Kano Deputy Governor Petitions Police, SSS, Raises Alarm Over Impeachment Plan, Threat to Life

Professor Hafiz Abubakar, Kano state deputy Governor has petitioned the police and State Security Service, SSS, over threat to his life and plans to impeach him.

Online newspaper, DAILY NIGERIAN on Monday reported that, Hafiz, in a petition addressed to Kano State police commissioner and copied to the Assistant Inspector General in charge of Zone I and the state director of the SSS, the deputy governor sought deployment of security personnel around him.

Mr Abubakar, a loyalist of former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, has been at loggerheads with the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, for siding with Mr Kwankwaso in the political impasse in the state.

In the petition, exclusively obtained by DAILY NIGERIAN, the deputy governor said the state government has released funds to mobilise youths from the 44 local government areas of the state to protest against his stay in office without either resigning or facing impeachment.

“My attention has been drawn to orchestrated plots to frame me up on non-existing allegations to pave way for my impeachment from office by the State House of Assembly,” the letter read.

“Secondly, the state government was also alleged to have made funds available to the 44 Local Government Councils to raise groups and organize a protest in the State Capital to call for either my resignation or impeachment from office.

“The concern here is that the protest, no matter how peaceful it was intended to be, could be hijacked by miscreants and turn it into violent one, thereby posing security threat not only to my person but to the state at large.

“Another worry is the fact that, I am residing in my private residence not the official residence that is located in the secure environment within the Government House, as Government is yet to provide me with the Statutory Official Residence.

I travel no less than 40km to and from my residence to the office on daily basis.

“In view of the foregoing realities, I am calling on the State Police Command to strengthen security around me and particularly at my residence in order to forestall any unpleasant security breach.”

DAILY NIGERIAN 

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Breaking: Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed dumps APC

The Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC. Governor Ahmed made know his decision just the same time the Senate President, Abubakar Bikola Saraki equally announced he has dumped the APC.

In a statement by his media aide, Muyideen Akorede, Governor Ahmed said he decided to dump the APC after much consultations with the people of his state. According to him, “Following due consultations with the people and in response to calls by major stakeholder groups in the state, Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed today defected to the People’s Democratic Party(PDP), having realized that the All Progressive Congress (APC) can longer serve as a platform for achieving the aspirations and expectations of his people,” the statement said. Meanwhile, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki has equally dumped the APC. Saraki made his defection known through his twitter handle. According to him, ” I wish to inform Nigerians that, after extensive consultations, I have decided to take my leave of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

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Nigeria Senate President Bukola Saraki quits APC through His Twitter Handle

The Nigerian senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki has quit the All Progressive Congress party, (APC).

Saraki made this announcement on his Twitter handle on Tuesday, saying ‘I wish to inform Nigerians that, after extensive consultations, I have decided to take my leave of the All Progressives Congress (APC)’

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SARAKI, DOGARA: Current Situation In Benue Is A Desecration Of Legislative Sanctity

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara have described as " a desecration of the legislative sanctity", the on-going situation in Benue State in which eight out of the 30 members of the State House of Assembly have commenced impeachment process against the governor and with the support of the police, the 22 other members who constitute more than two-third majority are kept away from the Assembly complex.

In a statement jointly signed by their media aides, Saraki and Dogara also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the police to order and stop being used to achieve political purposes.

"We have monitored closely the development in Benue State in which the impeached Speaker, Terkimbir Ikyange led seven other members to serve impeachment notice on the state Governor, Samuel Ortom while the 22 other members who constitute more than two-third majority have been prevented from having access to the chamber. We believe this is illegality and does not conform to parliamentary procedure on impeachment.

"We also note with surprise the role of the Police in this undemocratic events in which the minority is seeking to impeach a Governor against the position of the majority. We believe it is the sacred institution of the legislature that is being desecrated and rubbished in all these negative developments.

"The situation in Benue State House of Assembly has grave implication for the nation's democracy  and it represents a throw-back to the period of dictatorship in our country. It also represents how the Nigeria Police are being misused to achieve political end. In a statement recently, the Presidency derisively referred to an era in the past where a minority number of legislators was used to impeach Governors who were unfriendly with the Federal Government. What we are seeing in Benue now is a return to that inglorious era.

"We believe this unlawful and unconstitutional move to impeach Governor Samuel Ortom by a minority should be condemned by all lovers of democracy, at home and abroad. We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the police to order and prevent a break-down of law and order. We also call on friends of Nigeria in the international community to lend their voice in condemning the perpetration of illegalities and actions that can subvert our democracy.

"There is already a tense atmosphere in Benue State following the recent killings. Nobody should encourage any action or move which may exacerbate the security situation in the North Central State.
As leaders of the Federal legislature, we are ready to work with our colleagues in both chambers of the National Assembly to prevent any attempt to destroy any state legislature or use it to derail democracy", Saraki and Dogara stated.

