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October 2018
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Neymar has said that Lionel Messi is still his "idol," despite calling reports saying he wants to return to Barcelona as "fake news."
The Brazil international is into his second season with the French champions and was recently targeted by Marseille fans throwing objects as PSG ran out 2-0 winners in Le Classique at Stade Velodrome on Sunday.
Speaking with the Players' Tribune as part of a crossover interview with basketball star Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, Neymar talked about playing and training alongside Messi, while he also had praise for Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo.
"I played with Messi, who is, for me, one of the greatest footballers of all time, and he is my idol in football," he said. "With Messi, I learned every day, whether during our practice, or playing with him, or just watching him play. That made me stronger and it increased my capacity on the field because I kept learning a lot from him.
"As for Cristiano, he is a monster. Facing him is a pleasure and an honour, but we have to be more prepared. He is one of the greatest in football, so you get smarter, you get alert, but at the same time you learn a lot, too.
"So, they are two of the big guys that I can relate to, because I want to learn, I want more, I want to win, I want more trophies, score more goals. So, I keep learning from them every day."
Neymar, who recently released his own "Inked" comic book series, which sees tattoos come to life to fight crime, as explained by the comic's creators to Dan Hajducky at New York Comic Con, was also asked about the toughest moments of his career.
The 26-year-old listed his World Cup 2014-ending back injury and overcoming his injury earlier this year to participate in this summer's World Cup in Russia.
"The first when I injured my back," he said. "I was living a dream, playing in a World Cup, and then it was over because I got injured. For me it was like the end of everything.
"I asked myself: 'Am I ever going to be back on the field?' My family and my friends were really important for me at that moment -- they helped me to get up again.
"The other moment happened this year, after my first surgery. It was close to the World Cup, I did not see myself playing, and my family, my girlfriend [now ex Bruna Marquezine] and my friends stayed with me -- they made me believe in my dream: that I would play in a World Cup again. These two moments are important to me -- believing in this comeback."
Neymar went on to pick "amazing" fellow PSG and Brazil player Dani Alves as his funniest teammate but joked that the ex-Barca and Juventus man is "the oldest guy!"
Meanwhile, former PSG goalkeeping coach Nicolas Dehon recalled Les Parisiens' infamous Champions League capitulation to Neymar-inspired Barca in the Champions League back in 2017 and suggested that rally still haunts certain PSG players, as well as the potentially decisive impact of Thiago Motta's absence.
"Yes, I think that the PSG players on the pitch the night of the rally are still traumatised," he told RMC Sport. "Even if they have tasted other European disappointment, there are still after-effects.
"I do not know if it is a complex, but there is something blocking them. Something like that is always in the back of your mind. The next time they beat a European giant 4-0 at home, the dressing room will cogitate."
"Although he did not play, Thiago's half-time speech was excellent. It did not work out, but you really knew that the guy had played for the biggest clubs.
"If Thiago played, I do not know if PSG would have lost. He was important -- he would have spoken with the referee at key moments and applied some pressure. Thiago was missed, that is certain, and he knew Barcelona. He would have thrown himself into tackles and pressured them."

