in May 2009, a position she held until December 2017.

Meanwhile, the stock market turned bearish following sell offs across bellwethers. Consequently, the NSE All-Share Index went down by 1.07 per cent to close loser at 30,819.10, while market capitalisation shed N121.4 billion to close at N11.25 trillion.

The depreciation recorded in the share prices of Access Bank, Unilever, Zenith Bank, Stanbic IBTC Holdings and Dangote Cement were mainly responsible for the loss recorded yesterday.

However, a total of 22 stocks depreciated while 17 appreciated. Niger Insurance Plc led the price losers with 9.0 per cent, trailed by A.G Leventis Nigeria Plc and LASACO Assurance Plc with 6.9 per cent apiece.

UACN Property Development Company Plc, Regency Alliance Insurance Plc and Okomu Oil Palm Plc went down by 5.7 per cent, 4.7 per cent and 4.6 per cent respectively.

On the positive side, Champion Breweries Plc led price gainers with 9.6 per cent, trailed by Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc with 9.5 per cent. Diamond Bank Plc continued its rally, chalking up another 9.4 per cent to close at N0.93 per share.

Activity level also strengthened as volume and value traded rose by 41.4 per cent and 7.8 per cent respectively to close at 280.9 million units and N2.5 billion respectively. The top traded stocks by volume in today’s session were FBNH (92.5 million units), Diamond Bank (68.2 million units) and Ikeja Hotel (34.4 million units) while the top traded stocks by value were FBNH (N707.3 million) and Guaranty (N507.8 million).

Security Experts Lament Danger of Nigeria’s Porous Airports
Friday, December 07, 2018  NEW

                         
Aviation security experts have warned that urgent action must be taken to protect Nigerian airports from being infiltrated by terrorists.

They insisted that currently, all such facilities in the country are porous and accessible to those who may want to inflict maximum damage to travellers and other airport users.


Former Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport gave the warning and urged government to urgently provide funds to build perimeter and security fences at the airports, regretting that no airport in the country has comprehensive perimeter fences, which exposes them to incursions by unauthorised persons.

He said that it was at the mercy of God that none of the nation’s airports have been attacked by terrorists or other dangerous persons because the security apparatus at the airports cannot prevent access by unscrupulous elements.

“The major problem we have in our airports in terms of security is perimeter fencing. There is no airport in this country that has comprehensive perimeter fence. MMIA, Lagos is fenced but that fence is open at Ejigbo, Shasha and Ajao Estate areas.

“Anybody can have access to the airport through these places. The security operatives on duty at this airport are at the mercy of God because they cannot monitor every part of the airport.

“We need standard fence. The airside of the airport is not adequately covered with Close Circuit Television (CCTV). The security personnel that monitor activities at the airport have only three patrolling vehicles for four terminals, which include the international, the domestic terminal, the General Aviation Terminal and the cargo terminal.

“These vehicles can only operate if the airport manager has money to fuel them; if not, they would not be used.”
The former CSO said inadequate funding and planning had impeded airport security in Nigeria and disclosed that in some airports cows are chased away from the runway10 minutes before the landing of aircraft and 10 minutes before aircraft take off.

“I don’t think that government does not have money to do this but is it priority. How much does it cost one to install a CCTV?

“Without uninterrupted electric supply to the airport the security equipment cannot work; so there should be dedicated power supply. There should be no power outage at the airport because unscrupulous people can do maximum damage within few minutes of darkness,” the former CSO said.

Also the former Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Richard Aisuebeogun, has stressed that terrorists prefer causing havoc at the airports because that is where they can easily be noticed, secure maximum publicity and frighten the world, so every action must be taken to ensure that the airports are secured.

Aisuebeogun, pointed out that airports and aircraft continue to offer series of highly attractive targets to terrorists and insurgents for certain reasons. Some of these he listed to include high value of aircraft, “the concentration of people (often representing different nationalities), the automatic media coverage (breaking news/headlines) generated by aviation related terrorism due to the drama, publicity and psychological effect associated with it and the uniqueness of airlines and airports as veritable instruments of national identity, which makes it targets for terrorist attacks.”

However, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, said the agency has reinvigorated the security apparatus at the airports with the support of the federal government.

“We have reinforced our security at the international airports both on passengers and on luggage. We have CCTV at the airside that is working 24 hours and we also have at the terminals.

“They are all working 24 hours. We also have joint military patrol team, the joint military task force that accompanies aircraft while taxiing to take off and on arrival. We ensure that we monitor every movement at the airport and we have patrol the fences of these major airport.”

THISDAY learnt that there had been efforts made to provide perimeter fencing and other security equipment at various airports in the country but most of these efforts had remained inconclusive.

AMPs will help AMCON recover N740billion, says Kuru
Friday, December 07, 2018  BUSINESS

                           
The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), has reiterated its full support for its Asset Management Partners (AMPs), in the pursuit to recover the 20 per cent or N740billion of the total N3.7trillion Eligible Bank Assets (EBAs) portfolio that are in the hands of obligors.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ahmed Lawan Kuru, made the declaration in Lagos, at the 2018 edition of the AMCON/AMPs Feedback session, which ended on Wednesday. AMPs are firms AMCON engaged in 2016 to complement its recovery efforts as part of its renewed strategy to resolve some 6,000 accounts within its portfolio of accounts.

Kuru, who was represented by the Group Head, Enforcements, AMCON, Aliyu Kalgo, while declaring the two-day event open, said the Corporation placed equal importance on the ability of the partners to recover the outsourced accounts because their efforts count towards the achievement of AMCON’s core mandate.He also urged the APMs to discharge their assignments within the defined rules of engagement as stipulated by the AMCON Act, and as seasoned professionals.
Kuru said: “It is a well-known fact that AMCON has a unique and limited mandate; therefore, AMCON must maximise every opportunity to state its cases with the highest quality of representation.

“This was why we came up with the AMP programme that has been of tremendous development in our efforts to recover debts owed the country by a few individuals, who have over the years remained recalcitrant. We are very grateful for all the AMPs who work with us towards achieving our recovery mandate. We are mindful of the enormous responsibility placed on you in this regard.” he assured. 

On AMCON’s plans to ensure that AMPs’ experience a hitch-free recovery processes, Kuru, noted that these debts when recovered would go a long way in boosting Nigeria’s economy.He added, “We will continue to emphasise the need for more diligence even as we continue to partner with you. In the future, we will enlist AMPs who have made significant recoveries as part of the facilitators for similar events so that they will share some insights and critical success factors with us as well as their colleagues. If the recovery process was easy and straight forward we would not have engaged you in the first instance. We therefore recognise the fact that it is a challenging assignment, and that is why we selected you.

We promise to be with you all through the hardship and together we shall succeed.”Also speaking, a lawyer, Chuka Agbu, urged the AMPs to explore and apply their special powers as provided by the AMCON Act in their pursuit of these recalcitrant debtors of the corporation.

The senior advocate further advised the AMPs to leverage the major provisions of the AMCON Act such as bankruptcy, receivership, asset tracing amongst others in their quest to track down the obligors, and eventually compel them to repay their obligations.

Criminals attacked the Mandate Market in Ilorin, Kwara State, today and frightened off unimportant dealers and TraderMoni specialists, upsetting the dispensing of cash to recipients of the plan.

As right on time as 9am, the gangsters, some of them wearing 'PDP Atikulated T-shirts', raged the Mandate Market, demanding that the TraderMoni plan couldn't be directed, in light of the fact that the Senate President Bukola Saraki's dad gave the land to the state government to construct the market.

It was uncertain whether they were sent by anybody or whether they were minor gathering radicals, chipping away at their own.

As per witnesses, including Bank of Industry (BOI) authorities who were at the market to oversee the specification and dispensing of the N10,000 guarantee free advances, the entry of the crowd at Mandate Market caused some mayhem.

The hooligans likewise threatened the insignificant brokers who had arranged to take an interest in the program.

A significant number of the brokers were tangibly irritated and declined to leave the market. Quiet was reestablished with the mediation of the police.

https://hi247.com.ng/hoodlums-disrupt-tradermoni-scheme-in-ilorin/06/12/2018/

Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ene Okon, has raised the alarm that some unscrupulous elements were planning to invade and attack some second generation banks in the state ahead of the Yuletide season. 