Signed

Yusuph Olaniyonu
Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to Senate President

And

Turaki Hassan
Special Adviser (Media and Public Affairs to Speaker, House of Representives)

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Benue PDP Lawmakers Suspend APC Lawmakers For Holding Illegal Plenary

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the Benue State House of Assembly on Monday announced the suspension of seven All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers.

The PDP lawmakers, numbering 19, are suspending the APC lawmakers for court contempt and for holding illegal plenary.

The PDP lawmakers during their plenary at the old banquet hall of the Government House in Makurdi, Benue State capital said the plenary by the APC lawmakers is illegal as they have disregarded the restraining order against the former speaker, Terkimbi Ikyange and his executives.

The PDP lawmakers have also called on the international community to intervene in the crisis rocking the Benue State House of Assembly.

This suspension comes few hours after APC lawmakers, during their plenary at the State House of Assembly, moved a motion for the impeachment of Governor Samuel Ortom over alleged diversion of state funds and abuse of office.

Earlier on Monday, police officers stormed the Benue State House of Assembly preventing 22 PDP lawmakers from gaining access to the complex.

A Benue State High court, last week, gave an order restraining the impeached speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Terkimbi Ikyange, from parading himself as the Speaker of the House.

The Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Adam Onum, on Friday, granted an ex parte order of interim, restraining the impeached speaker.

Also, his Deputy, James Okefe Ejembi and the former Majority leader, Benjamin Tilley Adanyi, were ordered by the court to stop parading themselves as principal officers of the state assembly, pending the determination of a suit filed by the 22 lawmakers.

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Picking Oshiomhole As Chair Saved APC – Okorocha

The Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, says choosing Adams Oshiomhole as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress saved the party from an impending catastrophe.

Okorocha said in spite of the turbulence currently facing the APC, with Oshiomhole in the saddle, the party would land at a safe destination.

In a statement in Owerri on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, Okorocha said had they foreseen the current gale of defections rocking the party, the proponents of tenure elongation for Oshiomhole’s predecessor, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, would have thought otherwise.
He said the challenges currently facing the party had shown the wisdom in electing Oshiomhole as the national chairman.

Okorocha said, “One could easily imagine what would have been the case if the party had allowed the Oyegun-led NWC to continue and what would have happened at the party’s primaries especially that of the presidency.

“What is happening in the party now could not have been planned and executed within these few weeks Oshiomhole took over as the national chairman of the party. Rather, his coming only altered the plan of those who wanted to destroy APC to serve personal interests.

According to him, the campaign for tenure elongation for Odigie-Oyegun was an arrangement to short-change President Muhammadu Buhari at the APC presidential primary for 2019.

He added, “Oshiomhole’s coming was timely. He came at the appropriate time. He is on it and will get it right. All we need to do is to support him.”


PUNCH.

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Timetable for the 2018 Peoples Democratic Party Primaries.

August 1 – August 13; Collection of forms by all interested aspirants

August 25; Ward Congress to elect three ward ad-hoc delegates.

August 31; Local Government Congress to elect delegates

September 8; State House of Assembly Primary

September 14; House of Representatives Primary

September 18; Senate Primary

September 21; Governorship Primary

September 30; Presidential Primary

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INEC Releases 2019 Election Timetable For Party Primaries

INEC releases 2019 election time table, fixes party Primaries for August 18 2018 (for presidential and national assembly elections) and October 17 2018 for governorship and state assembly elections.

 

COLLECTION OF FORMS FOR POLITICAL PARTIES FOR ALL ELECTIONS TO BE ISSUED TO CANDIDATES 17TH AUGUST TO 24TH AUGUST 2018.

CONDUCT OF PARTY PRIMARIES INCLUDING RESOLUTION OF DISPUTE ARISING FROM PRIMARIES. 18TH AUGUST ENDS 07TH OCTOBER 2018.

COMMENCEMENT OF CAMPAIGN BY POLITICAL PARTIES FOR PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 18TH NOVEMBER 2018

COMMENCEMENT OF CAMPAIGN BY POLITICAL PARTIES FOR GOVERNORSHIP AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY 01ST DECEMBER 2018

LAST DAY OF SUBMISSION OF FORMS CF001 AND CF002 AT INEC HQ (FOR ALL ELECTIONS) 

PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 18TH OCTOBER 2018.

GOVERNORSHIP AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY 02ND NOVEMBER 2018.

PUBLICATIONS OF PERSONAL PARTICULARS OF CANDIDATES (CF001)

PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 25TH OCTOBER 2018

GOVERNORSHIP AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY 09TH NOVEMBER 2018.

 LAST DAY OF WITHDRAWAL BY CANDIDATES/REPLACEMENT BY POLITICAL PARTIES. 

PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 17TH NOVEMBER 2018

GOVERNORSHIP AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY 01ST DECEMBER 2018.

LAST DAY OF SUBMISSION OF NOMINATION FORMS BY POLITICAL PARTIES.
PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 03RD DECEMBER 2018

GOVERNORSHIP AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY 17TH DECEMBER 2018.

SUBMISSION OF NAMES OF PARTY AGENTS FOR ELECTION TO ELECTORIAL OFFICERS OF THE LOCAL GOVT AREAS. 

PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 01ST FEBRUARY 2019

GOVERNORSHIP AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY 16TH FEBRUARY 2019.

LAST DAY OF CAMPAIGN.
PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 14TH FEBRUARY 2019

GOVERNORSHIP AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY 28TH  FEBRUARY 2109.

DATE OF ELECTIONS.
PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 16TH FEBRUARY 2019

GOVERNORSHIP AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY  28TH FEBRUARY 2019.

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OKOROCHA MOVES TO BRIBE APPEAL COURT JUDGES AFTER OSHIEMOLE REFUSES TO INAUGURATE HIS APC IMO FACTIONAL CHAIRMAN.

Information reaching us now from Government house Owerri has it that the governor has directed the attorney general of Imo State with other lawyers to do their best to get in contact with the appeal court judge in port Harcourt and make a reasonable offer to him because he needs judgment at all cost as the judgement in his favour will enable the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiemole to inaugurate his factional APC chairman who thereafter inaugurate the LGA and Ward executives. He said that he is prepared to empty IMO state bank account to buy this judgement. He further told them to find out if they have been given any offer by the coalition group as he is prepared to double the offer.

He told them that the coalition has fizzled out because of their individual ambitions hence they cannot be able to unite to fight him. He also told them that it is a final battle to bury the coalition . He told them that he needs the result by Friday 27th July 2018.

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Buhari Meets With Saraki, Governors In Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met with the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, and some state governors in Abuja.

The meeting, which held behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, was also attended by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

The governors in attendance are Abdul’Aziz Yari of Zamfara, Ogun’s Ibikunle Amosun, Atiku Bagudu from Kebbi, and Aminu Masari of Katsina State.

However, neither the Senate President nor the governors commented on the purpose of the meeting when it ended.

The meeting held hours after President Buhari received the new executive members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) led by the NMA President Dr Francis Adedayo.

The President asked the medical doctors to always see their profession as a divine call, and seek other means other than going on strikes to negotiate better working conditions.

“The medical profession is regarded as a divine call because of the strategic role you play in the lives of human beings,” he said in an earlier statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.

President Muhammadu Buhari receiving a presentation from NMA President Dr Francis Faduyile and other members of the leadership at the State House in Abuja on July 19, 2018.

President Buhari said the Federal Government was considering an upward review of budgetary allocation to the health sector, in order to improve the quality and access to medical facilities across the country.

He noted that the review of the budgetary allocation would reflect the government’s priority of ensuring that Nigerians get better healthcare, especially in specialised areas.

“The President also commended the NMA and its members on some of the medical successes recorded, such as the separation of conjoined twins, organ transplants, heart surgeries and treatment of cancer patients.

He hinted them that the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council would soon be constituted to further enhance service delivery and regulation of the sector.

Channels

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Nyako, Others Dump APC For ADC

The Senator representing Adamawa Central Senatorial District, Abdul-Azeez Nyako and Hon. Rufai Umar of Gombi constituency in the state Assembly, formally announced their defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The aggrieved party members, made the announcement on Monday at a stakeholders’ meeting and inauguration of the ADC Committee in Yola, the state capital.

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Britain to fine Facebook over data breach

Facebook has admitted that up to 87 million users may have had their data hijacked by British consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica

 

Britain's data regulator said Wednesday it will fine Facebook half a million pounds for failing to protect user data, as part of its investigation into whether personal information was misused ahead of the Brexit referendum.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) began investigating the social media giant earlier this year, when evidence emerged that an app had been used to harvest the data of tens of millions of Facebook users worldwide.

In the worst ever public relations disaster for the social media giant, Facebook admitted that up to 87 million users may have had their data hijacked by British consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica, which was working for US President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign.

Cambridge Analytica, which also had meetings with the Leave.EU campaign ahead of Britain's EU referendum in 2016, denies the accusations and has filed for bankruptcy in the United States and Britain.

"In 2014 and 2015, the Facebook platform allowed an app... that ended up harvesting 87 million profiles of users around the world that was then used by Cambridge Analytica in the 2016 presidential campaign and in the referendum," Elizabeth Denham, the information commissioner, told BBC radio.

Wednesday's ICO report said: "The ICO's investigation concluded that Facebook contravened the law by failing to safeguard people's information."