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ORGANISED Labour yesterday held sensitisation rallies in some city centres. The rallies were organised to create awareness for the nationwide strike slated for November 6.
The job boycott is to compel governments and employers to pay 30,000 as minimum wage to the least paid workers.
According to the labour unions – Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and United Labour Congress (ULC), the N30, 000 is a compromised figure agreed to by members of the tripartite wage review committee.
The labour’s position contradicts the positions of the federal and state governments. The Federal Government is proposing N24, 000. The states shifted their position last night. They agreed to pay N22, 500. The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), which initially offered to pay N20, 000, argues that its members have been struggling to meet the N18, 000 minimum monthly salaries to workers in their domains.
But the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) yesterday washed its hands off the N30, 000 minimum wage claim by the labour unions.
It disowned the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and Organised Labour on the issue of the new minimum wage, saying it never agreed to any figure.
Lagos
In Lagos, the workers’ possession took off from Ojuelegba through Ikorodu Road en route Ojota to register their grievances against the reluctance of the Federal Government to implement the new minimum wage.
NLC Deputy President Amaechi Asugwuni urged Nigerians to stock food items in the house ahead of the indefinite nationwide strike.
According to him, yesterday’s rally, tagged: “Mourning Day”, was part of the struggle to defend the Nigerian worker and to sensitise Nigerians to brace for the strike.
He said: “Because, once we commence the strike, there is no going back except the government agrees to our terms and conditions. The minimum wage is a legitimate right for Nigerian workers.”
The ULC President, Joe Ajaero, reiterated that N30, 000 is not negotiable.
He said: “We are on the road to tell the government that enough is enough. The November 6 will be the mother of all strikes in Nigeria. Posterity will judge us if we fail to rise up to defend Nigerian workers.
“There is no good healthcare and electricity tariff is far more than 18, 000 minimum wage and the tariff continue to increase.”
At the Freedom Park, named after fiery human rights’ advocate, the late Gani Fawehimi, where the workers drew a curtain on their rally, the unions sent a powerful message to the Labour & Employment Minister, Dr. Chris Ngige and President Muhammadu Buhari.
They threatened to disrupt the general elections next year if the Federal Government failed to implement the new minimum wage.
Delta
In Asaba, Delta State, workers took to major streets within the metropolis to protest alleged reneging on the tripartite agreement between their unions and the Federal Government on the new minimum wage.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions as “Pay us N30, 000 or no elections”; “Minimum wage will reduce poverty”; “Increase our wages”; the workers, led by the local chairman of the NLC, Jonathan Jemirieyigbe, converged on the Delta State Government House, demanding audience with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
Jemirieyigbe told reporters that the rally was to create awareness and put the records straight, following attempts by the government to hoodwink Nigerians on the new minimum wage.
He condemned the comments credited to the Dr. Ngige that the Federal Government has not reached agreement with organised labour.
The NLC chair urged Deltans to take seriously the threat by the unions to shut down the nation by stockpiling on foodstuffs so as not to be caught unawares.
His words: “This is an information rally. It is to create awareness and also to set the records straight. The way and manner the Federal Government representative on the tripartite committee is trying to tell Nigerians that an amount has not been reached.
“This is an erroneous statement which the rally is expected to correct. It is to sensitise the public so that Deltans are aware of what is coming up. On the 6th of November, the Federal Government’s failure to agree and implement the agreement by the tripartite committee will be met with strict resistance by labour.”
ULC Vice President Ogbaloi Kelly described the minimum wage as an act of parliament which must be respected by the government.
He said: “We are not going back on N30, 000 minimum wage. If they test the will of organised labour, this country will be shut down and labour will not be held responsible.”
Okowa’s Chief of Staff Tam Brisibe, who attended to the workers, lauded them for their peaceful conduct, assuring that the state government will abide by any agreement reached.
Kogi
The workers said they would resist any attempt by those in authority to deny them of a new minimum wage. They warned that “Nigerian workers are not slaves.”
Speaking in Lokoja through Onuh Edoka, the Kogi State Chairman, they (workers) demanded for the immediate implementation of the new minimum wage.
Stating that labour has rejected the N20,000 minimum wage offer by the Federal Government, Edoka warned that failure to pay N30,000 minimum wage to workers will be resisted.
“Enough is enough,” he said.
He warned the government against testing the will of the workers, describing N20, 000 minimum wage is inadequate to offset children’s school fees, medical bills, and take the workers home.
The unionist also rejected the NGF position that its members cannot pay the new minimum wage, describing their N20, 000 offer as “peanuts, wickedness and inhuman.”
According to him, the new minimum wage was feasible, if those in authority would cut down on frivolities, prioritise expenditure; with governors cutting down on their jamboree, wardrobe allowance and humongous amount spent on the state assemblies to impeach their deputy and speakers.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State chapter of the NLC warned the governors to avoid any acts that will throw the common man into more difficulties through refusal to implement the N30, 000 minimum wage.
In a speech at the Government House in Dutse, by the state NLC chair, Usman Yau, noted that Jigawa State Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar had showed willingness to approve and implement whatever amount agreed to by the Federal government and the workers’ unions.
He urged the governor to speak to some of his colleagues who are not willing to comply on the approval of the National Minimum wage.
The governor reassured his administration’s readiness to implement whatever amount okayed by the NGF, expressing the hope that an agreement will be reached before November 6.
Ekiti
In Ado-Ekiti, Governor Kayode Fayemi described the demand for a new minimum as legitimate and worthy of being given consideration.
He spoke while receiving union officials, who led their members on an awareness rally to the Government House.
The rally, which kicked off at the Mobil Filling Station in Ajilosun area of the state capital, terminated at the Governor’s Office where they tabled the workers tabled their request before the governor.
It was coordinated by NLC National Vice President Solomon Adelegan; Ekiti NLC chair Ade Adesanmi; his TUC counterpart Odunayo Adesoye and Secretary of Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) Blessing Oladele.
The workers had earlier addressed the public at the Erekesan Market and urged them not to be misinformed by media hype from some quarters on the planned strike by all labour unions in the land.
Represented by his Chief of Staff Biodun Omoleye, the governor said his government would do everything to support the demand since it was a product of law and constitution.
He said: “My government, as you all know, is labour-friendly. The agitations for new national minimum is legitimate and let me tell you, my government will never allow workers to go hungry again by working without getting their pay.
“The present wages you are taking can no longer take you half home, as a responsible government; we must listen to your voices. We will take your demands to the Governors’ Forum and we will put up a voice for
you there.
“Here in Ekiti, we will not only pay your salaries and pensions as and at when due, we will also engage in capacity building to motivate workers.
“We sympathise with you on the backlog of salary arrears. As we are settling down, our government will look into it, because never again shall Ekiti workers go hungry due to non-payment of salaries, bye, bye to such era.”
The union leaders deplored the alleged insensitivity of the Federal Government to have turned down the N30, 000 proposal, when it can pay the jumbo pay being taken by politicians.
Adelegan said the national minimum wage ought to have been reviewed since 2015 based on the proposition that the law should be reviewed every five years, in accordance to the law.
He said: “Go and check the records, Nigerian workers are the least paid in Africa and globally. South Africa, Ghana and other smaller countries are paying better wages.
“In a country where government can’t pay just N30,000 minimum wage, its senators remain the highest paid in the world, this in insensitive.
“So, if the government refuses to sign into law before November 11, 2018, we will not hesitate to grind every sector of this country.”
Ogun
The NLC and TUC leaders in Ogun State, led their members and members of other affiliate unions to march through major roads in Abeokuta, sensitising residents ahead of the planned nationwide strike over minimum wage.
The rally, which commenced from the state NLC secretariat, passed through Pansheke, Omida, Ibara and other major roads in Abeokuta.
NLC Chairman in the state, Akeem Ambali, who addressed reporters, berated those calling for salary deregulation, arguing that it is baseless, since the salaries of National Assembly members and that of the governors were not deregulated.
According to Ambali, “it is inhuman and hypocritical for some people who earn between N16 million and N23 million per month to lead the campaign against the payment of N30, 000 minimum wage to workers.
“There is no basis for salary deregulation being clamoured for in some quarters. There is no deregulation of salary for any governor. All the governors in this country take same salary. No deregulation of salary for the National Assembly members. Do you know how much governor take per month?
“If the people, in this same Nigeria and under same market, take as much as cumulative total of N23 million and N16 million per month, for God sake, and you are say you can’t afford N30, 000…”
The TUC state chapter chairman, Olubunmi Fajobi, noted that workers were the least paid in the world, adding that the country also ranked among the poorest.
According to him, the negotiation with government had been concluded, and could not understand why the same government was foot drafting with implementation.
“We have the government deliberately deceiving the entire Nigerians. That’s why as organised labour we considered it necessary to sensitise every Nigerian to know what is particularly at stake,” Ambali said.
The President of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses & Midwives and the National Chairman of the Joint Public Negotiating Council, Abdulrafiu Adeniji, who were in the state to monitor the rally, said workers have been suffering. They demanded an end to it.
He noted that the sensitisation was necessary to equip Nigerians to stand for their right.
Ambali said: “I have been instructed to here to monitor the rally to sensitise and mobilise not only the work force but the Nigeria populace about the implication continuous denial of the workforce of the expected minimum wage.
“So, we are here as a mark of solidarity for suffering working class and to establish the fact that long enough the government of this country has deprived not only the workers but the entire populace their right.
“If this is so, we need to sensitise our members and the entire world to know their right, stand for it and fight for the right of Nigerian workers. We must tell the government why the new minimum wage must not only be paid but be expedited upon.”