CP Ene, who disclosed this to newsmen, on Thursday, said intelligence report had it that the bad boys were moving from the eastern part of Nigeria to attack a bank in the state but assured that the command had gone ahead to fortify all banks in the state security wise to nip the planned attack in the bud.

He also maintained that the command had put in place a robust security measure to ensure a smooth and rancour free Christmas celebration.

“We got information that some bad boys are moving from the east to attack a second generation bank in the state and as such the command has fortified all banks in Benue State security-wise.

“Immediately we got the information about the plan by those bad boys to attack the bank, we swung into action by visiting all the banks in the state with the information and also held meetings with them and directed that they should to mount Closed Circuit Television (CCT) in and around their banks premises.

“Towards this end, we have put in place a joint patrol team that would cut across every nooks and crannies of the state, made up of the police as the leading agency, the DSS, Air force, Army, Navy and the Civil Defence.

“And on September 2, I called all the Divisional Police Officers and all the Area Commanders together to prepare Christmas and New Year operational order tagged ‘Ember Months Operation Order’ covering the entire place.”

The Police Commissioner explained further that the team would start to go round the state as from December 20, 2019 to the end of January, 2019 to ensure peace and order in the whole state.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/07/bad-boys-planning-to-attack-banks-police/

2 Powerful Aides Are Holding Nigeria and My Husband In Hostage - Aisha Buhari
Wife of the President, Dr. Aisha Buhari Monday lamented that two powerful personalities have constituted themselves as clogs in the wheels of speedy development of the administration.

Mrs. who spoke at a conference organized by Project 4+4 in Abuja, however did not mention the names of the powerful persons. The event was also attended by the wife of the Vice President Dolapo Osinbajo.

The First Lady explained that the government has achieved a lot but could have achieved more or even achieved all it has in one year but for two people in government who will never allow things to move fast.

The President wife said that she was disappointed in men who rather than fight these two men will go to them in the night begging for favour. Mrs. Buhari urged Nigerian women to rise up and fight.

According to her, ” I have realized that Sen Babafemi Ojodu, Special Adviser political to the President, and Dr. Hajo Sani, my aide Sajo and wife of the Vice-President Mrs Osinbajo are not comfortable with my saying this and want me to confine myself to my prepared speech but we must say the truth, she said with emotions.

The President’s wife insisted that the powerful duo are retrogressive elements preventing the government from moving forward.

Flamboyant Senator, Dino Melaye Flaunts His Vintage Rolls Royce (Photos)

The self-acclaimed anti-corruption crusader, Senator Dino Melaye owns over N500M of luxurious cars which includes Lamborghini, 
Porsches and Rolls Royce both latest and vintage models, you can see him here posing with one of his over 15 luxurious cars

“Being Single And Celibate Has Helped Me See A Lot Of Things” – #BBNaija's Ifu Ennada Says

Big Brother Naija 2018 housemate, Ifu Ennada has revealed that she’s beginning to discover the limitless opportunities of being single and not committed in Holy Matrimony.

According to her, she’s grateful to God for showing her that marriage is not an achievement and that she doesn’t need a man in her life for her to be ‘super successful’.

Taking to her Instastories few hours ago, Ifu revealed how being single and celibate opened her eyes to a whole lot of things and she has Jesus to praise for that.

She shared,

Man Confused After His Friend Mercilessly Beats Up His Girlfriend Over Food In His Apartment

A Nigerian man has been left in a state of dilemma and is soliciting advice from the public after his girlfriend and his good friend clashed over food in his apartment.

According to his narrative, his girlfriend has now involved her father who is a Divisional Police Officer in the matter and wants his friend to be arrested over the incident.

He shared his story as thus,

Quote

My girlfriend visited few days ago and she planned on staying for the rest of the week. Unfortunately last night a very good friend(male) of mine visited and spent the night with us. This morning I woke up very early and left for work. I dropped money for food so she and my guy who said he will be leaving later in the day can eat.