Without detailing how the information may have been used, it said the company had "failed to be transparent about how people's data was harvested by others".

The ICO added that it plans to issue Facebook with the maximum available fine for breaches of the Data Protection Act -- an equivalent of $660,000 or 566,000 euros.

Because of the timing of the breaches, the ICO said it was unable to impose penalties that have since been introduced by the European General Data Protection, which would cap fines at 4.0 percent of Facebook's global turnover.

In Facebook's case this would amount to around $1.6 billion (1.4 billion euros).

"In the new regime, they would face a much higher fine," Denham said.

- 'Doing the right thing' -

"We are at a crossroads. Trust and confidence in the integrity of our democratic processes risk being disrupted because the average voter has little idea of what is going on behind the scenes," Denham said.

"New technologies that use data analytics to micro-target people give campaign groups the ability to connect with individual voters. But this cannot be at the expense of transparency, fairness and compliance with the law."

In May, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg apologised to the European Parliament for the "harm" caused.

EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova welcomed the ICO report.

"It shows the scale of the problem and that we are doing the right thing with our new data protection rules," she said.

"Everyone from social media firms, political parties and data brokers seem to be taking advantage of new technologies and micro-targeting techniques with very limited transparency and responsibility towards voters," she said.

"We must change this fast as no-one should win elections using illegally obtained data," she said, adding: "We will now assess what can we do at the EU level to make political advertising more transparent and our elections more secure."

- Hefty compensation bill -

The EU in May launched strict new data-protection laws allowing regulators to fine companies up to 20 million euros ($24 million) or four percent of annual global turnover.

But the ICO said because of the timing of the incidents involved in its inquiry, the penalties were limited to those available under previous legislation.

The next phase of the ICO's work is expected to be concluded by the end of October.

London sees frequent anti-Brexit protests

Erin Egan, chief privacy officer at Facebook, said: "We have been working closely with the ICO in their investigation of Cambridge Analytica, just as we have with authorities in the US and other countries. We're reviewing the report and will respond to the ICO soon."

The British fine comes as Facebook faces a potential hefty compensation bill in Australia, where litigation funder IMF Bentham said it had lodged a complaint with regulators over the Cambridge Analytica breech -- thought to affect some 300,000 users in Australia.

IMF investment manager Nathan Landis told The Australian newspaper most awards for privacy breaches ranged between Aus$1,000 and Aus$10,000 (US$750-$7,500).

This implies a potential compensation bill of between Aus$300 million and Aus$3 billion.

burs-dt/ser

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REASONS AMAECHI THE HYPOCRITE GAVE FOR LEAVING THE PDP AND FIGHTING JONATHAN

1. That the FG ceded oil wells belonging to Rivers State to Bayelsa State.
2. That the International Airport in Ph was abandoned by the FG.
3. That the East-West road under construction is at a slow pace..
4. Lastly,that the FG used it's might to plant Obuah as the authentic PDP chairman in the state.

All these happened between 2010 and 2014...

Now fast forward to 2015; Amaechi's APC sacks Jonathan and PDP as the party at the center and President respectively........

And Amaechi is made Minister for transportation.......
Rivers people rejoiced,in the hope that our brother the Minister will show Jonathan just how patriotic he ought to have been.

We waited for the East -West road to be completed at least in 3yrs,having gone 70%;
We heaved a sigh of relief, at last the PH international airport will wear the looks it properly deserves;

We sang in anticipation that Onne seaport will bubble back to life and become a beehive of activities again........

At least, one notable Federal project.
Brethren, it is 3years and rapidly counting,the same airport Amaechi fought Jonathan for is still abandoned; Soku oil wells are still with Bayelsa; East-west road is the same way Jonathan left it; Onne seaport is under-used;
No Federal project in Rivers state!
And the same man who abhors injustice is using his Federal might to plant whoever he desires at the helm of his party in the state........

And denying some party members their constitutional rights to contest an election.
You know the story.

Now tell me, coming back to Rivers state to cast aspersions on the Governor is not a project........
It is also not a sign that you are doing well, don't tell us what u did as governor, because even Pa Diette-Spiff has a lot he can point to as his achievements as MILAD of Rivers State.

Oga, tell us what u have been able to do to affect Rivers people positively in these 3 years you have served in Buhari's cabinet as Transport Minister.

And to my gullible brothers and sisters, it is immaterial who attracted what project to Rivers state, we are not tired of meaningful projects, they should come from wherever and whoever, we don't care!!!
It is only a present failure that consoles himself with past achievements.........

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See Full List Of New National Ex-Co Of R-APC Nigeria

RAPC chairman, Buba Galadima

The Reformed All Progressives Congress (R-APC), a breakaway from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has released the list of its national executive committee [Ex-Co].