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The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Tuesday agreed to pay a national minimum wage of N22,500 from the existing N18,000.
The Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Zamfara State, Abdul’aziz Yari disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the end of its 2nd emergency meeting held in Abuja.
Yari said that the decision was arrived at after a briefing from the forum representatives at the Tripartite Committee.
He said that the welfare of all Nigerians is the ultimate concern of the governors, saying in all our states, we are concerned about the deteriorating economic situation experienced by the vulnerable segment of our population.
He said that in agreeing to a National Minimum Wage, the Forum was even more concerned about development, particularly in the health, education and infrastructure spheres.
“It is therefore our considered position that since the percentage of salaried workers is not more than five per cent of the total working population, our position must not just reflect a figure, but also a sustainable strategy based on ability and capacity to pay, as well as reflective of all our developmental needs in each State.
“After all, Section 3 of the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission Act provides that “the Commission shall recommend a proposition of income growth which should be initiated for wage increase and also examined the salary structure in public and private sector with reasonable features of relativity and maximum levels which are in consonance with the national economy”
“It is in this sense that we feel strongly that our acceptable minimum wage must be done in such a way that total personnel cost does not exceed 50 per cent of the revenue available to each State.
“Governors therefore agreed to pay a national minimum wage of N22,500.”
The meeting with the governors were the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma.
Some of the governors at the emergency meeting were Kebbi, Ebonyi, Imo, Lagos, Plateau, Osun, Ekiti, Ogun, and Nasarawa represented by Deputy, Adamawa.
The Organised Labour had scheduled Nov. 6 to embark on nationwide strike to compel government to peg a new minimum wage at N30,000.
The leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and United Labour Congress of Nigeria (TUC), on Tuesday held mass protest across the country as part of sensitisation of workers and Nigerians for the planned industrial action.

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 UNILORIN, Parliamentary Summit

The Students Union Senate Council of the University of Ilorin will hold a “Students Parliamentary Summit” from November 1- November 3, 2018.
The Summit will feature orientation for 2018/2019 Senate Council of the student Union on the day one, Inter University debate on day two and legislative summit on the third day.
The orientation program is aimed at inducting new senators into 21st century legislation, while the inter university debate is an avenue to allow legislators across universities in Nigeria and invited west African universities to debate on contemporary issues where winners shall emerge.
The theme of the legislative summit is 21st Century Legislation; The Role Of Young Parliamentarians in Effective Governance.
A digitalized compendium will be launched on the day of the summit.
President of the Student Union Senate council, Senator Jesunifemi Akano Joseph urged students of the institution to attend the occasion and be assured that they will leave with additional knowledge.
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Supreme Court condemns APC, Appeal Court handling of Rivers congresses 



The Supreme Court came down hard on Monday on the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt Division over their handling of the processes leading to the party’s congresses held in Rivers State in May this year.
A panel of five justices of the court held, in a judgment, that the APC acted in “condemnable, egregious and preposterous” manner by proceeding to conduct its ward, local government and state congresses of May 19, 20 and 21, 2018, respectively, in Rivers State, in disregard of a pending court order restraining it from so acting.


The panel headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) said the Appeal Court, Port-Harcourt engaged “a sacrilegious exercise of discretion” by ignoring the doctrine of stare decisis ‎in its June 21, 2018 judgment, given in favour of the APC, despite the party’s decision to conduct its congresses in Rivers State in breach of subsisting orders of the High Court of the state.
The judgment was on an appeal by 23 APC members, including Ibrahim Umar, David Ndah, Prince Morris, Kudem Bale, and Otokim Jack, who were aggrieved by the outcome of APC’s congresses.
Justice Centus Nweze, who read the lead judgment, upheld the appeal and proceeded to set aside the June 21, 2018 order of the Court of Appeal, with which it stayed the execution of the May 11 and May 30 orders made by the High Court of Rivers State stopping the conduct of the congresses.
Justice. Nweze, after reviewing the handling of the case by the Part-Harcourt division of the Appeal Court, said: “Regrettably, the lower court condoned the condemnations, egregious and preposterous approach of the respondent herein (APC).”
He said the Supreme Court will not support such unruly conduct as exhibited by the APC in Rivers State.
Jusice Nweze added: “Well, this court (Supreme Court) has a duty to resist this attempt to achieve forensic victory through jiggery-pokery. True to its constitutional mandate, this court cannot lend its weight to this unhealthy approach.
“Therefore, I have a duty to allow this appeal. Accordingly, I hereby enter an order setting aside the ruling of the lower court delivered on June 21, 2018.”
Justice Nweze upheld the contention by the appellants that the Appeal Court ought not to have granted the order of stay of execution in favour of APC while the party was still in disobedience of the order of the High Court.
Justice Nweze noted that on May 11, 2018, “not minding the invasion of the court by hoodlums, an invasion that was charaterised by the destruction of items of the court, the court was still able to deliver its ruling and issued an interlocutory injunctive orders restraining the respondents from conducting its congresses….
“As if that was not enough, on May 19 and May 20, and May 21, respectively, in notwithstanding the pendency of the injunctive orders, the respondent (APC) went ahead to conduct the ward, local government and state congresses.
“This defiance has prompted the high court’s order of mandatory injunction of May 30. The restraining order cancels state congresses of May 12, 19, 20 and 21.
“Despite the subsisting orders of the court, orders of May 11 and 30, the respondent in the most impudent manner, the besieged the  Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division for an entreaty to favour it with an order of stay of proceedings and order of stay of execution.
“The lower court sitting on both, favoured the respondent, that is, the applicant before it, with an order staying the execution of the ‘order of injunction made by the High Court of Rivers State, Port H in the ruling delivered by Nwogu J, on Friday, May 11, 2018.’
“The simple truth therefore, is that, when the respondent applied for stay of execution before the lower court, it was in gross disobedience of the positive order of the trial court.
“From all indications, notwithstanding this unfortunate development, the lower court still found it legitimate to favour the respondent with a positive of order of stay of execution. This was wrong,” Justice Nweze said.
He faulted the Appeal Court’s failure to abide by the doctrine of “stares decisis” and refusal to subject itself to the Supreme Court’s decision in the case – the Military Governor of Lagos State Vs Ojukwu. He said the Appeal Court, by its conduct, “embarked on a journey of self-immolation and the Japanese ‘harakiri,” a journey, Justice Nweze described as a sacrilegious judicial exercise of discretion.
He said:  “Indeed, nothing could be a more sacrilegious judicial exercise of discretion than the lower court’s ill-advised embarkation on this ill-fated journey of self-immolation, or what the Japanese call the harakiri, that means suicide, all in an attempt to in an attempt to circumvent the authority of this court.”
Justice Nweze described the decision of the Appeal Court to disregard the established precedent of the Supreme Court as gross insurbordination.
He said, “This court (the Supreme Court) is the highest court in Nigeria; its decisions bind every court, authority or person in Nigeria.
“By the doctrine of stares decisis, the courts below are bound to follow the decision of the Supreme Court. The doctrine is a sine qua non for certainty in the practice and the application of law.
“The refusal therefore, by a judge of the court below to refuse to be bound by this court’s decision is gross insubordination.”
Justice Nweze described the attempt by APC’s lawyer, Hakeem Afolabi (SAN) to distinguish the case from the Supreme Court’s decisions in  Military Governor of Lagos State vs. Ojukwu, and Odogu vs. Odogu, as superficially attractive, but feeble.
He frowned at what he described as APC’s lawyer’s “advocacy style” in the case, and said lawyers must draw a distinction between their role and status as a lawyer, and their political interests.
Lawyer to the appellants, who are loyal to the Senator Magnus Abe camp of the party, Henry Bello said the imperative of the Supreme Court’s judgment was “a warning to politicians to always be obedient to court orders ahead of 2019 elections.”
Alleging exclusion, Ibrahim Umar, David Ndah, Prince Morris, Kudem Bale, Otokim Jack and others had, in May 2018 sued the APC and sought to stop the conduct of congresses of the party in the state.
Upon the plaintiffs’ application, Justice Chiwendu Nwogu of the Port Harcourt Division of the High Court of Rivers State, on May 10, 2011, granted an interlocutory injunction restraining the APC from conducting the congresses.
The party went ahead to conduct the congresses on May 19, 20 and 21.
This prompted Justice Nwogu to nullify the congresses in his ruling of May 30.
Dissatisfied with the May 30 ruling of the High Court, the APC proceeded to the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal, praying for an order of stay of execution of both the May 11 and May 30 orders of the High Court and an order of stay of proceedings before the said High Court.
The Court of Appeal on June 21, 2018, granted the APC’s request, a development which prompted the plaintiffs in the High Court to appeal to Supreme Court to challenge the order of stay of execution granted by the appeal court.
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The police in Ogun have arrested one Abiodun Ojo, 38, for allegedly raping a six-year-old girl.
Ojo was arrested on Sunday at Magbara Village, Idiroko.
The suspect said to be co-tenants with the victim’s parents, lured her to a bush path under the guise of sending her on an errand.
He was said to have forcefully penetrated the minor whose screams attracted the attention of local guards.
The guards, it was gathered, rescued the victim, beat up the suspect and alerted the police at Idiroko Division.


