APC WARD CONGRESS, WHY GOV. OKOROCHA WAS DISAPPOINTED.

More facts have continued to emerge on the shocking disappointment and ill treatment melted to the Leader of APC in South East, the IMO State Governor, Rochas Okorocha who doubles as the Chairman, APC Governors Forum.

There were reports that some APC electoral officers earlier posted to IMO state for the conduct of May 5th APC Ward Congress were forth night short changed and swapped with those of Anambra leaving the State Chairman of APC and his members stranded without the notice and consent of the State Governor.

Political Analysts says Gov. Okorocha deserves every ill treatment melted to him in the just concluded Imo APC Ward Congress for having openly withdrawn his support for due process, fairness and equity in the party in the past by single handedly endorsing and handpicking choice Aspirants against others without exhausting Internal Primary process.

Recall that Gov. Rochas Okorocha had in a well attended meeting of Stakeholders of IMO APC held on Friday 27th April 2018 at IICC Owerri announced his personal endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari reelection bid. Others also anointed by Gov. Okorocha in the meeting were, Uche Nwosu for Governor, Rochas Okorocha for Orlu Senate, Nnamdi Obiareri for Okigwe Senate, Emma Ojinere for Owerri Senate, Pascal Obi for Ideato Federal House, Nnanna Igbokwe for Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Federal House etc.

Political watchers says Gov. Okorocha purported endorsement of Aspirants without following through primaries is unconstitutional and it therefore requires unconstitutional methods to stop him from achieving his selfish goals. 

This, many political followers believe is the root cause of Gov. Rochas Okorocha disappointment in the just concluded ward Congress where Electoral Officers were asked to conduct election without sensitive materials. Perhaps, Sen. Ben Uwajimogu who is the Secretary APC 2018 Convention Planning Committee might have been flexing some muscles against some unequipped local fighters angling to continue championing the reign of impunity and imposition in IMO APC.

Following the fall out of Gov. Rochas Okorocha in the May 5th APC Ward Congress, it is believed that the Ideato Born Governor will now be heading to another unpopular political party in coming weeks to test run his declining popularity ahead of 2019 general elections like he did in 2011 when he used unpopular APGA to dismantle the incumbent government without the support and backings of big names in IMO politics

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) ward congress in Delta State was marred with pockets of violence which led to the death of one Mr Jeremiah Oghoveta, a member of the APC.

Another member of the party and ward chairmanship aspirant from Jerimi 3 ward 10, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta was reported to have been lynched this morning by APC factional group in the area.

According to the state police Public Relations Officer, Andrew Aniamaka, who said it is still not clear whether or not the late Jeremiah was an aspirant for the said congress.

He explained that “One Jeremiah Jacob was stabbed to death by one jay papa. The incident happened during the APC ward congress, we have not got the full details yet but efforts are still ongoing to arrest the accused as he was said to have escaped immediately after indulging in the act”

“As at 1:30 pm, voting was yet to begin which prompted party faithful to head straight to the Delta APC party secretariat in Asaba demanding an explanation and also to collect elections materials for their wards

“A party official, Olorogun Jaro Egbo complained that the nomination forms for the delegates congress that were supposed to be distributed to delegates were issued to only one group”.

Giving assurance that the problems would be resolved for the Congress to commence, the Chairman APC delegates congress in Delta State, Sani Dododo, insists the issue is not peculiar to Delta state alone, adding that this happens when a lot of people are vying for few positions.

He, however, warned that no elections would be conducted at any wards were factions exist

” The original arrangement is that two persons will contest for one position, but we came to notice that more than 10 persons across the wards are contesting for one position in the ward.

“So, the committee had to improvise and as the chairman, I have to endorse one of the original copies to authenticate the form and made copies to enable all who paid for application forms to get one.

“We are working and I want to assure you that the Congress will be held and materials will soon be disbursed.

“Let me warn that no factional congress will be recognized, and all elections must hold at the party headquarters or public buildings, not private houses,” he said.

On his part, the state party chairman, Jones Erue, said that the delay was to ensure that things work out well for the party to have successful wards congress in the state.

He noted that getting it right from the wards was all that matters to reposition the party to take over power in the state.

“Everything will be done properly to ensure we strengthen the unity in our party, we must work together to ensure peace and promote transparency in the party,” he said.

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2018 POLICE CONSTABLE RECRUITMENT: List of Invited Candidates for Physical & Credential Screening.

Click on your state of origin to view list of candidates.

Abia State. Adamawa State. Anambra State. Akwa Ibom State. Bauchi State. Bayelsa State. Benue State. Borno State. Cross River State. Delta State. Ebonyi State. Enugu State. Edo State.

Ekiti State. Fct State. Gombe State. Imo State. Jigawa State. Kaduna State. Kano State. Katsina State. Kebbi State. Kogi State. Kwara State. Lagos State.

Nasarawa State. Niger State. Ogun State. Ondo State. Osun State. Oyo State. Plateau State. Rivers State. Sokoto State. Taraba State. Yobe State. Zamfara State.