R-APC which has Engineer Buba Galadima as its National Chairman, provided the full list as follows:

1. Yobe State – Buba Galadima- (National Chairman)
2. Kano State – Bala Muhd Gwagwarwa- (National Deputy Chairman, North)
3. Abia State – Chief Theo Nkire- (National Deputy Chairman, South East)
4. Ondo State – Hon. Eko Olakunle- (National Vice Chairman South West)
5. Kaduna State – Hon. Hussaini Dambo- (National Vice Chairman North West)
6. Kogi State – Mahmud Mohammed Abubakar– (National Vice Chairman, North Central)
7. Benue State – Hon. Godwin Akaan- (Deputy National Secretary)
8. Oyo State -Dr Fatai Atanda- (National Secretary)
9. Edo State – Kazeem Afegbua- (National Publicity Secretary)
10. Adamawa State – Daniel Bwala- (Financial Secretary)
11. Jigawa State – Abba Malami Taura- (Deputy National Auditor)
12. Kwara State – Hon. Kayode Omotosho- (National Treasurer)
13. Anambra State -Barr. Nicholas Asuzu- (National Youth Leader)
14. Rivers State – Barr. Baride A. Gwezia- (Legal Adviser)
15. Katsina State – Haj Aisha Kaita- (National Woman Leader)
16. Bauchi State – Mrs. Fatima Adamu- (National Welfare Secretary)
17. Ogun State -Alh. Isiak Akinwumi- (Deputy Financial Secretary)
18. Zamfara State – Alh. Bashir Mai Mashi- (Deputy National Treasurer)
19. Abuja – Hauwa Adam Mamuda- (Deputy Welfare Secretary)
20. Sokoto State – Hon. Shuaibu Gwanda Gobir- (Deputy National Publicity Secretary)
21. Katsina State – M. T. Liman- (National Organising Secretary)
22. Niger State – Dr Theo Sheshi- ( Deputy National Organising Secretary)

 Some of the State Chairmen include:

1. Adamawa – Dimas Ezra
2. Anambra – Sir Toby Chukwudi Okwuaya
3. Bauchi – Sani Shehu
4. Benue – Noah Mark Dickson
5. Jigawa – Hon. Nasiru Garba Dantiye
6. Kaduna – Col. Gora (Rtd)
7. Kano – Umar Haruna Doguwa
8. Katsina – Sada Ilu
9. Kogi – Alh. Hadi Ametuo
10. Ogun – Alhaji Adeleke Adewale Taofeek
11. Ondo – Hon. Otetubi Idowu
12. Oyo – Alh. Ali Alimi Isiaka Adisa
13. Yobe – Mohammed Burgo Dalah
14. Zamfara – Alh. Nasiru Yakubu
15. Niger – Hon. Samaila Yusuf Kontagora
16. FCT – Adaji Usm

Olagoke Sunday Olabode

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Senator Shehu Sani Calls APC “Egypt”, Buhari as “Pharaoh”

 

The Senator representing Kaduna Central Constituency of Kaduna State, Shehu Sani has described the All Progressives Congress (APC) as “Egypt” as the lawmaker sets leave the party.

He also labelled the party as “the land of cruelty and injustice”

Senator Sani drew the analogy on his Twitter handle on the eve of the formation the Reformed All Progressives Congress (R-APC).

He was ascribing to the ill treatment he and his fellow party members received despite being part of the founding and dues-paying members of APC.

Not done with that he qualified the party leader, President Muhammadu Buhari as “Pharaoh Thutmose”.

He wrote:

“We the persecuted are on Exodus, riding on horses, chariots and caravans, departing Pharaoh Thutmose’s Egypt. “We are now at the coast of the Red Sea, about to leave the land of cruelty and injustice.”

He further spoke of other issues affecting the nation.

On the recovered monies from looters, he wrote: “When the future generation asked the question what happened to the loot, they will read that it was recovered.

“And when they asked what happened to the recovered loot, they will read that it was shared to people known to people in power.”

Sani was, no doubt, ascribing to President Buhari-led government’s announcement to share the loot recovered from former dictator, General Sani Abacha to the poor.

More Nigerian have also criticised the move saying it is laying foundation for monumental fraud as Nigeria is suffering from several vices.

Some of the vices mentioned include poverty, bad roads for farmers to transport their harvest, no electricity for artisans to work, those willing to do business cannot because of infrastructural decay, small businesses are dying due to lack of enabling infrastructure for business, etc.

Senator Shehu Sani also paid glowing tribute to ‏Mallam Adamu Ciroma who passed away today after brief illness.

He said:

“We lost a great Nigerian, a patriot and a man whose life exemplified honestly, simplicity and moral uprightness.

“Mallam Adamu Ciroma was a President we never had. He was an outstanding politician.”

Finally he congratulated to the Guardian Newspaper for its 35^th birthday.