Confirming the incident, the command’s spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) said the victim and suspect were taken to the hospital for treatment.
He said the Police Commissioner Ahmed Illiyasu has directed that the case be transferred to the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour unit, State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for further action.
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Lagos State House of Assembly has denied the rumour going round, both in the social media and regular media, that it was planning to impeach the Governor of the state, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.
Speaking at plenary on Monday, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said that there was no truth in the rumour.
Obasa revealed that he had received telephone calls and enquiries from prominent members of the public over the alleged impeachment moves against Ambode.
According to him, Solidarity Group of Nigeria and a faction of the APC in Lagos State, led by Mr. Fuad Oki had been insinuating that the lawmakers in the state threatened the Governor to open the state treasury for them, and that they threatened to impeach him if he failed to do so.
“We are not embarking on any impeachment process against the governor now. If there would be an impeachment, it would be from the governor and if there would not be any need for impeachment, it would be from him based on his actions.
“Even at that, impeachment is constitutional, so many speakers, senate presidents, presidents and others have been impeached all over the world. So, nobody can threaten us if it happens because we are representatives of the people.
“We don’t need the wailers to guide us in performing our duties. It is not out of place for us to do our job,” he said.
The Speaker added that if there was going to be an impeachment, It would be done in the open, but that there was nothing like that for now, adding that the people would know if any impeachment against the governor would happen.
He however, promised that the Assembly was working with the governor to ensure peace and development in the state.
This was corroborated by the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, who stated that the constitutional procedure for impeachment does not harbour secrecy, adding that members of the public would know if it would happen.
It will be recalled that the Assembly last week ordered the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state to direct the operators of Private Sector Participation (PSP) involved in refuse clearing in the state to go back to work.
The House had also disowned Visionscape that was contracted by Ambode to take over refuse clearing job in the state from the PSP Operators over one year ago.
It was added that the state government would have to return all the money they have paid to Visionscape and that the heaps of refuse all over the state was an indication that the organisation lacked the capacity to do the job.
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 Shehu Sani’
Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the red chamber of National Assembly has resigned his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Shehu Sani left APC on Saturday as the coast became clearer that, the party has submitted name of Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s aide, Malam Uba as its candidate for Kaduna Central Senatorial seat.
In his resignation letter to APC at Tudun Wada Ward, the senator only resigned his party membership without stating his destination political party.
The resignation letter read in part, “I present to you my highest compliments and wish by this communication to formally offer to you my resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I have joined the APC and remained with it against all odds in the belief that it will consider a veritable platform for the realization of those democratic idea which I hold very dear, that honour and integrity will be the ultimate ethos of the party and, most importantly, that internal party democracy will always be the norm.
“However, only posterity can affirm the extent to which the APC has committed to and reflected these values.
“As I exit the APC at this time, I wish to formally thank the party for availing me the platform upon which I am currently serving this country in the honoured capacity of Senator of the Federal Republic.” The letter read.
Confirming the resignation, Special Assistant to Shehu Sani on Media, Abdulsamad Chimma-Amadi confirmed the  resignation of his principal from APC.
“Yes, that is the story for now. The Senator has resigned from APC today but he has not moved to any political party as I am speaking with you. So, if there is any update, I will get across to you.” He said.
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 Buhari
Founder Solid Rock Kingdom Church in Mkpat Enin local government area of Akwa Ibom state, Apostle John Okoriko has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is God’s answer to outcries of Nigerians against the evil of corruption.
At a press briefing marking his 70th birthday, Okoriko said on Friday that God brought Buhari to power in 2015 to rid the country of corruption which had ravaged the socio-economic and political lives of Nigerians.
According to the cleric, the President’s integrity, passion and commitment to the fight against corruption earned him overwhelming victory in the 2015 presidential election.
He contended that a people deserve the kind of government they yearn for, adding that “I have a lesson that I teach my church that every people deserve the government that rules them beginning from the villages.
“If there is a particular village that is corrupt, God will put a corrupt leader there, unless they want change. There are people who want change and God will give them a person that will bring the desired change.
“I believe that President Muhammadu Buhari may not be the best, may not be the holiest but just because there was so much cry about corruption; that is why he picked corruption as his major campaign thrust.