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Iniesta to leave Barcelona at the end of the season

AFP / Pau Barrena A tearful Andres Iniesta has announced he is leaving Barcelona after 22 years associated with the club

 

Andres Iniesta confirmed on Friday he will leave Barcelona at the end of the season, bringing the curtain down on a phenomenally successful career at the club, but said a move to China is yet to be finalised.

In a press conference attended by members of the first team and the club's board, Iniesta said he wanted to finish at Barca "feeling useful, feeling important and still winning titles".

Iniesta is expected to continue his career at a club in the Chinese Super League but remained tight-lipped on his next destination. The 33-year-old revealed only that it will be outside Europe, reiterating he would never play against Barcelona.

After joining Barca's academy, La Masia, aged 12, Iniesta blossomed into one of the Catalans' greatest ever players, winning four Champions League and eight La Liga titles, and lifting the World Cup with Spain. 

Struggling to hold back the tears, Iniesta said: "I understand that in the near future I will not be able to give the best of myself in all senses, both physically and mentally.

"If I had imagined finishing my career here, it would have been like this, feeling useful, feeling important and still winning titles. 

"It's a very difficult day for me because I've been here all my life and to say goodbye to my home and my life here is very hard."

Iniesta's short speech was greeted by applause and the congratulations are likely to continue on Sunday, when he can collect his ninth La Liga title. Barcelona need only a point against Deportivo La Coruna to be crowned champions. 

- Will leave Europe -

It would secure a domestic double in Iniesta's farewell campaign, after a thumping win over Sevilla clinched the Copa del Rey last weekend. 

Iniesta capped a typically elegant performance at the Wanda Metropolitano with a wonderful finish, shimmying past goalkeeper David Soria and tapping in his 57th club goal, on his 669th appearance.

He would not be short of suitors this summer among the world's elite clubs but Iniesta, who already has an offer from China, will not be staying in Europe.

"There are things to talk about, things to finalise," Iniesta said. 

"The only thing I have always said is I would never compete against my club so all scenarios that are not in Europe are possible."

Among those likely to be disappointed is Iniesta's former coach Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, who has reportedly tried to push the merits of a move to England.

Guardiola's Barca team, which won La Liga three times in a row between 2009 and 2011, as well as the Champions League twice, enjoyed Iniesta at his mesmorising best. 

During that period, Iniesta became the poster-boy for fluid, possession-based football, for which this decade of Spanish dominance will be forever remembered. He would have won the Ballon d´Or in 2010 but finished second to Lionel Messi. 

"To play with Messi has been and still is an honour and a privilege," Iniesta said. "To share with him so many magical moments is a privilege because I understand there is no other player like him. As a team-mate and a footballer, being so close to him has been unique and magical."

A glorious farewell with the Spanish national team is also possible at the World Cup this summer, after which Iniesta is expected to call time on an international career that has included winning the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, between consecutive successes at the European Championships in 2008 and 2012. 

Iniesta's succession will not be easy, particularly for Barcelona, whose original 'tika-takas' are now down to Messi, 30, Sergio Busquets, 29, and Gerard Pique, 31. It is hoped Philippe Coutinho, bought from Liverpool for 160 million euros in January, can help fill the void. 

Asked how he would like to be remembered, Iniesta said: "It's easy, I want to be remembered as a great football player and a great person. I've wanted to represent this club in the best possible way and I hope I have achieved it."

AFP

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African migrants to US ‘more educated’ than US-born nationals and migrants in UK

Sub-Saharan African immigrants in the US are often more educated than those in the UK, the respected US-based Pew Research Center has found.

According to the research, they are also more educated than US-born nationals.

A total of 69% of immigrants in the US, aged 25 or older, have some college education, compared with 49% in the UK. The percentage is lower in France (30), Portugal (27) and Italy (10), the other three top Western destinations for sub-Saharan African immigrants.

Many sub-Saharan African immigrants entered the US through its diversity visa programme, which requires applicants to have at least a high school education.

Its other findings include:

– 63% of US-born nationals in the US had some college education, lower than the 69% among sub-Saharan African immigrants

– 30% of UK-born nationals had some college education, again lower than the 49% among immigrants in the UK

– Sub-Saharan African immigrants in the US were younger, with a median age of 38 years versus 42 in the UK.

BBC/Photo credit: Atlanta Black Star

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House summon President Buhari, ask him to declare herdsmen terrorists

The House of Representatives during plenary, Wednesday resolved to summon President Muhammadu Buhari over the spate of killings in Benue State and other parts of the country.

The decision was unanimously adopted by overwhelming majority of members after a Kano lawmaker, Baballe Bashir (APC, Kano) moved for the amendment of a motion moved by Mark Gbilah (APC, Benue).

The House, while adopting a motion by Mr Gbilah on the attack by army personnel on residents of Naka in Gwer-West LGA of Benue State and the inability of the army and other security agencies to quell the crises, the lawmakers also passed a vote of no confidence on the service chiefs and called for their immediate removal.

The House also resolved to suspend its plenary for three days (one week) in solidarity with victims of attacks across the country.

Contributing to the debate, another APC lawmaker from Benue, Dickson Takhigir, alleged that the killers connived with security agencies to perpetrate the act.

