September 2018
no image

at 0
Latest News and Information

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has described as irresponsible and baseless, the allegation that uncollected Permanent Voter Cards were being released ahead of the Osun State Governorship rerun election.
Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman dismissed the allegation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
Oyekanmi asked the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), which made the allegation, to provide the proof.
“It is highly irresponsible of the CUPP to make a wild, unsubstantiated allegation such as this at this time.
“What exactly is their motive? The media should ask the CUPP to provide concrete proof about this allegation.
“INEC has conducted 191 different types of elections, including six governorship elections since 2015.
“If the Commission did not manipulate any of these elections, why will it do so now with the Osun Governorship election?
“The CUPP is advised to engage in patriotic actions rather than sowing discord at a time like this.”
The CUPP in a statement issued by its spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere alleged that credible intelligence revealed that
some INEC officers were releasing uncollected PVC to the desperate politicians in Osun to use imported voters to vote at the rerun.
Ugochinyere also alleged that a senior INEC staff had refused to release the official list of people who have collected PVC’s at the seven polling units where rerun election would be held.
“We have it on good authority that less than 1000 registered voters have collected PVC’s out of the 3,498.
“This means that less than 1000 persons are to participate in the actual voting. We demand that INEC immediately release this list.”
He added that the plot was part of a move to use incidence form to vote knowing that the finger prints of those with the hijacked uncollected PVC can’t be read by the Smart Card Reader.(NAN)

Continue reading
no image

at 0
Latest News and Information

•Wike lashes aspirants opposing Port Harcourt
Barely two weeks to the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), key stakeholders are yet to agree on the choice of a venue.
A meeting yesterday between the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and the Board of Trustees (BoT) to agree on a venue ended in a deadlock.
A sharp disagreement ensued when the Deputy National Chairman, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, said the party had agreed on the choice of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital as venue.
Briefing the meeting, Akinwonmi said: “On the issue of venue, the party set up a committee headed by Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure and they went round the Southsouth and the Southeast zones before coming out with the choice of Port Harcourt.
“As in acceptance, the NWC had consulted widely with the PDP Governors Forum. We have consulted widely with the BOT. We have consulted widely with the various caucuses of the party.
“And today it has been jointly accepted that we will converge in Port Harcourt, in no distance time for the national convention.
The international community has told us that they want to watch keenly the Port Harcourt convention.
“Particularly, they said they want to come and watch the process that will lead to the emergence of our flag bearer, because by the grace of God, our flag bearer will be the next president.”
But, the BoT chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, countered him, saying the party had not agreed to hold the convention in Port Harcourt.
Jibrin said: “Even though the Deputy National Chairman said the issue of venue has been concluded, I want to say that the issue of venue is still on and is not concluded.
“Because there are many suggetions on the issue of venue. We look at all suggestions and let me assure you that the issue of venue will be resolved.
“But, for now, we are working round the clock to ensure that we have a very suitable venue accepted by everybody. I want to say that everyone of us should come together and ensure that we have a venue suitable to all of us”.
A source at the parley confided in our correspondent after the meeting that the leadership of the party has ruled out Abuja as venue for the convention, citing “strategic reasons”.
The source further said that the choice of Enugu was rejected by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for unspecified reasons. Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel also turned down a request to hold the convention in Uyo, the state capital.
It was further revealed that suggestions by some party leaders to hold the convention in Kano did not go down well with many of the 12 presidential aspirants.
Although the source did not state reasons for the rejection of Kano, it was apparent that the choice of the ancient city could be interpreted as working to give undue leverage to one of the presidential aspirants, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Jibrin confided in our correspondent that the 12 presidential aspirants would be meeting with the BoT and the chairman of the PDP national convention committee, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State last night.
According to him, the issue of venue would be finally decided at the meeting. He promised the venue would be agreeable to all the aspirants.
Also yesterday, the party inaugurated its National Convention Planning Committee. The 85-member committee is headed by Okowa, with his Taraba State counterpart Darius Ishaku.