“He promised he was going to tackle corruption; that is what gave him overwhelming votes because corruption in the country was too much and embarrassing. God just gave Buhari for that purpose.
“The integrity that he has gave him the votes when the issue of corruption was so bad. That is my belief. If we are free from corruption and we look for something else that is not found in Buhari, God will put another person because He is involved in human governance”, he said.
Okoriko urged Nigerians to get their permanent voter card(PVC)  to enable them make the right choices of leaders in next year’s general elections so that the country can continue on the path of sanity and socio-economic progress.
He advised religious leaders to play positive roles in providing sound admonition and values to guide political leaders in the country.
On the proliferation of churches, he said, “You will not expect me to say that we should have more drinking joints, more hotels, and more brothels than churches”.
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The police have arrested a Togolese, Dominic Samson, 31, for allegedly sleeping with underage girls.
He was said to have given them N50 each after the exercise.
Samson was arrested last Monday around 8:50am by Ejigbo Police Station Divisional Police Officer Olabisi Okufowobi, a Chief Superintendent (CSP) following a complaint by the father of one his victims, a 15-year-old girl.
According to a statement issued on Monday by Police spokesman, Chike Oti, a CSP, Samson was caught sleeping with the 15-year-old girl by neighbours at their 28 Olusesan Street, Ejigbo home.
The neighbours informed the girl’s father, who had gone out to his place of work.
The man reported the matter to Ejigbo Police Station
Oti said: “Based on his complaint, the DPO, a female officer, interrogated the victim and she confirmed the report. She confirmed that the suspect did not only defile her but sodomised her by having anal sexual intercourse with her. She further revealed that she was not the only victim of the suspect’s indecent sexual behaviour . She named five other victims who are within 13 to 15 years age bracket
“All the victim’s except the sixth had been identified, interrogated and their statements recorded. The girls said the suspect sometimes bring all of them together in one room for an orgy and thereafter give them a cash reward of N50 each.”
According to him, the victims had been taken to the Mirabel Centre where the doctor’s report confirmed that the victims were indeed defiled as alleged.
The Commissioner of Police (CP) Imohimi Edgal, Oti said, urged parents to be mindful of their children as that is the only panacea to the rising cases of sexual exploitation and abuse of children.

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…I ll stay and fight this battle, says Fayose
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged has alleged that the Presidency has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to detain indefinitely, the outgoing governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose.
In a statement issued Monday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said information at its disposal and in the social media, indicated that the Presidency has put the EFCC on the alert to arrest the governor at midnight today and detain him indefinitely.

The party said the alleged directive by the Presidency was not unconnected with alleged plot to use the EFCC and other security agencies to incarcerate the governor for his persistent criticism of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government.
The statement said, “This uncompromising stand of the outgoing governor against the present administration was the reason Ekiti State was invaded and taken by force during the last governorship election.
“By 12 midnight, the governor’s residence is expected to be surrounded by armed men of the EFCC under the pretense that they had information of his plot to escape. This is to achieve their plan to humiliate the governor and portray him in bad light to the public by dramatising his arrest.
“Nigerians can recall that it was the governor who offered to submit himself to the EFCC despite the commission’s clear display of bias and partisanship as demonstrated in its various actions, especially its tweets and putting the governor on security watch-list.
“The EFCC even unprofessionally showed its bias in deriding the governor, making light of a very serious matter by mocking him and asking him to come before his tenure elapsed, which the governor declined in line with his constitutional immunity.
“It is now beyond dispute that Governor Fayose is not a scoundrel running away from justice. Whatever the EFCC, APC, and the Presidency’s spin-doctors may say, it is also clear to everyone that Fayose is not a coward; neither is he afraid of the EFCC”
The PDP said Fayose is prepared and ready to defend himself in the court of law, adding that neither the Presidency nor EFCC is a court of law.
The party said having claimed to have dusted up Fayose’s files; the EFCC should be ready to take him to court once he presents himself at the agency’s office on Tuesday.
“Governor Fayose has offered to walk to the EFCC office by himself and nothing must happen to him. The PDP condemns this resort to fascism by the APC government. The whole world should be at alert to see another demonstration of crude disrespect for the rule of law and rights of Nigerians”.
Meanwhile, Fayose has reiterated his readiness to honour the EFCC’s invitation today, adding that he would “stay and fight this battle”.
Fayose, spoke in Abuja Monday night at a send-forth ceremony organised in his honour by the PDP Governors Forum.
According to him, he would continue to criticise the Buhari administration as his tenure ended midnight.
Commenting on the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration, Fayose said, “They got power by deceit. But they gave no solution. Tell them at the Villa; my name is Ayodele Fayose, Peter the Rock. By the Grace of God, I will be at the EFCC tomorrow (today) by 1pm. I am not a coward.
“Let it be said to them that today is their own.  Tomorrow is our own. I will not run away, they will rather run away. They took me to Court 13 years ago, I won after 8 years.
“They harassed my family and I got judgment three times against them. This time will not be an exception. Those who wait for me will wait in vain. EFCC is no court”.
Present at the send-forth ceremony were Governors Udom Emmanuel (A/Ibom); Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Darius Ishaku (Taraba); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); Dave Umahi (Ebonyi); Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); and the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus.