And few mins ago my girlfriend called me crying, telling me that my friend is beating her up. I have to suspend whatever I’m doing and rushed home. On getting home the whole place was scattered both kitchen, Sitting room and bedroom. When I asked what the problem was my girlfriend told me in an emotional voice that she just finished cooking and went to the bathroom only to come out to see that my guy has already dished out food and was eating.

When she tried to question him on why he couldn’t wait for her to come out and give him food . He rebuked her and they started exchanging words which later led to a fight or should I say beating.

They both agreed that was exactly what happened and my girlfriends face and body is full of bruises now

To make matters worse my girlfriend has already contacted her father who is a DPO and he called and directed that I should get the guy arrested before he gets here tomorrow morning.

If you where in my shoes, what will you do?

"I Saved Almost N4m In My Two Piggy Banks" - Actress Tonto Dikeh Reveals


Tonto Dikeh has taken to IG to reveal she saved up to almost N4m last year in two piggy banks, and says she is excited about this year's saving course she saved even more... 

Her words;

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

FRIDAY, 7TH DECEMBER.

PREDESTINED FOR GLORY.

According as he hath chosen us in HIM before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love (Ephesians 1:4).


As Christians, we were chosen in Christ, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blame before Him in love. We were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. From the beginning of time, God set the seal of approval, that when Christ shall come and die, and provide salvation for the world, everyone who would come into Him would be glorified.

Moreover, not only are we chosen in Christ, we’re also without blame: “…that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Ephesians 1:4). How could we be without blame, with all our mistakes, errors, and faults? Jesus took our blame.


The Bible says, “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight” (Colossians 1:21-22). He did all that for us on the Cross, so we could become inheritors of His righteousness; justified, holy, sanctified, and without blame. You don’t have to struggle to be holy or blameless; you don’t have to try to impress Him to accept you; He already accepted you.

Ephesians 1:5-6 says, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” God set all of these in motion before the foundation of the world. He planned that you’d live the glory life, void of sickness, failure, and the decadence of today’s world. He planned that you’d be the proof of His goodness, the expression of His righteousness, and the effulgence of His glory. Hallelujah!

PRAYER

Blessed Father, I thank you for having chosen me in Christ, before the foundation of the world. I’m holy and without blame, because Jesus took away my blame and shame, and gave me His glory and righteousness. I’m free to live in righteousness, and reign in this world as a victor and a champion, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.


FURTHER STUDY:

Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Ephesians 2:10 AMPC For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), [a]recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Jude & Daniel 9-10

2-Year Bible Reading Plan
Revelation 9:1-10 & Amos 7

God Will Punish Obasanjo Thoroughly For Supporting Atiku's Presidential Ambition - Adams Oshiomole

National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomole, has said that God will indeed punish former president Olusegun Obasanjo, for supporting Atiku Abubakar‘s presidential ambition.

Obasanjo who declared his support for Atiku after he forgave him in October this year, had in the time past, said that God will never forgive him if he supports Atiku for any political office.

Speaking at a meeting with APC women leaders in Abuja yesterday December 5th, Oshiomole said God will indeed punish Obasanjo for the turnaround in his vow never to support Atiku.

“The two candidates are from the north and they are both Muslims. People are now going to look at the character. Nobody has ever said Buhari is a thief. But who said the other person is a thief? It was his boss. When you are working with me and I said you are a thief, God will punish me if I support you. And when you are confused because your supply line has been chopped off, you now turned around to support the same person.

“That God that you called with your name to punish you if you support the person is about to go to work. And he will go to work in February and he will punish him thoroughly and the person he is supporting, in favor of Nigeria,”he said.

http://www.gistmania.com/talk/topic,372660.0.html

God Destroyed 'Shiloh', Why Are You Resurrecting It Every Year? – Daddy Freeze Tells Bishop Oyedepo

God destroyed Shiloh, controversial OAP, Daddy Freeze has reminded the General Overseer of the Living Faith Church Bishop David Oyedepo on the choice of name for his yearly church program.

At this time every year, the Living Faith Church also known as Winners Chapel, organizes a world wide programme tagged “Shiloh.”

Daddy Freeze has queried why the pastor has maintained the name of a city God annihilated in the Bible.