Continue reading
no image

at 0
Latest News and Information

Luka Modric has been crowned the 2018 FIFA Men’s Player of the year, after defeating fellow finalists Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohammed Salah at the London’s Royal Festival Hall on Monday night.
His emergence follows his exploits with Croatia who reached the final of this year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia and with Real Madrid who retained the UEFA Champions League.
This year’s edition brings an end to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s 10-year domination of the most prestigious award. Both Ronaldo and Messi failed to show up at the awards.
‘It was an unbelievable season, the best season in my life,’ said Modric, 33. ‘I’m very proud of everything I achieved this year. It will be remembered, for sure, forever,’ said Modric after receiving his award.
Nine different categories were decided with the Goalkeeper of the Year going to Belgium goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, while Didier Deschamps won the Coach of the Year for guiding France to win the World Cup in Russia.
In doing so, Deschamps becomes the third man in history to win the World Cup both as a player and a manager, joining Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer.
Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah won the Puskas award in recognition of his strike against Everton last season in the English Premier League which saw him wriggle past three defenders to score. Interestingly Salah’s goal was adjudged the best ahead of Gareth Bale’s bicycle kick against Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League final.
Olympic Lyon manager Reynald Pedros was voted the Women’s Coach of the Year after leading the French side to a league and UEFA Women’s Champions League double last season. The women’s player award went to Brazil’s Marta who beat Lyon duo Ada Hegerberg and Dzsenifer Marozsan. Marta had previously won the-defunct FIFA World Player of the Year award five years in a row between 2006 and 2010.
The voting system is decided by national team managers, national captains, media representatives and an online vote.

Continue reading
no image

at 0
Latest News and Information

A motorcyclist and his passenger were on Monday crushed to death in an accident involving a truck and a motorcycle on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
My Babatunde Akinbiyi, the Public Relations Officer of Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), who confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta, said the incident happened close to a Connoil filling station on the highway.
Akinbiyi said that the accident, which occurred at about 6:20 p.m., was as a result of excessive speed and loss of control on the part of the driver of the truck with registration number JJJ 472 XP.
“The truck had hit the motorcycle with no registration number from the back, killing the motorcyclist and his passenger on the spot,” he said.
Akinbiyi added that the truck driver survived the accident while the corpses of the deceased were deposited at the morgue of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.
“TRACE is using this opportunity again to admonish drivers, particularly drivers of articulated vehicles, to avoid excessive speed and give consideration to other road users for the safety of all,” he said.

Continue reading

at 0
Latest News and Information


THERE was confusion yesterday among the supporters of three major parties participating in tomorrow’s Osun State governorship election, following the rumour that they had formed an alliance.
Radio stations were broadcasting the denial of such an alliance by no fewer than three of the five prominent candidates.
The candidates are Iyiola Omisore of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Moshood Adeoti of the African Democratic Party (ADP) and Fatai Akinbade of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
At a briefing in Osogbo, the state capital, Omisore, who spoke for the three candidates, said Adeoti and Akinbade did not step down for him, adding that what they had was an alliance for a credible election.
He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of intimidating would-be voters at rallies.
The APC denied the allegation.
Its spokesman Kunle Oyatomi described the “gang-up” of opposition parties as a “house of commotion”.
Speaking on the telephone last night, Oyatomi said: “We in the APC do not see any threat to whatever the opposition or a coalition of them is doing.
“We are bigger than all of them put together. We will win the election because we have a lot to show as achievements.
“We defeated them in 2014 when the PDP in this state was formidable. Now they are split into pieces. They will lose. They are jittery and are pretenders.
“They are people who lack vision and mission. That is why they have reduced the campaign to only payment of salaries.”
Omisore said: “APC has been boasting that they will rig election. So, these three parties, in spite of the differences in their names and candidates, still believe that the election must be credible. That’s why we signed the protocol. It is incumbent on these other parties, being leading opposition parties in the state, to publicly ask the people of Osun State to be vigilant as they cast their votes to prevent malpractices. We just want sincerity, credibility and fairness at the poll.”
Omisore said each of the three parties would run its election by itself, but that there was need to encourage voters across the state not to be intimidated in any way because they are committed to free and fair election tomorrow.
But when asked to provide evidence of the alleged intimidation by the governing party, Omisore said the declarations made by the APC at its rallies were pure intimidation which could discourage the masses from coming out to cast their votes. “We watched it on Channels Television as they said those things. So, it is public knowledge, nothing that requires any documentary evidence,” he said.
While denying withdrawing from the election, Adeoti, in a statement by his spokesman, Mr Kayode Agbaje, said he had no discussion with any other candidate about standing down, affirming that he remained a candidate in the election.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Moshood Adeoti Campaign Organisation (MACO) has been drawn to a rumour currently gaining ground in Osun State that our principal and governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, has withdrawn his participation from the race in favour of Senator Iyiola Omisore, the candidates of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
“We wish to reiterate that at no time was our canadidate contacted for such and that the ADP and Alhaji Adeoti harbour no such plans.
“We still stand resolutely behind our resolve to contest and by God’s grace win the election.”
Akinbade debunked the insinuations that he had stepped down for Omisore.
His Media Officer said: “Akinbade is in the race for good. The people of Osun are itching to have him as their next governor. This they hope to translate come Saturday, September 22, through their worthy votes.”
According to Akinbade, the rumour is malicious and insulting to the ADC political family.
“Our main focus is the execution of the Sept. 22, 2018 election to success. The people of Osun State are rooting for the victory of Alhaji Fatai Akinbade and this will be proved by their massive votes on Saturday. You are requested to remain resolute and cast your votes for the ADC on Saturday.”
The statement condemned what it described as “dirty” and “cheap” politics embarked upon by those”afraid of their own political shadow.”
Continue reading