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No fewer than 150,000 athletes both locally and internationally are expected to participate in the 4th edition of Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode said on Monday.
Addressing a press conference at Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja to officially announce commencement of preparations for the marathon which is billed to hold on February 2, 2019, Governor Ambode said the target of the State Government, was to use the forthcoming edition to take the tournament from the bronze label of International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) to silver, in partnership with the sponsors.
According to him, “The whole idea is to turn the competition from bronze to silver level. In the last three editions, we had between 100,000 and 120,000 participants. This time around, we want to make sure that come February 2019, we would have not less than 150,000 participants.
“The reason why we want to take it to that level is to create a new record and create a new platform to allow the 2019 edition to herald what is going to happen in the next six years. We believe strongly that in another six years when we are marking the 10th anniversary, we should actually become a top class marathon, and that is our vision for this competition.
“We believe that it is achievable. This is not necessarily about me; it is not even about the sponsors but about making Lagos to be on that top brand across the world and that is how cities are elevated to become global brand,” Governor Ambode said.
He said arrangement had equally been firmed up to encourage more local participation, as well as more physically-challenged athletes, a development he said necessitated the increase in prize monies for the two categories.
“We think obviously that we should pay more attention to our physically-challenged athletes this time around and also to embrace more of local participation. This time around, we would push more money to the local races and we would push more money to also our physically-challenged athletes to encourage more people to come in, while the main prize remain the same,” he said.
Speaking further at the media briefing which was attended by Nigeria’s sports icons including Mary Onyali, Samson Siasia, Waheed Akanni, Seye Ogunlewe, among others, the Governor said the idea of the marathon was part of his administration’s initiatives to use sports, entertainment and hospitality to grow the economy and positively engage the bourgeoning youth population in the State.
“Looking at some of Nigeria’s sport legends here, it just summarizes everything that we have tried to do in the last three and half years. The idea is that it is possible to create a new set of jobs and services using sports, using hospitality, using entertainment to create a new level of creativity and innovation and then drive the Nigerian economy into different direction that creates positive energy, and when you come to this kind of gathering and you are able to now see the private sector, sports people, it means that there is still hope in this country,” Governor Ambode said.
Besides, the Governor commended all the sponsors, media and all those who have contributed to the success of the marathon in the last three years, saying the development was a dream come true.
Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku Tandor said the Lagos City Marathon, was the third of its kind after Brighton and Bournemouth Marathon in the United Kindgom to earn the prestigious IAAF Bronze Label only after its second edition, which held on February 10, 2018.
He said the Governor had already given approval for the setting up of a Lagos Marathon Village at the Teslim Balogun Stadium that would not only sustain the culture of the marathon but also serve as a rallying point in the quest by the present administration to stage mini-marathons in the five divisions of the State.
“It is going to serve as the headquarters for marathon races in Lagos. What we have in mind is to have sectoral marathons, Lagos Women Run is coming up next month, we have SWAN Marathon coming up in December and we also envisage that we are going to be having Epe Marathon, Ikorodu Marathon and so on.
“So we need a coordinating office under the direction of the Lagos State Sports Commission and that is the vision that led to the construction of that facility within Teslim Balogun to serve as the Lagos Marathon Village. Construction work will commence anytime from now,” Tandoh said.
He said the Governor had also approved the constitution of a Marathon Council that would be responsible for the supervision of the 2019 Marathon and going forward.
On his part, Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe said the commitment of the State Government under the leadership of Governor Ambode has ensured that the Lagos Marathon had become an annual event on the international athletics map.
He assured that Access Bank, the major sponsors of the Lagos Marathon would continue to give its full support to the event, adding that the 2019 edition will take the event a notch higher so as to receive an IAAF Silver Label for the marathon.
In his brief remarks, President of the Athletics federation of Nigeria (AFN), Engr. Ibrahim Gusau commended Governor Ambode for setting the pace for others to follow for others to follow in sports development, saying that the 2018 edition of the Lagos Marathon was highly rated amongst top competitions on the international calendar.

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President Muhammadu Buhari has sent warm greetings to His Royal Majesty, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111, Iku Baba Yeye, on his 80th birthday.
Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, joined the Council of Obas and Chiefs in Oyo State, Traditional Council, family and friends of the Alaafin of Oyo, who is heir to the historic Oyo Empire, in celebrating the landmark age.
As His Royal Majesty turns an octogenarian, the President believed his 48 years on the throne of his fathers have been most remarkable for the entire dynasty, illustrated by his contributions to the educational, social and cultural development of the people, both those at home and abroad.

He extolled the Alaafin of Oyo’s courage in upholding the values of integrity, hard work and search for knowledge, which has been the hallmark of the great Oyo Empire, commending him for regular counsels to governments, institutions and families.
The President prayed that the almighty God will grant the royal father longer life, good health and more wisdom to sustain the legacies of his fathers.

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Nigeria’s king of comedy, Moses  Olaiya Adejumo, popularly called Baba Sala is dead.
The veteran musician, theatre artiste and filmmaker who had suffered old age ailments for a long while had been rumoured to have passed on, several times.
One of his sons, Emmanuel Adejumo, aka Boisala announced his demise in the early hours of Monday, October 8, 2018.
“My Daddy is gone. Finally gone home to glory. King of Comedy finally say bye-bye to this world. I will miss you so much Daddy. I love you so much but God love you more. Good night my mentor, father, teacher, gist partner. My daddy is gone,” Boisala stated on Facebook.
Baba Sala reportedly died in the late hours of Sunday, October 7, 2018 in his hometown, Ilesa, Osun State.
His body is said to have been deposited at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex Annex, (Wesley Guild Hospital),  Ilesa.
He was 81 years old.

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Governor Mohammed Umar Jibrilla (Bindow) of Adamawa State has declared unreserved loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari and support for his candidacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 presidential election.
The declaration came against the background of the emergence of a son of the state, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as the presidential candidate of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a development which has divided an Adamawa State that was otherwise solidly behind Buhari.
The state Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mr Sajoh Ahmed, who spoke for Bindow at a press conference in the Government House in Yola Monday, condemned what he described as a looming blackmail by elements who he said were planning to design a poster pairing Bindow with ‘the presidential candidate of another party’, a ploy which he said was wicked and baseless.
“Bindow is an APC governor working for APC and has no intention to support or canvass support for any presidential candidate outside APC. He has no support for any candidate other than Buhari,” he asserted, adding that anybody who prints any document to portray anything to the contrary should be disregarded.

The commissioner who refrained from specifically mentioning Atiku’s name in his initial address, submitted at the question and answer session of the press conference that Atiku as an Adamawa man winning the presidential ticket of a major opposition party was ‘a factor’ but that Bindow already had the candidate of his party and that Adamawa would always choose reality rather than promises.
He said Buhari had done enough for Adamawa State since he became president to make the people prefer him to any other candidate.