He said Guardian is a paper that has remained calm in times of turbulence and professional in times of sentiments and objective in times of partisanship, saying it stood by him in the years of the struggle.

He recounted that the Late Guardian publisher, Akex Ibru was appointed a minister under the military junta.

The paper, he said, refused to change its principles in the defense of liberty and democracy. It  was shut and the publisher was sacked and shot.

“No  patriotism is higher than that,” he intoned.

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Oshiomole sacks Amaechi as DG Buhari 2019 campaign

The newly elected chairman of the All Progressives Congress [APC], Mr. Adams Oshiomole has sacked the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi as the Director General of the President Muhammadu Buhari 2019 campaign organisation. 

ElombahNews gathered that Oshiomole replaced him with the Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

An aide to Owelle Rochas Okorocha has told Elombah News that the move was sequel to impressive crowd that attended the first major APC Southeast mega rally for President Muhammadu Buhari, organised by the Imo Governor.

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was “apparently impressed with the mammoth crowd that graced the event”, the aide stated.

He added that “the newly elected national Chairman of the governing All Progressives Congress has given a clear indication that he would prefer to work with the Imo State governor, as the Director-general of President Buhari’s Campaign Organization instead of former governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi who has been parading himself as such.”

He said that “Comrade Oshiomhole who is clearly focused on strengthening the Party and returning it to the masses for whom the Party was original envisioned was a special guest at the hugely successful mega rally for President Muhammadu Buhari, which was hosted in Owerri, the Imo State capital.”

Speaking during the rally, the former President of the Nigerian Labour Congress and immediate past governor of Edo State, praised the leadership and visionary credentials of the Imo State governor and encouraged him to continue to lead the way for Igbos to follow. He was accompanied to the mega rally by most members of the APC National Working Committee, including the National Organizing Secretary, Emma Ibediro, National Auditor, George Muoghalu and national vice Chairman, Southeast, Emma Eneukwu.

The former labor leader charged all members of the APC in the Southeast to dissolve into the leadership of Owelle Rochas Okorocha as he has shown sterling leadership qualities and credentials.

“The rejection of Rotimi Amaechi as DG of the President’s Campaign Organization may not be unconnected to the Transportation Minister’s several anti-democratic and anti-Party activities and utterances in recent times. Some commentators have also pointed out that the former Rivers governor has set himself as an embarrassment to the cooperate image of the Party and a disloyal appointee of the President and Commander in Chief, arguing that such a person cannot lead a successful campaign for the re-election of the President.

“Governor Rochas Okorocha on the other hand has married himself completely to the vision of the Party and the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. He has shown an undeniable readiness to sacrifice even his personal ambitions to ensure the overall success of the Party and the President.”

Source:

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Irony of Life in Nigeria

Rich man marries and have 4 children. Poor man marries and start mass production of children that he can't afford to train because the only thing that gives poor man joy is the body of his wife.
The country has beaten him to the level that sex is his only idea of enjoyment.

Politicians steal your money, sleep with your wife and girlfriends and sister, make sure you don't go to school, even when you struggle to, he makes sure you don't finish on time let alone getting a job.

He sends his children to the best schools abroad so they will take over from him when he is done playing with your future.

He initiates a poverty alleviation program, videos himself cutting tapes during the mounting of an electric pole. He gives you N4000, bags of rice at rallies and arms to fight his opponents.

He paints the roads and puts Street lights when there are no light in your home. You hail him!

He spends millions on billboards of his fake projects, hires the best PR experts to keep you drooling with hunger and uninformed and keep on doing damages to your common sense. You defend him.

Second tenure, no jobs, no food, the N4000 has finished and the bag of rice wasting in the pit of your toilet. He must recover the billions he spent buying your votes. For he is not qualified to lead but you qualified him.

You start making use of the guns he bought you. You kill the poor like yourself who is suffering the effects of the N4000 and bag of rice that you took. You try to Kidnap his friends, their police orderlies fire back at you.

His friends tell him that there is insecurity in town and it will affect their mobilization for him for second term. 

He shouts ahhhh, second tenure is like the second round of sex that puts one to sleep after, except, perhaps, he works for vivid entertainment or one of those Hollywood porn industries.
He complains of lack of security to the commissioner of police and General Officer Commanding, Air Officer commanding or the Flag Officer Commanding.

He spends millions hosting them. They tell him what to do. By now, you have become a threat.

He buys even a bigger gun for the police and the military plus operational vehicles.

He pays for radio and TV jingles to warn you.

You rob, you die. You protest, you die. You stay at home, you die of starvation.

Then, you get recommended to a church and since you can't pay tithes, pastor turns you into an errand boy. 

He sends you to buy biscuits for his children, wash pants for his wife and clean his cars.

You sweep the church for free while awaiting your heavenly reward while the pastor fly private jets and drive flashy sedans.