at 0
Latest News and Information
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba has said Nigeria will need about $3 trillion in the next 26 years to bridge the infrastructural gap in country.
The National President of National Union of Civil Engineering Construct, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW), Comrade Amaechi Asugwuni, attributed the dearth of infrastructure in the country to massive corruption and what he described as irresponsibility of the federal, state, and local governments.
minimum wage
Speaking at the Infrastructural Summit and 40th anniversary of the National Union of Civil Engineering Construct, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW) yesterday in Abuja, Wabba said the importance of  infrastructural development as a nation cannot be overestimated.
He said the country was suffering from several infrastructural deficit that has affected the various sector of the national economy, pointing out that sectors that have suffered mostly includes the energy, transport, railways, roads, inland waterways, education, housing, agricultural sector and the information communication technology, among others.
According to him, the World Economy Forum state that every dollar spend on infrastructure has a potential to generate between five to ten per cent of economic growth and therefore this is very central and key.
“This potential is important as it has been estimated that Nigeria needs at least three trillion us dollars in the next 26 years to bridge the infrastructural gap in the country. As this will transform our vast potentials into concrete social economy tangibles and this will also require about 100 billion dollars capital investment annually, ‘’he said.
He lamented that despite the enormous resources available to the country, Nigeria has not be able to attain to its potentials as it concerns infrastructure in the country.
He said “for instance if you look at our population of closed to 200 million and we are still struggling to keep our electricity generation at less than 4000 megawatt while South Africa are at 55million megawatt.
“No doubt that is why our industries cannot operate at full potential and there is no way we can address the challenging issue of unemployment in the country. So, infrastructure is the key to addressing multifaceted development, from the issues of poverty, unemployment, insecurity.
“Therefore your union is very central  and that I am very delighted that you chose this theme to look at infrastructural development in our country and how to work the talk, ‘’Wabba said.
Also Prof. Stephen Ocheni, Minister of State, Labour and Employment said policies of the present administration were gear towards addressing the infrastructural deficits in the country.
Ocheni said that infrastructure was the key to national development as it would address the issue of unemployment, security, among others, adding that the lack of infrastructural development in the country was due inappropriate policies and lack of continuity by the past administration.
“I want to assure you that the present administration attach great importance to capital projects and is determined to continue with viable  projects and so we are vigorously pursuing it, ‘’he said.
Continue reading