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Former Chelsea and England captain John Terry has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 37 as he prepares to move into coaching.
Terry, who has been without a club since leaving Aston Villa on a free transfer in May and was close to joining Spartak Moscow in September before having a change of heart, announced the decision on his official Instagram account.
Last week, he helped prepare Chelsea U19s for a UEFA Youth League match against Danish club Molde that they went on to win 10-1, and he is reportedly set to return to Villa as assistant to Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.
"After 23 incredible years as a footballer, I have decided now is the right time for me to retire from playing," Terry said.
"I want to thank my amazing teammates, coaches, managers and backroom staff, who I was honoured to work with and learn from. They all guided me on my way to playing 717 games for the club I love, and it was a privilege to serve them as captain.
"They also helped me achieve my boyhood dream of playing for and captaining England, of which I am immensely proud.
"I look forward to the next chapter in my life and the challenges ahead."
Terry joined Chelsea's academy from West Ham at the age of 14 and made his first-team debut as a substitute in a League Cup victory over Villa in October 1998.
After a brief spell on loan at Nottingham Forest he established himself as a regular starter at Stamford Bridge and was named club captain by Jose Mourinho after Marcel Desailly's retirement in the summer of 2004.
He went on to lift 18 major trophies at Chelsea including five Premier League titles and the 2012 Champions League before joining Villa when he was released in the summer of 2017, leading the club to the Championship playoff final last season where they were defeated by Fulham at Wembley.
Regarded as one of the greatest defenders of his generation, Terry was also a hugely divisive player outside of Chelsea as a result of a series of off-field controversies.
He was stripped of the England captaincy twice and retired from international football in 2012 in a cloud of acrimony after the Football Association opted to charge him with racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.
Terry was capped 78 times for England and made 717 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions, a tally bettered only by legendary former defender and captain Ron "Chopper" Harris.

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Former Chelsea and England captain John Terry has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 37 as he prepares to move into coaching.
Terry, who has been without a club since leaving Aston Villa on a free transfer in May and was close to joining Spartak Moscow in September before having a change of heart, announced the decision on his official Instagram account.
Last week, he helped prepare Chelsea U19s for a UEFA Youth League match against Danish club Molde that they went on to win 10-1, and he is reportedly set to return to Villa as assistant to Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.
"After 23 incredible years as a footballer, I have decided now is the right time for me to retire from playing," Terry said.
"I want to thank my amazing teammates, coaches, managers and backroom staff, who I was honoured to work with and learn from. They all guided me on my way to playing 717 games for the club I love, and it was a privilege to serve them as captain.
"They also helped me achieve my boyhood dream of playing for and captaining England, of which I am immensely proud.
"I look forward to the next chapter in my life and the challenges ahead."
Terry joined Chelsea's academy from West Ham at the age of 14 and made his first-team debut as a substitute in a League Cup victory over Villa in October 1998.
After a brief spell on loan at Nottingham Forest he established himself as a regular starter at Stamford Bridge and was named club captain by Jose Mourinho after Marcel Desailly's retirement in the summer of 2004.
He went on to lift 18 major trophies at Chelsea including five Premier League titles and the 2012 Champions League before joining Villa when he was released in the summer of 2017, leading the club to the Championship playoff final last season where they were defeated by Fulham at Wembley.
Regarded as one of the greatest defenders of his generation, Terry was also a hugely divisive player outside of Chelsea as a result of a series of off-field controversies.
He was stripped of the England captaincy twice and retired from international football in 2012 in a cloud of acrimony after the Football Association opted to charge him with racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.
Terry was capped 78 times for England and made 717 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions, a tally bettered only by legendary former defender and captain Ron "Chopper" Harris.

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 Lasisi

Nigerian boxer, Aliu Bamidele Lasisi recorded his eighth professional victory after beating Artid Bamrungauea in their bantamweights fight at the King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Lasisi who is sponsored by Top8 and fights for Round 10 Boxing Club in UAE, defeated Bamrungauea by unanimous referees’ decision in their 8-Round bout which was one of the six undercard fight at the Muhammad Ali trophy final,.
The victory also saw the Nigerian made history in the process by becoming the first man to win a professional boxing bout in Saudi Arabia.
In a chat with NationSport, ‘Lucky Boy’ as he is fondly called by his admirers, said he remained focus as he eyes more pro victories.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank my fans for the great support; we did it again making it 8-0 unanimous decision under the card of Muhammad Ali trophy final. I also want to thank Round 10 Boxing Club Top8 Yachts and Boats Rental for the great support you guys giving me. Right now I want to perform my Umrah (the non-mandatory lesser pilgrimage made by Muslims to Mecca, which may be performed at any time of the year) and I will return to training immediately after that.
“I will continue to train hard and remain focused with my boxing career here in UAE because I still have a long way to go. I pray to God to always crown my efforts with success,” the Qatari-based pugilist told NationSport .
High point of the night saw British Callum Smith beat his compatriot George Groves in stunning seventh round stoppage to become the new WBA super middleweight champion.
Smith claimed the WBA Super world super-middleweight title, while retaining his WBC Diamond belt and picking up the vacant Ring Magazine bauble and the Muhammad Ali Trophy.
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Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo spoke yesterday of the  need to create a `new tribe’ in Nigeria in order to have a country driven by national unity and cohesion.
Osinbajo expressed this view while declaring open a five-day photo exhibition tagged, `ANISZA’ in Abuja.
ANISZA is a collaborative project between the Federal Government and the private sector, a scheme that showcases the untold stories of Nigeria’s unity since independence in 1960 via pictures.
“ANISZA” was derived from the first two letters of three indigenous Nigerian languages–Anoko Onu – Igbo word for togetherness; Isokan – Yoruba word for unity; and Zaman Tare – Hausa words for one tribe.
Osinbajo had earlier toured the mobile gallery and inspected the photographs on display.
He said that two things struck him about the exhibition – the first being the deliberate attempt to engage younger Nigerians and the issue of promoting national unity.
Osinbajo added that the second thing that struck him was the idea of casting a vision by reflecting Nigeria’s history via a collection of photographs that told Nigeria’s national story as the victories of unity despite the diversities and dissention.
The vice president said that the pictures he saw included the photograph of the Shitta Bey Mosque, which was headlined by Christian leaders who were gladly invited by Muslim leaders to the mosque.
Osinbajo said he also saw the photograph of where Christians formed a protective shield of Muslims at prayer in Abuja in 2012 among others.
“It seems to me to be a good time for me to recall an earlier call I have made for a new tribe of Nigerians to build a new Nigeria.
“It is my respected view that to build a new Nigeria, we need a new tribe; one tribe of men and women of all faiths, of all tribes, of all ethnicities committed to a country run on high values; high values of integrity, of hard work, of justice and of love of country.
“A tribe of men and women who are prepared to make the sacrifices and exercise the self-constraint that is crucial for building a healthy society and who are prepared to stick together to fight injustice; to fight corruption; to insist on the rule of law; even when our friends are the receiving end.
“ A tribe consisting of professionals, of businessmen, of politicians, of students, of religious leaders and all who believe that a new Nigeria is possible,’’ he said.
He said that the exhibition was  a collaboration between the Federal Government represented by the media team in the presidency, the Federal Ministry of Information and the private sector.
Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, Head of Civil Service of the Federation, said the event was a thing of joy as it came at a day Nigerians were witnessing the 58th independence in peace.
She said the project was a noble gesture which had the support of the Federal Government.
The Project Visionary, Novo Isioro, said that the event was Nigeria’s first ever unity photography exhibition.
“On this ground today, we are gathered for one thing; one very important thing; there is a dream which is focused on re-orientating us to a nation that was united; will stay united and will get better.
“Have you noticed that the media is filled with stories of hate, violence and disunity featuring young people?
“Because we are young, most times we under-formed and even misinformed and we become tools or objects of this violence,’’ she said.
She said that if ethic differences were collapsed in the everyday interaction of Nigerians, the citizens would fare better.
According to her, the documentary is about telling the story of Nigeria’s strength in diversity.
The exhibition, which drew students from across the country, had some  members of the Federation Executive Council in attendance.
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 Tinubu

