Time table for 2019 general elections

Student Arrested For Spending $63k From$1.1m Mistakenly Credited To Her Bank Account.

A South African student who spent more than$63,000 (£47,500) of $1.1m she received by mistake has appeared in court on a charge of theft.

Sibongile Mani, a 28-year-old accountancy student at Walter Sisulu University, was arrested by the police's serious commercial crime unit after she was asked to hand herself in, Anelisa Feni, spokeswoman for an elite police unit, the Hawks, told AFP news agency.

She qualified last year for $110 a month in food allowances from the government's National Students Financial Aid Scheme, which helps underprivileged students.

However, she was mistakenly transferred $1.1m in June and went on a spending spree, using$63,000 to party and to buy expensive clothes.

After the scheme detected the blunder three months later, it recovered the remainder of the money from her bank account.Ms Mani was not asked to plead during her courtappearance yesterday.

She was released on warning and ordered to appear again on 2 July.Ms Mani has gained some sympathy and criticism on Twitter at the same time.

Do you think she is right to have spent part of that money? Just wow!

Pre-Wedding Photos Of Michael Okon & Fiancee...

Nollywood’s heartthrob Michael Okon is traditionally getting married to his fiancee, Kosi Obialor.

The couple have been in a relationship for a while but Okon has kept it away from the public.

The traditional ceremony will takes place at his bride's hometwon with no date mentioned to press.

Oyegun, Mustapha, Others Join Osinbajo For Democracy Day Dinner/Gala Night

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, yesterday attended the Democracy Day - Dinner/Gala Nightin commemoration of the 3-year anniversary of the Buhari administration at the State House Conference Centre Aso Villa, Abuja.

The Sports Minister and the Nigerian team to theCommonwealth games were also at the dinner. Others who participated are Former Chiefs of General Staff Ebitu Ukiwe and Oladipo Diya, APC Chairman John Oyegun, SGF Boss Mustapha and others

Omogecampus: Actress Aisha Abimbola is dead

Photos: One Dies As Agege APC Holds Congress

A member of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos has been shot dead at the party’s local government congress in Agege.

The member, identified as Nurudeen Olanose, was allegedly shot at Central School, Dopemu, during a fracas that ensued after voting had ended on Saturday.

Two others are in critical condition while nine people have been arrested and taken to Area G Police Division in Agege.When contacted, Chike Oti, the Spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, said “I’ll get back to you.

There are however different accounts of what led to the shooting as some said violence broke out after Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, visited the venue and some said Obasa was never there.

Falae visits Obasanjo, seeks collective effort to unseat Buhari

The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Nigeria (SDP) Olu Falae has slammed the Buhari administration for failing Nigeria in the areas of security and the economy.

Falae, who bemoaned the continuous and wanton spate of killings around the country, said he had expected President Buhari to critically appraised the current situation in the country and declared he would not seek re-election in 2019.

He noted that, though the President is a good friend of his, he was duty-bound to point out any government that failed to protect the livesof its citizens, and that based on that President Buhari should be voted out of office.

False urged Nigerians to come together and do everything possible to ease out the APC-led government for the President’s sake and that of Nigeria.

The politician made the remarks in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, while fielding questions from newsmen, shortly after he emerged from a closed door meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Attack on Senate a dangerous precedent, Atiku warns..

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the invasion of the Senate chamber by hoodlums and the carting away of the mace, the symbol of authority.

Reacting to the incident in a statement from his media office in Abuja on Wednesday, Atiku described the attack as “a dangerous precedent” and “an assault on Nigeria’s democracy” by anti-democratic elements.“I am utterly embarrassed, shocked and outraged by this ugly development because itis not only a threat to a major democratic institution, but it also represents a grave danger to the survival of our democracy,” he said.

Atiku said that, given the tension in the country, the timing of the attack could not have come at a worse time for Nigeria; and that using illegal and unconstitutional methods to threaten the authority of a key democratic institution is unacceptable, evil, and condemnable.

The former vice-president noted that it was inconceivable that hoodlums could force theirway into the Senate and take away the mace.“If criminals could commit such security breach with impunity, it means that our entire democracy is in danger,” Atiku said; warning “those behind this illegality to avoid creating a monster that could consume them.

Abubakar reminded Nigerians that so many people died in order to bring this democracy about, calling for immediate investigation intothe incident and the prompt prosecution of those involved.“It is unacceptable and reprehensible to subject the National Assembly to this intimidation and humiliation.