at 0
Latest News and Information
Tambuwal

A presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal has promised to restructure Nigeria if elected president in 2019.
He also pledged to evolve scientific measures that would enable the security architecture to meet up the challenges of the 21st century and also  make the education of the youth a top priority of his government.
This, he said, would create independent spirit in the youth to pursue develop their potential and in turn become employers of labour.
A statement by his media office said the presidential aspirant unveiled his agenda during a meeting with PDP delegates from the Federal Capital Territory, FCT and the North Central in Abuja to the forthcoming national convention on Thursday.
He said restructuring of the country was paramount to recreate a sense of unity among the people.
Tambuwal said: “We are here to meet our delegates from the North Central and kick start our campaign properly. This aspiration is fired and motivated by the spirit of service and the spirit to take back our country and reunite our people. And to reposition our country for it to be properly restructured to the benefit of Nigerians.
“When you give us the flag and eventually elect me as the president of the country, I will rejig the security architecture of Nigeria, employ manpower that has the capacity to address the security challenges of today, using technology.
“A situation whereby we don’t employ and deploy technology for the security of Nigeria can no longer be tolerated.
“Repositioning Nigeria by way of ensuring that all of our children are in schools and get required training so that those that will be employed in blue collar jobs and the others that will go for various private businesses are properly trained. And that is why,  when I was elected as governor of Sokoto state, I identified as key, number one priority the education of the citizens of Sokoto state. And we will apply the same formula in our project of making Nigeria great again and make sure every Nigeria child is properly educated.
“So that our children can realise their potentials and apply them to their benefit, the benefit of their community and the benefit of Nigeria state. The children of Nigeria have to be educated because it the only way we can avoid reoccurrence of Boko Haram. If you have them out there available to use by miscreants who are enemies of this country, it would be easy for to use to harness and misapply. But as a government, we must come up with deliberate policies to ensuring that no child of Nigeria is out of school and that none of them is without training that he or she can probably use to set up private businesses.
“The talk about restructuring Nigeria is also about that three arms: securing Nigeria, repositioning Nigeria which of course includes creating wealth and we can only create wealth when you have collaboration between government and the price sector. Government one cannot do it and the private sector alone also cannot do it. There has to be a synergy between the private sector and government for us to create wealth so that every citizens of Nigeria can have a better standard of living.
“We need to restructure this country, because the country has never been this divided. The country has never been this enmeshed with the kind of current security challenge it has as at today.
“I believe in restructuring Nigeria. The people of South South are asking for restructuring base on the understanding that oil wealth be properly applied in their respective places. Nothing is wrong with that! Let us judiciously apply the oil wealth and develop this country.
“And the people of South West are asking for restructuring in terms of physical restructuring of the economy, that is to making sure that every part the country realises its potential and ensure enabling environment for business to grow.
“While the people of the south east are interested in state creation. And while the in the north the issues are not far away from ensuring that we have better education, more development and all of that.
“And these are issues we would sit down and find a way to make them a reality. So under my administration, restructuring Nigeria will be given a serious attention and it will be a priority.
“I will not be that kind of president that will shoot out the ideas of Nigerians.”
The Acting Chairman of the PDP of FCT, Mr. Ibrahim Biko described Tambuwal as a good product that would market itself.
On behalf of the delegates, Biko pledged their votes for Tambuwal at the PDP convention.
He said: “The good product sells itself. This man is not too young to rule. Age is on his side and he is fit to move around and also to articulate on issue and proffer solutions.
“We in the FCT; we are one and as delegates, we speak in one voice. We don’t have divergent opinions. Our vote is a consolidated vote. We don’t divide our vote. So we are promising you our vote and we will not disappoint you.”
Continue reading

at 0
Latest News and Information




MULTIPLE boreholes and the daily extraction of 330,000 metric tonnes of water have been blamed for the tremor that shook some parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between September 5 and 8, the panel mandated to look into the matter has said in its report.
The Presidential Committee also predicted the possibility of more tremors in the country unless the indiscriminate sinking of boreholes was controlled.
Relying on the results obtained, using the probability of recurrence theory, the committee warned that the probability of recurrence in the near future remained “fairly high in Nigeria”.
Chairman of the committee and National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) Director-General Prof. Seidu Mohammed said that the 110,000 boreholes sunk in Abuja produce 330,000 metric tonnes of water daily.
Speaking at the submission of the committee’s report to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu in Abuja, Mohammed added that water extraction and recharge imbalance from aquifer was causing hydrogeological instability along the fractures of Abuja.
The imbalance, he noted, was further caused by about 330,000 metric tonnes of water extracted daily from Abuja boreholes.
His words: “The latest occurred in September 7th of 2018 in Abuja with Mpape as epicenter. Though these earthquakes may have been of low-magnitudes, it is now certain that earthquake occurrence has become a potential hazard to the nation.
“The report of the geological, hydrogeological and geotechnical investigations carried out in 1978 by Julius Berger for Abuja identified Mpape as a Shear zone that is weak with several fractures and fault system.
“Water extraction and recharge imbalance from aquifer is causing hydrogeological instability along the fractures. Currently, there are a 110,000 boreholes within Abuja metropolis with about 330, 000 metric tonnes of water extracted daily. This is not sustainable.
“In the light of the above, the spots and locations identified and considered as earthquake prone areas in Abuja in particular, and Nigeria in general, need to be further studied and continuously monitored. There is also the need to carry out detailed vulnerability studies of the identified seismic hotspots in Nigeria.
“Based on the results obtained using the probability of recurrence theory, we confirmed that the probability of recurrence in the very near future is fairly high in Nigeria.
“There is the need to regulate the exploitation of ground water resources of Abuja Via indiscriminate sinking of boreholes because this has been the primary reason for the stress build up leading to the Abuja tremors of 5th-7th September, 2018.
“Government should release fund for the training of geophysicist, geologists, engineers, technologists and researchers to participate in earth science research, in order to improve our understanding of Nigerian and West African geophysics and tectonics dynam‘ism. We emphasize that this research has crucial societal ‘value as it is evident in earthquake hazard readiness and mitigation.”
The minister said the committee would continue its research after the submission. He urged the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) to develop seismic building code that can resist tremors in future.
Continue reading