You are happy that your pastor is rich and argue for him in midst of your friends.

He runs to the UK at the slightest symptoms of headache but prays for you when you are sick and tells you to bring your sick mother to church for prayers instead of taking her to hospitals to waste money. 

She dies and he tells you that it was God's will while his mother has been in the UK for months receiving the best treatment that tithes can buy.

He buys a new land for a new church branch, you help to carry blocks and turn concrete, then collect blessings as reward. You are happy to be working for the salvation of your soul, heaven will pay.
The pastor lives his heaven on earth.

The new church building is completed on your sweat.

He invites the president, governor, senator, house of representative member and every other person who made sure that you are poor by design.

The whole area is policed with guns and armored cars. You are comfortably seated at the back while straining your neck to see who and who came.

The president and governor and senator plus their contractor friends donate hundreds of millions for the new church while you cheer from the back.

The food they shared didn't get to you but you are happy the president and governor and senator came to your church. You even brag to others of how your pastor is well connected.

You get home, hunger Knocks angrily on the belly door, your neighbor bails you out while you wait for heaven to pay.

10 years on the jobless job, pastor's children have been sent abroad for studies. Age is no longer on your side, pastor hooks you up with another aunty that sweeps the church for free with no education just like you and Weds you both on a Friday evening church service and you are happy. Your children starts the cycle all over again.

What is the difference between an Ordinary Thief (OT) & a Political Thief (PT)?

1. The Ordinary Thief steals your money, bag, watch, gold chain etc.; But the Political Thief steals your future, career, education, health & business!
2. The hilarious part is: The Ordinary Thief will choose whom to rob; But you, yourself chose the Political Thief to rob you
3. The most ironic one: Police will chase and nab the Ordinary Thief; while the Police will look after and protect the Political Thief!

That’s the travesty cum irony of our current society! And, we blindly say we are not blind!

It may not make sense to many but just read and be wise. 

Its election year again

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Court asks APC to conduct new congresses in Imo

The Federal High court sitting in Owerri Imo state has ruled that there was no Ward,LGA and state Congresses in the state just as it ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretariat to conduct a new congress in the State.

The governor remarked that the Judgment of the Court on the issue of APC congresses in Imo has only authenticated his sustained claim and that of patriotic leaders of APC in Imo that the congresses did not hold in the state with a lot of proofs to that effect.

The governor argued that the judiciary has remained not only the last hope of the common man, but also the last hope of institutions and processes especially as they concern our democracy.

The governor regretted that the former National officers of the party, had, for one reason or the other decided to mess up the congresses that would have taken place in the state and had also ignored his genuine concern and repeated appeal that the congresses should be conducted to enable party members in the state fully participate and elect officials of their choice.

He said Imo is the only APC state in the South-East and should have been encouraged to have successful congresses, to show good example to other states in the geo-political zone but regretted that those who had the task of conducting free and fair congresses decided to submerge the whole venture for their selfish agenda.

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APC Southeast Rally for Buhari - DO NOT TAKE THEM SERIOUS

Following the crops of Gov. Rochas okorocha's farced stooges and followers showcased yesterday in the name of South East APC leaders at the boosted South East Leaders' Dinner ahead of the proposed south east mega rally today in honour of PMB, one need not a suite sayer to convenience him that the RALLY IS ROCHAS OKOROCHA'S government rally not South East APC Rally.

An APC SOUTH EAST leaders gathering that you don't have somebody like: H. E. Dr OUK, Chief Kane Nnamani, H.E Suilevan Chime, Dr Ogbonna Onu, Dr Ibe Kachukwu, Dr Nwonye, Chief Jim nwodo, Chief Nwonye, Dr Chris Ngige, Sen. Izunaso, Sen. Araraume, Sen. Uwajiogu, Chief Emeka Nwajiuba, Jasper Azutalam, Chief Mrs Tina Akaekpuchionwa, TOE Ekechi etc, that one na SOUTH EAST? NOOOO! rather na APC SOUTHnorth geopolitical zone newly created for ORO and his stooges.

A gathering where the IYC president, Prof Obiaraeri and some other appointees of the governor gathered at a well decorated round table arrangements on their white and white cum red cap attire and called themselves South East leaders from other South East States, in a Dinner designed and painted to host the movers and shakers of APC SOUTH EAST.

If that could happen last night, then don't expect the obvious today at the proposed rally.
Watch out for the most expected people to gather at the dilapidated DAN ANYIAM SPORTS STADIUM for this mistargeted rally.