Freeze is known for his consistent attack and ridicule of religious leaders in the country.

The radio personality said God canceled out “Shiloh” and wondered why the cleric will resurrect it.

Quote

“If God destroyed Shiloh, why are we resurrecting it every year?”

Daddy Freeze quoted Jeremiah 7:12-15 where it was recorded that God destroyed Shiloh because of the people’s wickedness.

http://www.gistmania.com/talk/topic,372662.0.html

Davido Reveals Online That NYSC Has Cancelled His One Year Service

it seems NYSC had cancelled Davido's registration for the compulsory one year service he was supposed to undergo after registering at the Lagos orientation camp of the scheme, this may not be unconnected to his refusal to stay and observe the mandatory 3 weeks orientation in the camp, he made this known when he was commenting on the post of a fellow corp member who posted a commendation letter he got after the 3 weeks spent at the camp.

Morayo Clarifies Her Statement That She Can’t Let Her Husband Bathe Their Daughter

TVC presenter, Morayo Afolabi-Brown has responded to clarify things after her stance on preventing child abuse went viral and earned her criticisms.

Morayo, while speaking on her breakfast show, Your View, said she doesn’t allow her husband to bathe their daughter due to the increasing rate at which fathers now sexually abuse their children. She, however, added that she trusts her husband completely but she wasn’t taking chances.

Her statement went viral and led to a debate. Some criticized her saying she has indirectly disrespected her husband and called him a paedophile, others reminded her that her daughter was her husband’s child too so he should be allowed to care for her. Some told her that if she wouldn’t let her husband bathe their daughter, then she shouldn’t be allowed to bathe their son.

But there were those who defended Morayo by pointing out that there are fathers who rape their daughters and those fathers are usually trusted by their wives which is why they were willing to leave the father alone with the daughter. They added that abusers usually seem innocent and no woman ever wants to believe that her husband is the type of man who would abuse their daughters, yet it happens all the time.

Morayo has now responded to set things straight, she started by saying:

My husband is not a pedophile, he’s a highly responsible, decent man. He can never do anything to hurt any of his children.

She proceeded to add that her statement isn’t about her husband specifically but about those women whose husbands abuse their daughters yet they bury their heads in the sand because they do not want to be associated with the stigma.

She added that children need to be taught boundaries and how to demand that their bodies and personal spaces be respected.

She explained:

Psychology has told us to teach children to respect their personal spaces and ensure that family members don’t come too close. We need to define what is too close as a child.

So, I’m glad the conversation has started, I’m glad we’re talking about it. Let us understand that these are real-life issues that are happening.

Morayo shared the video with a caption that further served to give clarity to her point.

“Your Bastard Pregnancy #AshewoOshi”- Kemi Olunloyo Launches Another Dose Of Attack On Iyabo Ojo

Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo is on set for a new movie. The beautiful actress took to her Instagram page to post a picture of herself rocking a pregnancy costume from a pregnant woman scene and told her fans to caption the photo. Popular controversial blogger, Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo slams the actress in her caption.
Olunloyo captioned the photo,


Few days ago, Iyabo Ojo ranted on Instagram about how her fellow actors are involved in so much gossiping, backbiting and backstabbing. She also criticized them for not being supportive. In the lengthy Instagram post, she asserted that the local film industry is filled with fake people. Her note appears to have irked Kemi Olunloyo who has re-emphasized that Iyabo Ojo who is one of the richest actresses in the industry slept with a pastor. After the post, self-acclaimed investigative journalist and blogger, Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo fired back and launched a fresh dose on actress, Iyabo Ojo. Madam KOO as she is fondly called claims the entire Nollywood corroborated the intelligence she got on Iyabo Ojo. It would be recalled that Madam KOO spent about a year in Port Harcourt prison after releasing an expose which alleged that Iyabo Ojo was warming the bed of Salvation Ministries founder, Pastor David Ibiyeomie.

http://www.gistmania.com/talk/topic,372640.0.html

A Nigerian identified as Onyeka took to Facebook to share photos of a Nigerian stabbed to death by Ghanaian conductor. It is unclear what led to the incident.He wrote...