This attack by thugs should not go unpunished, no matter who is involved,” he added.

He urged “those pushing the county’s political temperature to dangerous levels” to desist from it, saying, “they are playing Russian roulette with Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy.

He, however, called for unity, calm and an endto the culture of “political disunity that is tearing our dear country apart.”

Nigerian Youths Are Uneducated & Not Ready To Work, They Like Freebies, Says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said many Nigerian youths like free things based on the notion that Nigeria is an oil-rich nation.

According toThe Cable,President Buhari made this assertion while speaking at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Westminster.

President Buhari  said many Nigerian youths are uneducated, not ready to work and dependent on revenue from oil to survive.He said the youths, who make up 60 per cent of the population, were waiting to get social amenities free without doing anything.

The President spoke on Wednesday during a panel discussion at the Commonwealth Business Forum inWestminster, London.The moderator had asked Buhari to give his final thoughts on the issues discussed.

The President said he had fulfilled his campaign promises by improving on the nation’s security and the economy.

Buhari, while giving his administration a pass mark in security, said the government had been able to decimate the Boko Haram sect, whose activities, he said, had damaged the education and health infrastructures.“And then the economy.

We have a very young population and our population is estimated conservatively to be 180 million. The 60 per cent of the population is below the age of 30.

A lot of them have not been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria has been an oil producing country and therefore they should sit and do nothing and get housing, healthcare and education free,” he added.-Punch

Nigeria’s Messiah Will Come From North – Bakare

Lagos cleric and running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2011 presidential election, Pastor Tunde Bakare has said, “a messiah that will possess the capacity to deliver Nigeria from its challenges is coming from the north.”

Bakare said this while delivering a sermon in his church on Sunday.“Let no one deceive you, there’s nobody with the capacity to deliver Nigeria until thatday; that day is coming, it’s very near,” he said while addressing the congregation at his Latter Rain Assembly Church in Lagos.

The church sermon was aired on a local television station in Lagos on Sunday.“The reason things are going haywire in Nigeria today is because God is preparing the tender plant from the side of the North,” he said.He also told his congregations that though he had been speaking about his presidential ambitions in parables, they should watch out for direct statements from him on the issue ahead of 2019 election.

The cleric maintained that he was not politicking about his presidential ambition, but declaring what God has told him about his purpose in life.“The reason we refused to compromise our lives and to diminish our values is so that nobody can diminish our influence.

There’s only one assignment left for me. It’snot down, it’s up.“I am declaring thus saith the Lord to this end was I born, for this purpose came I into the world that Nigeria will be saved, Nigeria will be changed, and Nigeria will become great in my lifetime. The mouth of the Lord has spoken it and the zeal of the Lord shall accomplish it,” Bakare added.

Breaking! I Will Seek Re-Election In 2019 – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said he wouldseekseek re-election in 2019 general elections.The President has also asked party members to grant waiver to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odegie-Oyegun and other members of the National Working Committee, NWC, who want to recontest in the party’s Congress.Speaking at the National Executive Council meeting, he also appealed to members of NEC to also grant weaver to the party’s national chairman Chief John Oyegun andother National and State Executive members wishing to seek re-election.

Court Sentences Traditional Ruler To Death..

The embattled Unuevworo (community head) of Ekpan, Uvwie Council Area of Delta State, Chief Newton Agbofodo, has been sentenced to death.

Agbofodoh, one of the highest ranking chiefs of Uvwie Kingdom, was arrested on June 17, 2016, and was later arraigned in court for crimes bordering on murder.

He  was sentenced by the Delta State High Court 4, in Asaba, after being found guilty of all four count charges  preferred against him. He was sentenced to death by hanging.

Charges preferred against him were conspiracy to commit murder, the substantial offence of murder, conspiracy to commit attempted murder and an attempted murder.

He was alleged to have been linked to series of killings within Ekpan and its environs, including the murder of one Edigbe Ikpesa sometime in Oc­tober 2012.

He was also implicated in the Delta Mall robbery/wanton de­struction in January, 2016.Efforts to get some leaders of the community, including the chairman of the Ekpan Community Development Committee, Innocent Adjenughure-Akpotedja, to comment were unsuccessful.

The Nation

No Joke! Court Sentences Traditional Ruler To Death..

The embattled Unuevworo (community head) of Ekpan, Uvwie Council Area of Delta State, Chief Newton Agbofodo, has been sentenced to death.