at 0
Latest News and Information
 Sharibu PDP Buhari Presidency Nigeria
The Presidency on Thursday appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari’s supporters to ignore the crude speeches coming from Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
Saraki is one of the Presidential aspirants under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, urged the Buhari supporters conduct themselves and put across their points of view in a decent language.
He said “The Presidency wishes to react the crude speeches hitting the news from Senator Bukola Saraki who recently joined the Peoples Democratic Party with the sole ambition of running as the president of Nigeria.
“In response the condemnable and extremely derogatory speeches by the PDP aspirant, we urge all Buhari supporters to display restraint in language and conduct and to always put across their points of view in a decent language.
“Throughout his political career, Senator Saraki has shown that he is a very dangerous person who can go any length to promote his personal interests.
“The language of his campaign is such that cannot be used against a domestic help.
“Is he just knowing that the President lacked vision? This is someone that the Senator had worked with very closely for more than three years. Amazingly, he never said all that he is now saying against him.
“Rather, his word for and on the President were always respectful and reassuring. That’s the man he called “My Father,” about him “there is no cause for alarm…a President who is healthy, witty and himself.” What then changed, all of a sudden?
“Is he saying these blatantly false and crude things against the President because he is gunning for the same office? Could it be that he is targeting President Buhari because the party he just joined does not have any real issues to highlight?
“Be that as it may, our appeal to our supporters is to ignore Saraki and any such politicians bent on lowering the quality of political discourse. Let them drown in their own waters.” he added
Continue reading
no image

at 0
Latest News and Information

•Fleeing children, women drown in boat mishap
Fifty-one people, including a pastor of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN), have been killed in an attack by suspected herdsmen.
Our correspondent gathered the incident occurred on Thursday night with villages of Gon, Nzumosu, Bolki, Nyanga, and Bukuto in Numan Local Government Area affected.
Residents said the invaders launched the attack from Abbare, a neighbouring community in Taraba State, burning down much of three of the affected villages.
In what amounted to double tragedy for the affected communities, a boat conveying some 40 women and children fleeing from the attacks reportedly capsized with unspecified occupants drowned.
Adamawa State acting Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Habibu, confirmed the attacks on five communities.
He however couldn’t confirm the casualty figure, saying police operatives deployed to the council were still being expected to report their findings.

Continue reading

at 0
Latest News and Information
•Aspirants fail to agree •Gov serves appointees with political ambition resignation notice
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State yesterday turned down pressure from some quarters to anoint his possible successor from the 26 aspirants seeking the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Instead, Ajimobi asked the aspirants to work out modalities for picking one of them as a consensus candidate.
He also told them at a meeting in Ibadan to get ready for direct or indirect primaries should they fail to reach an agreement on consensus.
Missing from the meeting was Communications Minister Adebayo Shittu who, sources said, was out of the country.
Shittu does not see eye to eye with Ajimobi, particularly on the issue of picking APC’s governorship candidate in the state.
But other party leaders from all parts of the state were in attendance.
They included the state APC chairman, Chief Akin Oke. Others in attendance were aspirants for the senatorial and House of Representatives seats across the state.
An aide of the Minister said: “I don’t think he was invited, he was not invited.
“If he was invited, he would have come, though, he is not around now. He is not in the country.
“He is not there because he was not invited to the meeting. He felt it would be impolite to attend when there was no invitation to attend.”
The party chair did not buy the Shittu aide’s claim.
He asked the 26 governorship aspirants how they got to know of the meeting.
The meeting lasted about six hours during which the governorship aspirants could not agree on who to pick as consensus candidate.
Sources quoted Ajimobi as saying he did not want anyone to accuse him of imposing a governorship candidate on the party.
The aspirants expressed satisfaction at the governor’s position and decided to meet afresh today on the issue and report back to the governor.
In the event that they still cannot pick a consensus candidate, the party will then organize indirect primaries where delegates will decide who flies the APC ticket.
At yesterday’s meeting, Ajimobi directed all political appointees seeking elective positions next year to resign with immediate effect.
Governorship aspirants at yesterday’s meeting were former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Mr. Joseph Tegbe, former CBN deputy governor, Bayo Adelabu, Secretary to the State Government, Olalekan Alli, Prof Soji Adejumo and a National Commissioner in the Nigerian Communications Commission, Mr. Sunday Dare.
Others were Dr Olusola Ayandele, Mr. Kehinde Olaosebikan, former Nigerian Bar Association Chairman in Oyo State, Mr. Akeem Agbaje, Constain West African PLC boss, Mr. Ayo Karim, Prince Asatola Asanike, Mr Isaac Omodewu, Senator Fatai Buhari, Dr Azeez Adeduntan and Dr. Morounkola Thomas among others.
Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, Ajimobi described the meeting as a family gathering.
He likened the meeting to a military ‘show of force’ to let the people of the state know that the APC has an array of quality aspirants.
Continue reading