'Make  una dey see what is happening in Ghana now after they will say Nigerian are bad a Ghana conductor stab the Nigeria boy  to death in Accra Ghana  Hmmmmmmmmm I just don't have anything to say RIP bro'


Source:http://www.trezzyhelm.com/2018/12/conductor-stabs-nigerian-man-dead-in.html

Barely five months after being docked for serial stealing, Nollywood actress, Yetunde Akilapa, has been Arrested again 

Yetunde was nabbed, today, at Ajao estate, off Oluwalogbon, Ketu, Lagos State, while trying to gain access into a house, with her set of master keys.

She was subsequently dragged to a police station in the area, to prevent jungle justice.

Back in July, 2018, the 32-year-old actress was dragged before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court and charged with burglary and stealing valuables worth N7 million. .

Police Prosecutor Benson Emuerhi had told the court that the accused committed the offences on June 27 at Mutairu Street, Shangisha, Ketu, at 2.10 p.m. .

According to him, the accused was apprehended while trying to enter the apartment of the complainant, Adeboye Lamidi.

The prosecutor also alleged that the accused, on Nov. 16, 2015 at 3.00 p.m. broke into the residence of one Oyinlola Tuga by unlocking the door with a master key. .

Tuga, who lives at Ayodele Okeowo St., Gbagada Soluyi in Lagos, reported that the accused stole jewellery, bags and other valuables worth N7 million.

Yetunde Akilapa arrested for robbery by the police in Alade, Somolu, Lagos in February 2013. She was sent to the Kirikiri Prison and after a few months, she regained her freedom in November 2013. .

In Jan. 12, 2014, she was again caught trying to steal with a bunch of master keys hidden in her brassiere at a house in Magodo Phase 2.


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

Watch video 

source : 

https://www.made4naija.com/2018/12/actress-yetunde-akilapa-arrested-again-in-lagos-video/

TVC presenter, Morayo Aka-Bashorun, has stated that her husband is not a pedophile. She said this to clarify her comment which she made Yesterday about not letting her husband bath their daughter despite trusting him.

On her TV show Yesterday, Morayo Akabashorun said:

Quote:”As much as we are trying to identify the evils out there, let us not endanger our families by living in constant suspicion of our husband and the possible threats they pose to their daughters. If you trust him, don’t see him, as a potential threat.

I actually trust my husband but I’m just being careful because people that have experienced this kind of situation, also trusted their husbands and yet, it happened.

I absolutely trust my husband but I won’t take chances and have him bathe my daughter, because whether we like it or not, there is something flying in the air these days that is encouraging imbalance and immoralities. ”

Quote:”My husband is not a pedophile, he’s a highly responsible, decent man. He can never do anything to hurt any of his children.

Psychology has told us to teach children to respect their personal spaces and ensure that family members don’t come too close.

We need to define what is too close as a child.

So, I’m glad the conversation has started, I’m glad we’re talking about it. Let us understand that these are real life issues that are happening.”

Quote:I will normally not do this but I feel I should respond. It’s painful that people think I would in anyway suggest that my husband is a “potential abuser”. Sad. The truth is that the show allows us to state varied views which should be respected and understood. So understand this, there are women who have used their life to vouch that their husbands would never abuse their daughters yet we see it happen. Let’s make it easy for those women to speak up. Let’s make it easy for girls to speak up about their abusers, even if it’s their father!

According to Facebook user Tonia Michael Ndukauba, an NYSC member deployed to Katsina state, some corpers were involved in a motor accident while travelling.

She wrote; 

Quote:May God heal these Corp members in Jesus name Amen.. I was rushing to leave yesterday on time with this bus but God now sent a friend of mine, he delayed me for like 30mins, I was all angry at him.. just for me to hear that the bus got hit by a truck.. no life lost but injuries. God is faithful..

A Nigerian man who used fake social media profiles to convince young women to send compromising images of themselves before blackmailing and raping one of them, has been jailed in the U.K.

Rhys Miller Offiong, 24 was jailed for 15 years with a four-year extended licence at Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday, 6 December. On his release, he will be made to sign the Sex Offenders Register for an indefinite period and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Offiong had pleaded guilty to one count of rape, one count of blackmail, four counts of distributing indecent images of a child, three counts of disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress, and one count of committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence.