Agbofodoh, one of the highest ranking chiefs of Uvwie Kingdom, was arrested on June 17, 2016, and was later arraigned in court for crimes bordering on murder.

He  was sentenced by the Delta State High Court 4, in Asaba, after being found guilty of all four count charges  preferred against him. He was sentenced to death by hanging.

Charges preferred against him were conspiracy to commit murder, the substantial offence of murder, conspiracy to commit attempted murder and an attempted murder.

He was alleged to have been linked to series of killings within Ekpan and its environs, including the murder of one Edigbe Ikpesa sometime in Oc­tober 2012.

He was also implicated in the Delta Mall robbery/wanton de­struction in January, 2016.Efforts to get some leaders of the community, including the chairman of the Ekpan Community Development Committee, Innocent Adjenughure-Akpotedja, to comment were unsuccessful.

The Nation

Fayemi Joins Ekiti Governorship Race..

Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has finally broken his silence on his speculated governorship ambition in Ekiti State.

Fayemi, who was in office between October 2010 and October 2014 said his joining the governorship race was not debatable but he would not want to flout the law by declaring intent to contest when INEC was yet to blow the whistle for the race to start.

The former governor who addressed a briefing on his ambition at his Isan-Ekiti country home on Sunday said everything constitutionally, legally and legitimately possible would be done to ensure an APC victory at the forthcoming governorship poll.

Fayemi said: “Do you need a rocket scientist to tell you that I am running? I was very clear that I am a process person, I am not going to jump the gun because there are rules and guidelines for electioneering.“The body that is responsible for that has stated theobvious when you can actually start campaign.

Thefact that people are actually flouting the guidelines is a fault of INEC and INEC is not taking them up on it.“That is my own attitude to it and at appropriate time, I will tell my party because this is purely a party matter, it is not a public matter yet.“So, I don’t really understand the level of curiosity whether I am running or I am not running.

I am very clear that what we have in this state today is not what this state deserves.“I have always been very clear that whatever it takes constitutionally, legally and legitimately to pout our party in office in October 2018, we will do as a party.“I have also gone ahead to say this meeting (held on Saturday) is our usual gathering; it is not a placeto declare the intention to run but as to whether I am running or not, I am running.“That is not debatable but I am a process person, I am not going to flout the law. You will know, you willall be invited when I decide to formally declare within the ambit of the guideline issued by INEC.

The minister had earlier hosted party leaders from ward to state levels to a quarterly meeting on Saturday but did not publicly declare intent to run for governor at the gathering contrary to widespread speculations.

Youths Knock Oluwo For Adopting Emir Title,Turban...

The Yoruba Youth Socio-Cultural Association has come down heavily on the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Adewale Akanbi, for allegedly adopting the title of an Emir and for wearing a turban instead of the Yoruba traditional cap or the crown.

The National Coordinator of the YYSA, Mr. Olalekan Hammed, in a telephone interview withPunchyesterday, said the Oluwo’s action could precipitatecrisis in the future if not checked now.

The monarch has been dressing like an emir and wearing turban occasionally  and he again wore theturban  on Saturday when he installed Yakub Abdul-Baqi Mohammed as the Waziri of Yorubaland in his palace in Iwo.

He installed the Waziri contrary to the warning given to him by the League of Imams and Alfas in South-West, Edo and Delta states that he had no such right to confer an Islamic title which cut across the entire South-West on anybody.

The YYSA leader said, “If there is animosity among the Obas, he should work towards resolving it; he cannot just take the title of an Emir. What he is doing now is contrary to the tradition and history of the throne he occupies.

Oluwo is not an Islamic title, it is a cultural title.“We have had a Christian as the Oluwo in the past (from 1958 to 1982). What if another Christian becomes Oluwo in the future? Will he be allowed to change the title to that of evangelist or what or will he be referred to as an Emir of Iwo? It is not proper. Even the Oluwo is not in the position to install anybody the Waziri of Yorubaland because it is an Islamic title.

The League of Imams has that power.“As the Oluwo of Iwo land, he his restricted to Iwo land. Obas are custodians of culture and traditions and Oluwo should behave like one. Wearing a turban is like importing the culture of some other people into Yorubaland. He should wear the crown or Yoruba cap.

What he is doing is contrary to Yoruba culture and he should lay a good example for the youths.”However, the Oluwo has denied adopting the title of an Emir contrary to media reports.Speaking through his media aide, Mr. Ali Ibrahim, in a statement issued on Sunday, the Oluwo explainedthat he had never dropped the title of an Oba for an Emir.