at 0
Latest News and Information
 Saraki apc Oshiomhole



•Ex-Senate President cautions against ‘imposition of candidates’
Former Senate President  David Mark and ex-Plateau State Governor David Jang  and their supporters are kicking over alleged moves  by  Senate President Bukola Saraki to  engineer the selection of a consensus presidential candidate for  the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the Northcentral zone.
All three are seeking the party’s ticket for the 2019 presidential election.
A report at the weekend, from Saraki’s camp, suggested that stakeholders from the zone had opted to pick a consensus aspirant from the zone to contest with similar aspirants from the Northwest and Northeast.
But loyalists of Mark and Jang are not amused by the report.
Mark’s camp, in particular, warned PDP against imposition of candidates.
The supporters said the consensus agenda was a plot to ambush their principals to forego their presidential aspirations for Saraki.
Mark’s loyalists, The Nation gathered, were uncomfortable that a private session organized by Saraki was turned into a consensus forum.
“What happened on Wednesday was not a meeting of Northcentral leaders per se. It was Saraki who conveyed the session to brief some leaders from our zone on his presidential aspiration.  The former President of the Senate, Chief David Mark was not even there,” a source in Mark’s camp said.
“There was no communiqué agreeing on consensus. The leaders only advised the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of PDP, Sen. Walid Jibril to set up a committee to consult with the three aspirants from North-Central and come out with something.
“They asked the committee to liaise with the aspirants from the zone. No one is talking of a consensus candidate at all.
“The session was more of a personal agenda by Saraki because at the end of the day, a statement from the gathering was signed by the Director-General, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Campaign Organization, Wakil Mohammed.
“With such a sensitive decision on consensus, should the statement come from Saraki’s Campaign DG or stakeholders in Northcentral? Shouldn’t there be a communiqué?
“Why must only a party be the one to sign and issue a statement? We are suspicious of the session; it was a ploy to outsmart other aspirants in the zone.”
Responding to a question, the source said: “The former President of the Senate has not been consulted on consensus option; he is going ahead with his aspiration and plans for primaries.”
A reliable source in Jang’s camp said: “The meeting was called by the Northcentral zone of the PDP at the request of Saraki. It was chaired by the Zonal Chairman,  Theophillus Dakas Shan,  himself.
“Saraki wanted to brief the zone about his ambition. It was not a Middle Belt meeting but Northcentral and consensus was not up for discussion.
“Actually, it was ex-Governor Babangida Aliyu who urged the meeting to set up a small committee to encourage the three aspirants from the Northcentral to discuss among themselves.
“Going by our plans, Jang will on Monday submit his presidential nomination form.”
When contacted, the Zonal Chairman, Shan said: “We didn’t reach any agreement on consensus.
“We resolved to allow our elders in PDP in Northcentral to talk to all the aspirants. If there is a possibility, we will bring one candidate and if it is impossible, they will go for the primaries. Whatever we are going to do, the three aspirants must reach an agreement.”
Asked if the PDP in the zone had raised a committee on consensus by the three aspirants, Shan said: “We are not going to set up any committee; our elders will talk to the aspirants.”
He admitted that Saraki came around to brief Northcentral PDP on his presidential aspiration.
He added: “We are expecting Mark and Jang to come and brief us on their presidential aspiration too.”
A former governor in one of the Northcentral states said: “I think the DG of Saraki Campaign Organization misrepresented the meeting. There was a suggestion by the President of the Senate for the adoption a consensus candidate by PDP Northcentral which does not amount to automatic recommendation.”
In an address at the session on Wednesday, Saraki said: “Leaders from the North Central need to work together to ensure that a PDP candidate emerges from the zone.
“It is clear that the only way to achieve unity in the country is when you have a leader who can manage the differences and galvanize our energy towards achieving development.
“It is not about where you come from, but it is about what you can do for our country. If there is anybody who can do better than those of us in the North Central Zone, let them stand up.
“It is important that in October, our delegates from the Northcentral should work to ensure that a Northcentral candidate emerges – and they should work together with delegates from across the country to ensure that a Northcentral candidate emerges. We request your support.”
Mark cautions PDP against imposition of candidates
In a statement in Abuja, Senator Mark cautioned PDP leaders against imposition of candidates.
He urged all members of the party to conduct themselves peacefully with a view to ensuring respect for law and order.
“As we converge to elect delegates to the Congresses beginning from Saturday, we must be guided by democratic tenets and observe the principle of fairness and justice,” Mark said in the statement signed by his media aide, Mr. Paul Mumeh.
He added: “We must demonstrate to fellow country men and women that we are truly democratic.
“I am sure that our members nationwide will showcase our reformed and rebranded party as the preferred choice for the people.”
Senator Mark said he joined the presidential race because “I believe I can make a positive difference in Nigeria.”
Continuing, he said: “nobody can shy away from the fact that Nigeria is currently faced with intractable security, economic and socio-political challenges that unarguably threatens the corporality of the country.
“Rarely has our country been faced with such a state of uncertainty, despair, suspicion and division.
“The time has come for all men and women who care and have the requisite experiences and courage to stand up, retrieve it from the brink and lead our nation into prosperity.”
Senator Mark expressed optimism that his roadmap to economic recovery and prosperity tagged ‘730 model’ will turn around the economy of the nation within two years of his administration if he is elected President.
He said he has assembled a team of young professionals who can hit the ground running and facilitate the economic recovery.
He also pledged to give education top priority as the bedrock for development.
His words:”We will focus on education and create a pool of highly trained citizens with excellent IT skills who will be employable as well as create jobs.”
“We will support Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) as a matter of priority with interest free cooperative loans and appropriate technology, which will be the main driver of the economy with attendant rate of huge employment opportunities.”
Continue reading