An investigation was launched after he raped a 19-year-old woman at an address in Catford on 24 August 2017. He had met the woman online using a fake profile. .

He had initially persuaded her to send intimate images to him and then set up a meeting with her. When the victim attended and realised Offiong was not the person she thought she had been engaging with online, he threatened to send the images to her friends and family if she refused to go with him. .

Under duress, the woman went with him to an address in Catford where she was raped. Further investigations established two other young women who had been snared online by the convict and tricked into sending compromising images and videos of themselves to him.

Detective Constable Paul Harakis of the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command said: "Miller-Offiong is a predatory sex offender who has drawn unsuspecting girls into his sexual trap via social media.”

See more:
https://zenithnaija.com/nigerian-man-bags-15-years-in-jail-for-rape-and-blackmail/

@POLITICSNGR

PoliticsNGR has just gathered that the Speaker of the Imo state House of Assembly, Acho Ihim alongside 17 lawmakers have dumped the rulingAll Progressives Congress, APC for the Action Alliance Party.

Uche Nwosu, son-in-law to Rochas Okorocha, Governor of Imo State, who had been tipped by Okorocha to secure the APC governorship ticket, had also dumped the APC after issues that led to his losing the ticket.

On Tuesday, he had also announced his intention to run for Governor of Imo State on the platform of the Action Alliance, stating that “injustice, impunity, and lack of respect for party’s constitution” forced him out of APC.

https://politicsngr.com/breaking-imo-house-assembly-speaker-17-lawmakers-dump-apc/

POLITICSNGR

Below is a Press statement from the All Progressives Congress, APC made available to PoliticsNGR, signed by its National publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu;

*Urge Candidates To Run Inclusive, Issue-Based Campaigns

Led by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), H.E. Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, the National Working Committee (NWC) on Thursday held a consultative meeting with the Party’s 2019 election governorship candidates, state chairmen and state secretaries at the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, Nigeria.

*Fallouts of the consultative meeting:*

*Observed a minute silence in honour of the late Chairman of the Cross River State chapter of the Party, Dr. Mathew Achigbe who died recently in a ghastly auto crash.

*Frowned at attempts by some Party leaders to polarise the Party in some states following post-primary disputes.

*Resolved that Party leaders must campaign for ALL candidates of the Party (Presidential, governorship and legislative positions). A situation where leaders engage in selective support by picking and choosing candidates to campaign for and support was declared anti-party.

*The Enugu state chairman, Ben Nwoye distanced the state chapter from the condemnable actions and utterances of a Senatorial aspirant in the state, Mr. Osita Okechukwu.

*Called on governorship candidates to run an issue-based campaign based on the unprecedented achievements of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration which is evident in all the states of the federation.

*Urged the Party’s governorship candidates to run an inclusive campaign by bringing onboard former aspirants. The Party’s governorship and other stakeholders were also encouraged to domesticate ongoing peace and reconciliation efforts undertaken by the National Working Committee (NWC).

*The consultative meeting passed a vote of confidence on the National Working Committee (NWC) led by the National Chairman, H.E. Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole. The NWC was urged to continue its effort to protect the best interest of the Party and pursue efforts to achieve peace and reconciliation in the Party.

https://politicsngr.com/breaking-apc-passes-vote-confidence-oshiomhole-nwc/

Quote:

Paul Osuyi, Asaba

A self-confessed commercial sex worker in Umunede, Ika North Local Government Area of Delta State has alleged that her clients stole her four-year-old son after a sex romp with him.

The woman (name withheld) revealed how she was approached by the man for an all-night sex, adding that after agreeing on the fee, the client moved her and her son to the guest house where he lodged.

She said when they arrived at the client’s room at about 10pm on the fateful night, they quickly went into action, allowing her child to occupy a little space on the bed where he slept peacefully.

She said after some rounds of sex, she got worn out and fell into a deep sleep. But by the time she woke up at about 5am, the man had disappeared with her son.