They are:
1. imo Security network numbering over 1000 persons to dress in corporate attire led by pastor Frank.
2. ENTRACO boys numbering over 300, led by the G.M
3. NURTW Agboros numbering over 500, led by their Chairman and the commissioner for Transport
4. Hired women numbering about 200 persons led by the three women commissioners in the state.
5. IYC boys numbering about 500 persons led by their President Comr Iyke Ogbonna
6. NUISS chanting boys numbering about 300 students
7. YAN busy body boys numbering about 50 persons led by their speaker.
8. Ugwumba this and that, numbering about 1000 persons led by the coordinator of Ugwumba movement.

9. SDC hungry men and women numbering about 700 persons and
10. All governor's appointees and Rt Hon Ihim's legislative boys

All these groups are expected to disguise themselves in different dressings and to claim different LGAs in all the South East States, hoisting different flags & banners in the name of all the states in South East, as well as branding their buses in the same manner.

Do not take them for serious.
When the real South East APC do her rally, you will then know why ndi Igbo ji na asi na, AGU BATA OHIA MGBADA AGBAWA OSO, i wee mara egbe bu egbe.

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How NNPC Is Deepening Its Corrupt, Opaque Management Of Oil Revenue

For three consecutive days, the federal government and the 36 states have been in a most unlikely collaboration in their stand off with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) over underpayments to the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC).

Finance minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, led her ministry and the 36 state commissioners of finance in querying the NNPC in what the managers of government finances said is a serial breach of the templates for determining the revenue due to the federation account.

Having sought the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari to rein in NNPC when she brought the specifics of the case to him and his vice, industry experts are urging the president to back the minister in ensuring that NNPC is held accountable and transparent in its remittances to the federation account.

The stand off was precipitated by the unilateral change in the template and cost components for the extraction, processing and sale of Nigeria’s highly valued low-Sulphur North Sea Brent premium blend.

With oil price averaging $77.85 per barrel in June and daily production of 1.95 million barrels, Nigeria’s outlook in revenue had improved significantly given that the country has one of the lowest production costs at $20 per barrel among members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting countries (OPEC).

The main grouse of the Ministry of Finance and the states is the drastic change in the cost templates effected by NNPC without any “logical explanation”, according to an official of the ministry.

“Everybody is aware that there is no logic in the overnight increase in the volume of refined products imported and distributed by the NNPC. Up to February this year, just about 30 million litres of petrol was consumed daily . Almost overnight, it rose to over 60 million litres. Even the NNPC itself acknowledged that the increase is indefensible. The expectation was that this anomaly should have been addressed by now. Unfortunately, NNPC continues to increase the figures in fuel importation, at least on paper,” an official of the Federal Ministry of Finance told Business and Maritime West Africa.

In June, NNPC escalated its figures on the quantity of petrol imported and distributed in the country. Invariably, the figure also correspondingly affected the “under recoveries” as NNPC and the federal government prefers to call the subsidy paid on imported petrol.

While the subsidy claim has continued to rise, it was also gathered that NNPC has been putting up some claims which the states had warned were “spurious” and would not be acceptable again. The fluctuating claims were justified by the poor state of the four refineries which best production level has not exceeded 18 percent of installed capacity in 2018.

“It is like every month, NNPC comes with different headings of expenditure which significantly whittled down the revenue handed over to FAAC for sharing. FAAC had previously objected to the introduction of unknown expenditures and had made good their promise to set up a parallel accounting process to determine the revenue accruable to the tree tiers of government,” Business and Maritime West Africa was told.

Without going into specifics, Adeosun had alluded to the discrepancies in NNPC’s submission to FAAC, noting that  “we operate the NNPC as a business. We have invested public capital in that business; and we have expectations of return. And when that return falls lower than our expectations, then the owners of this business, which in this case are the Federal Government and states, need to act.

“So, that was what caused the deadlock yesterday (Wednesday) and we really felt the figures the NNPC was proposing for FAAC were unacceptable. We felt that some of the costs couldn’t be justified, and so we have decided that rather than approve the accounts, we will go back and do further work,” Adeosun told journalists on Thursday after state governors joined their finance commissioners to examine the discrepancies in NNPC’s figures.

It is being suggested that the face off between NNPC and the government is an illustration of the failed bid by Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, to rein in the group managing director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, over the award of $25 billion oil contracts without due process or recourse to the ministry.

Unlike the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to back Baru in his snubbing of Kachikwu, experts insisted that Adeosun should be allowed to critically evaluate the presentations by NNPC. “The fact that the finance minister is on the same page with the states in querying the integrity of NNPC’s books is enough for President Buhari to let this stand off end in verifying the contentious areas,” a top executive of one of the indigenous oil cmpanies who did not wish to be named said.

“This is the point where the president has to demonstrate his commitment to transparency in the management of our oil resources by backing Adeosun to take NNPC to task. There is a lot of transactions NNPC is engaged in that are questionable. That Baru succeeded to shutting out Kachikwu in the running of the corporation and award of contracts in order to deal directly with Buhari could not have been informed by the desire to take the best decisions for the country,” the official stated.

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