at 0
Latest News and Information
Naomi Osaka became Japan’s first ever Grand Slam champion after she thumped Serena Williams 6-2 6-4 in a controversial U.S. Open final on Saturday, with the American suffering a meltdown after she was handed a code violation for on-court coaching.
With Osaka in control of the match after taking the first set, Portuguese chair umpire Carlos Ramos sent Williams into a rage when he handed the 23-time Grand Slam champion a code violation in the second game of the second set after he spotted Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou making some hand signals from the player’s box.
A string of bad behavior followed from Williams and she went on to incur a point penalty for smashing her racket before being slapped with a game penalty at 4-3 down after she launched into a verbal attack against Ramos, accusing him of being “a liar” and “a thief for stealing a point from me”.
Williams rant continued throughout the second set as she got more and more incensed with things going against her
The game penalty put Osaka 5-3 up and the 20-year-old Japanese kept her cool to pull off a historic win.
That coaching warning ignited the first outburst from Williams, who screamed at Ramos that she was a mother and would never cheat, adding that she would rather lose.
Order seemed to be restored when Williams finally broke Osaka for the first time to go up 3-1 but things quickly slid out of control when the Japanese 20th seed broke back, prompting the former world number one to smash her racket and Ramos to issue the point penalty.
That brought another tirade from Williams which was followed by a game penalty, bringing a shower of jeers from the packed stadium and another explosive outburst from the teary American.
Osaka lowered her capNaomi Osaka wins the US Open in straight sets after beating Serena Williams 6-2 6-4 at Flushing Meadows
Later Mouratoglou admitted he had been trying to coach Williams from the stands with some hand signals but accused Osaka’s coach Sascha Bajin of doing the same.
Naomi Osaka wins the US Open in straight sets after beating Serena Williams 6-2 6-4 at Flushing Meadows
“I am honest. I was coaching,” said Mouratoglou. “I don’t think she looked one time.
“Sascha was coaching every point too.”
The controversial finish cast a cloud over what should have been Osaka’s shining moment.

“I know everyone was cheering for her and I’m sorry it had to end like this,” said Osaka. “I just want to say thank you for watching the match.
“It was always my dream to play Serena in the U.S. Open finals… I’m really grateful I was able to play with you.”
The result prevented Williams from winning a record-equaling 24th Grand Slam title.
Continue reading

at 0
Latest News and Information
THE Presidency yesterday dismissed corruption allegations against the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.
A national newspaper had claimed that Kyari demanded bribe as a condition for the award of a contract.

Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, said the publication was improbable and outlandish as Kyari had no “private meetings with the person making those allegations.”
He added:”What is even more surprising is the decision by the newspaper to run the cooked up lies despite obvious loopholes in the story, such as the Bureau of Public Procurement’s denial that a major source for the story was a member of their staff.
“With a slew of crucial elections ahead, some politicians and their media agents appear to be working together to build pressure on the Buhari administration by wielding non-existent scandals against it.
“We equally note that the supply of 15 Hilux vehicles for the Presidency was an unlikely contract to have been awarded, as it did not exist anywhere in the 2016 and 2017 budgets.
“Checking the appropriation for 2016 and 2017, that request is not even there. How could Abba Kyari have asked for money to award a contract that did not exist anywhere at all?
“In addition to that, the amount allegedly given in bribe was also suspicious, as the office of the presidential aide had been known in the past to receive imprest of N200 million and above every month, with no one expected to give account.
“It was only since Abba Kyari occupied that position that things changed.”
According to him, it is difficult to make a case of N29 million bribery against an official who spurned a monthly payment of N200 million to his office, which he didn’t need to account to anyone.
Continue reading

at 0
Latest News and Information
 Lagos Delta group-sensitize-voters-pvc-collection




The Independent National Electoral Commission ( REC) in Lagos State on Thursday said some 1.38 million Permanent Voter’s Cards ( PVCs) were still uncollected in the state.
Mr Sam Olumekun, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Lagos State, gave the figure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria  in Lagos.
“We still have about 1.38 million PVCs uncollected as we speak. Only about 15 per cent of the 2017 new registrants whose cards have been produced have come to pick their cards. It is very poor.
“We have also added close to 750, 000 new registrants, whose cards are still going to be produced and distributed.
“Of course, the ones (PVCs) newly printed for those who registered in 2017, people are coming to collect them than those which had been there since 2011 elections,” he said.
The commissioner urged eligible voters whose cards had been produced to visit INEC offices in the 20 local government areas across the state to pick them up.
According to him, this will enable them to exercise their civic responsibility in the 2019 elections.
“We are still looking at the possibility of going to meet the people; taking the cards to them, but we are still looking at that. It is going to be a policy issue,” Olumekun said.
The REC urged the people to be involved in determining those that would represent them in government.
“We are imploring all stakeholders in this business to educate and sensitise the people, because it is important to get our democracy working.
“Sensitisation, mobilisation and education is not the business of INEC alone; it is the business of every interest group, for people to come out and perform their civic responsibility,” Olumekun said.
Continue reading
no image

at 0
Latest News and Information
Workers of Kwara State Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Kwara, on Thursday continued their strike, insisting that government must sack their Sole Administrator, Dr Muideen Akorede.
The workers had embarked on the strike on Wednesday over lack of operational equipment and poor staff welfare.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria, who visited the radio station on Thursday, reports that the premises located on Police Road in Ilorin metropolis were still under lock and key.
News Agency of Nigeria also reports that the workers used their vehicles to block the main entrance of the station, completely preventing access to the premises.
The workers also denied the General Manager of the station, Alhaji Adedeji Adebowale, entrance into the premises as he remained inside his official vehicle when News Agency of Nigeria visited the radio station.
Speaking with our correspondent, the Chairman of Radio Kwara chapel of Radio Television Theatre and Art Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU ), Rasaq Aremu, said the strike would continue as long as Akorede remained in office.
“Our main agitation, for now, is for the Sole Administrator to be removed.
” If he is removed right now as I speak with you, we will resume and continue further deliberations with the government.
“His removal will bring peace and sanity back to the station because he is running his administration all alone without consultation with our management and staff.
“He knows little about broadcasting, what is the point if we are not being carried along?
“There has been no improvement since he came.
” Anyone can just come and see our premises, we want Akorede to go,” Aremu said.
He further said that the agitation was not about salary alone, insisting that the workers were also protesting the lack of operational equipment in the media outfit.


Aremu questioned the propriety of workers collecting salaries without justifying it due to a fault of theirs.
He urged the workers to remain resolute until Akorede, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, was removed.
But Akorede had in a statement on Wednesday confirmed the release of N5million as part of the subvention for the radio station.
He said that he had always engaged the management of the station and its union leaders on issues regarding their operational expenses.
Akorede added that the delay in releasing funds to the station was due to the economic challenges the country was facing.
He said the monthly allocation to the state was received on Monday while salaries and overheads of parastatal agencies, including Radio Kwara, were expected to be paid before the end of the week.
Akorede stressed that like other parastatal agencies, subventions to media houses were being paid regularly.
Subvention, he said, was always released directly to the station and disbursed based on the budget and operational needs as approved.
He said the state government had prioritised payment of salaries as first line charge followed by operational expenses of parastatal agencies.
Continue reading
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)