While fighting back tears, she described her son as fair in complexion with tribal marks on his face; she appealed to members of the public with information regarding the child’s whereabouts to report to the nearest police station.

Meanwhile, our correspondent learnt that a suspect at Umunede has been arrested in connection with the alleged child theft.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Delta State police command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, who confirmed the arrest in Asaba on Thursday, did not reveal the identity of the suspect.

He said the suspect is a staff of the guest house where the child was allegedly stolen.

POLITICSNGR

Former Speaker of the House of Reps, Ghali N'abba has dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC for the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, PoliticsNGR has learned.

Below is a transcript of his resignation letter to the APC;

"This is to notify you of my resolve to resign from the All Progressives Congress (APC), effective today 5th December 2018,” he wrote.

“My decision to resign from the party follows the cavalier manner in which both the Federal Government, States controlled by the APC and the APC itself are being run, as a result of which anybody who has eyes to see only sees doom and not prosperity for our dear country.”

He pointed out that the APC administration is characterised by “lack of consultation, crass incompetence, lack of vision, arrogance, and dangerous fixation.”

“It is a measure of the incompetence of the APC government that after all is said and done, it has lost a Senate President and a Speaker of the House Of Representatives and many others for reasons that border on meanness, lack of simple management skills and capacities and a great measure of arrogance.”

“It is also a measure of the incompetence of the party that there is almost no state in the Federation where there is no conflict .”

“While it is generally accepted that no human organisation can be rancour-free, it is disheartening that these conflicts in the party are inflicted by its leaders, some of whom can be said to be poorer in human qualities than the poorest of men.”

He also alleged that some governors had hijacked the party, doing whatever they liked. He wrote;

“In their endeavour to perpetuate themselves on the system, they not only snatched away the political rights of the people but also blocked all avenues with which and within which they would be held to account.”

“Because under these conditions no person can be politically mobile except he becomes a sycophant, it becomes necessary for me to speak up.”

“This I did many times, unfortunately only to be met with complicit silence.”

He also attacked President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as a  "president under whose watch all these negative traits are recurring."

“He instead prefers to give the country a lethargic and insular leadership informed by grudges, hatred and a general lack of understanding of what democracy and compassion are all about.

“All these masqueraded as war on corruption.”

Although the former speaker did not state the party he is defecting to, he is expected to join the main opposition party, PDP.

https://politicsngr.com/breaking-nabba-dumps-apc-pdp-reasons/

The ruling All Progressives Congress has been accused of buying votes for as low as N10.
Atiku Abubakar
 
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has alleged that the All Progressives Congress is engaging in vote-buying for as low as N10.
 
The former Vice President tweeted this on Wednesday via his verified Twitter handle, @atiku.
 
He tweeted:
 
"This is what the APC are doing. They are buying PVCs, they will come to you and give you N10, N20, N50 to buy your PVC - they are buying your future. Do you want to sell your future? Don’t sell your PVCs because they are going to use it against you. 
 
In terms of corruption, Nigeria is worse of today than we were in 2014. In terms of economy, we are the poorest country in the world today. In terms of insecurity, we are most insecure than at any other time in our history. 
 

 
It is time to return Nigeria to PDP, because the best years of this country was when the PDP was governing our country from 1999-2015. 
Today we have listened to the failures of the APC government since 2015 till today. There is nothing they have not promised us, they promised us security, jobs and better economy, they failed. Whatever they promised, they failed. 
 
Thank you very much my brothers and sisters of the North Central zone."
 
Read the tweet below:



Atiku Abubakar
✔
@atiku
 · 19h
Replying to @atiku
In terms of corruption, Nigeria is worse of today than we were in 2014. In terms of economy, we are the poorest country in the world today. In terms of insecurity, we are most insecure than at any other time in our history. #PDPNorthCentralRally #LetsGetNigeriaWorkingAgain

Atiku Abubakar
✔
@atiku
This is what the APC are doing. They are buying PVCs, they will come to you and give you N10, N20, N50 to buy your PVC - they are buying your future. Do you want to sell your future? Don’t sell your PVCs because they are going to use it against you. #PDPNorthCentralRally
1,379
3:58 PM - Dec 5, 2018
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