“Benue is under siege and if we don’t take the necessary actions, it will amount to abdicating the responsibility of government to protect lives and property of its citizens,” he said.

“It appears there is no moral will to tackle the matter because continuous complaints about the killings seem to fall on deaf ears.”

He said the provision of the law allows self-defence and called on Nigerians ”to do the needful”.

PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday reported how suspected herdsmen killed about 19 persons including two priests in a church in Ukpor-Mbalom, a community in Gwer West Local Government Area.

Terver Akase, a spokesperson to Governor Samuel Ortom, said the attackers also burnt 50 houses and sacked the entire community.

The Catholic Diocese of Makurdi later confirmed two of its priests, Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha, both reverend fathers, were killed in the attack.

The attack came barely a week after the murder of 10 persons by herdsmen in the same area, which has been one of the major scenes of carnage by suspects herdsmen since January 1.

It also comes barely a few days after Nigerian soldiers stormed Naka town in Gwer West Local Government Area of the state and set dozens of houses on fire.

The soldiers said hoodlums in the community killed one of their colleagues. At least one man was burnt to death in the reprisal attack.

In addition to the resolution to summon the president, the House also called on the Federal Government to declare killer herdsmen terrorists, while cattle rearers should be registered.

The invitation of the president is an unprecedented move by the lower chamber of the National Assembly. However the lawmakers have constitutional powers to summon all government appointees.

The House had recently invited the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo who doubles as the board chairman of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to explain his role in the suspension of six officials as well as other scandals rocking the agency.

The Vice President however sent a representative instead of appearing.

Lawyers recently told PREMIUM TIMES that neither the president nor the vice president is constitutionally exempted from summons.

A lawyer, Simon Ameh, told PREMIUM TIMES that an occupier of the office of the President or Vice President is not exempted from summons by the parliament.

He added that the Constitution gives the legislature power to oversight the Executive, hence the National Assembly has powers to invite ”any occupier of an executive position”.

Another lawyer, Ola Adeosun said the National Assembly is empowered under Section 88 of the Constitution to summon any government official, including the president.

PREMIUM TIMES

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Suspected herdsmen kill 18 in Benue church, burn over 60 houses

Two priests were among at least 18 people killed in a dawn attack on a church in central Nigeria, police said Tuesday, in violence condemned by President Muhammadu Buhari as “satanic”.

Around 30 suspected herdsmen attacked Mbalom community in the volatile region killing the worshippers and the two priests, said Benue state police commissioner Fatai Owoseni in the state capital of Makurdi.

“They attacked the venue of a burial ceremony and also attacked the church where the two reverend fathers were holding mass,” said Owoseni.

“We were able to recover 16 bodies from the scene of the attack and those of the two priests.”
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari described the violence as “satanic” in a statement.
“This latest assault on innocent persons is particularly despicable,” said Buhari.

“Violating a place of worship, killing priests and worshippers is not only vile, evil and satanic, it is clearly calculated to stoke up religious conflict and plunge our communities into endless bloodletting.”

Worshippers were gathered for the daily 5:30 am (0430GMT) service at St. Ignatius Catholic church when they heard gunshots, said Mbalom resident Terhemen Angor to AFP.
“People started scampering and wailing,” said Angor, saying that scores were “gunned down in cold blood while many sustained injuries including bullet wounds.”

“After attacking the church, the invaders descended on the community and razed over 60 houses,” he said.

“The community is on fire and deserted, people are fleeing to neighbouring villages hoping to find a safe haven for their families.”
The Catholic Diocese of Makurdi confirmed the death of priests Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha in a statement denouncing the violence.

– ‘Under siege’ –
Riots over the killings erupted in Makurdi, the epicentre of the violence that has thrown the state into chaos.
Police fired teargas to disperse a rampaging mob that took over a busy intersection and lit massive fires in protest of the latest attack.

“We are under siege,” said acting governor of Benue state Benson Abounu.
“We have been attacked from all corners and this is unacceptable.”
Central Nigeria is in the grip of a security crisis as nomadic herders and sedentary farmers fight over land in an increasingly bloody battle for resources.

The conflict is now more deadly than the Boko Haram jihadist insurgency that has ravaged Nigeria’s northeast and is becoming a key issue in the upcoming 2019 presidential polls.
Benue state lies in Nigeria’s so-called Middle Belt that separates the predominantly Muslim north from the largely Christian south.

The area has long been a hotbed of ethnic, sectarian and religious tensions between indigenous farming communities, who are mainly Christian and the nomadic cattle herders, who are Muslim.
The clashes over land have escalated into a rift that has deepened along nominally religious lines.
Buhari, who is seeking a second term, has been under pressure to end the violence and ordered in military reinforcements, but the killings continue in the absence of a strong police force and efficient judicial system.

“People are being killed regularly and nothing is being done in terms of bringing perpetrators to book,” Idayat Hassan, director of the Centre for Democracy and Development West Africa, told AFP.
“There is this belief that there is a conspiracy against the people,” Hassan said, speaking from Abuja.
“It is getting worse and it’s getting messier,” Hassan said, warning “we must quickly address this, before we get into a free-for-all war.”

AFP

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