All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu said last night that his position on the candidates battling for the party’s governorship ticket remains.
Tinubu’s media adviser Tunde Rahman said last night in a statement on Tinubu’s meeting with the President in Abuja:
“Asiwaju Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande were invited by President Buhari and it turned out to be a good and productive meeting. Asiwaju was quite pleased to have conferred with the President who has always shown himself to be a committed party member and a true democrat.
“Just like the President, he is looking forward to a good and credible primary that is peaceful and free of rancor. As previously stated, Asiwaju plans to vote in this primary and his position regarding the relative merits of the candidates remains unchanged.”
In the race are incumbent Akinwunmi Ambode and former Commissioner Jide Sanwo-Olu. The primary election is today.
Asiwaju said of his choice in a statement on Monday: “I am encouraged by the presence of a candidate in this primary, who has served the state in senior positions in my administration, the Fashola administration and even in the current one. While possessing a wealth of experience and exposure, he is a young man endowed with superlative vision and commitment.
“Most importantly, he understands the importance of the blueprint for development. He esteems it as a reliable and well-conceived vehicle for the future development of the state. He also knows the value of reaching out and working with others in order to maximise development and provide people the best leadership possible. With people like him at the helm, the state will write the proper history for itself.”
In  377 wards across 20 local governments, members of the APC will vote today.
Every card-carrying member of the party is eligible.
There will be no ballot box and ballot paper. Party members will queue behind the posters of their preferred aspirant.
The mode of the primary is “open direct primary”, which involves open and physical counting of members on queue behind the posters of their chosen aspirants.
They will be accredited by 9a.m. Election will take place by 12 noon. Members will show their APC Identification Card. No white slip will be accepted,  Chairman Tunde Balogun said yesterday.
Posters of the two aspirants will be held by their agents. After accreditation, party members will queue behind them.
“They will be counted on the queue and recorded. After that, voting ends. The agents of aspirants will sign. Then, the results will be taken to the local governments, the final collation will be done at the state level,” Balogun told The Nation in an interview.
The chairman urged members to troop out to participate in the exercise.
He said the shadow poll will be very transparent and peaceful across the wards, urging members to maintain decorum as they participate in the exercise.”
Ambode is campaigning on continuity. Sanwo-Olu has promised an all-inclusve government –  if elected.
Chairman of the electoral panel former Cross River State Governor Clemant Ebri attributed logistics challenge to the shift of the poll from Monday till today.
He told Ambode when he visited the Government House in Alausa: “I also like to apologise for the delay; it had to be postponed as a result of logistics in Lagos, Imo and some other states because of the pressure and work load from the secretariat and other developments that have taken place.”
Raising the stakes on the shadow election, Ebri said: “Lagos is more like a decider and like they say, when Lagos sneezes the rest of the country catches cold.
“So, that is why we are very careful about what we are doing and the National Chairman asked me to send his best wishes to you and ask us to come and do the right thing to the satisfaction of all members.
“Moreso, the President of this country stands for transparency and detests corruption and, a situation where no one feels manipulated.
“The process we are laying out is such that will ensure and guarantee transparency and credibility. We have people of integrity in this panel.
Other members of the panel are: Alhaji Ahmed Mahmud Gumel as secretary; Mr Nze Chidi Duru; Chief Clever Egbeji, Sen. Clever Ikisikpo and Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe.
On the integrity of the members, Ebri said: “These are not rookies in politics; they are people who have been tested. You can see senators, former governors, former deputy governor, former member of the House of Representatives; so, this is a star-studded team.
“I can assure you that we have all the experience that you want and you can think about to conduct this exercise. We assure you of our sincerity and transparency and we seek your cooperation in providing a level-playing field.’
Ambode replied:  “I receive this election team as being acceptable and credible to me enough to discharge their civic responsibility to the best of their abilities and to also say that whatever it is that is the outcome of the primaries, your presence has also shown that this will be credible and this will be acceptable to me.”
“So, it is very clear to me, all I seek is credible primaries, transparent primaries and level playing ground that we will all be proud of at the end of the day for the outcome,” the governor said, adding:
“There were issues that we have raised that we are also trying to correct.
“The bottom line is this, we are family, we must not go into the elections divided because this is the very first time that our party is controlling the centre and also the state; that is what I want us to continue.
“The issues that I raised have been put in form of a letter which I will pass to the chairman and I believe the committee will look into it judiciously.
“And also I welcome the stakeholders meeting which will allow you feel the pulse of what is going on in the state.”
The panel’s members attended a stakeholders meeting at the Lagos State APC secretariat in Ogba last night to perfect the planning for the election.

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