The statement read, “Oluwo has never adopted the Emir title. He only said he could also be called an Emir by the Hausa and ardent Muslims.

Oba Akanbiis an Oba for the nation with special attachment to the Yoruba. He promotes Yoruba culture to the admiration of many youths.

Just because of Oluwo dress code today, many children are attracted to Yoruba culture of wearing the aso ofi.“I said so to integrate the Nigerian nation as an indivisible entity, all working tools are available for the integration and unity of our dear country.

I`ve visited the North several times, core Hausa hardly pronounce Yoruba words correctly. They called me emir when I am with them.

Is there anything wrong in answering such? Even, the Hausa in Iwo here callme emir. Will I stop them from addressing me as such? No, I am a father to the nation being a first-class paramount ruler.”

FG Releases Fresh 23 Names Of Alleged Looters

The Federal Government on Sunday releaseda fresh list containing 23 names of alleged looters.

It said the list of alleged looters which it released on Friday was based on verifiable facts, including the amount involved, the date the amount was collected and from where it was taken.

The names released on Friday were the National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, who allegedly collected N200m from the office of the former National Security Adviser.

Secondus had, however, denied the allegation and gave Mohammed 72 hours to retract the statement and also pay him N1.5b as damages.

Others included a former PDP Financial Secretary (N600m).The rest were a former PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisah Metuh, who is on trial for allegedlycollecting N1.4b from NSA office; Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, who is on trial for taking N2.1bn from NSA;and a former SSA to President Jonathan, Dudafa Waripamo-Owei, who is on trial over N830m kept in accounts of four different companies The last was former President Jonathan’s Cousin, Robert Azibaola, who was said to have collected$40m from NSA office.

While releasing a fresh list of alleged looters in Lagos on Sunday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement said the Friday’s list “was strategically released as a teaser.”He said, ‘’At the press conference where the list was released, I did say it was a tip of the iceberg… the Federal Government has a large number of alleged looters on its list.

The minister said the PDP’s reaction to the looters’ list has shown that its recent apology was an election-induced act, to deceive unsuspecting Nigerians to vote for the party in the 2019 general elections.Mohammed said, “The hysterical and panicky reaction from the PDP has shown that the party is not sincere about its choreographed apology.

Were it not the case, the party would have followed in the footsteps of one of its leaders, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, who simply owned up to his role in the party’s rigging in the past elections and said he hadturned a new leaf.

Mohammed said the Federal Government would neither be intimidated nor blackmailed into silence, adding that it would not rest until all those who looted the public treasury had been brought to justice.

Releasing the fresh list, the minister said based on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s investigation, N126bn, $1.5bn and £5.5m were allegedly embezzled through Sambo Dasuki office as the NSA.

The amounts, it alleged, were apart from the ongoing $2.1bn military equipment scandal.Mohammed further alleged that a former PetroleumResources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, “in just one of the cases the EFCC is investigating involving her; about N23bn is alleged to have been embezzled. She is also involved in the Strategic Alliance Contracts of the NNPC, where the firms of Jide Omokore and Jide Aluko got oil blocks, but never paid government taxes and royalty. About$3bn was involved.

The Federal Government is charging Omokore and Aluko and will use all legal instruments, local and international, to ensure justice.”He said the EFCC allegedly recovered N13.9bn and N4.8bn from an ex-army chief, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah (retd.) in cash and property.

Other names on the list are Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (alleged N4.5bn; N29m recovered by the EFCC); Alex Barde, a former Chief of Defence Staff, accused of stealing N8bn (EFCC recovered almost N4bn in cash and property); Inde Dikko, a former Comptroller General, Customs, accused of taking N40bn (N1.1bn recovered in cash and property).

The Federal Government also named Air Marshal Adesola Amosun, who allegedly got N21.4bn (N2.8bn recovered in cash; 28 property and three vehicles recovered); Senator Bala Abdulkadir, a former FCT Minister, who allegedly collected N5bn (interim forfeiture order on some property allegedly secured); Senator Stella Oduah, who allegedly got N9.8bn (interim forfeiture order on some property secured).

Three million Nigerians already registered with my coalition – Obasanjo

A former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday said that three million Nigerians have registered with the Coalition Movement of Nigeria (CMN) formed to effect political change in the nation ahead of 2019.

He called citizens to ensure they have their voter cards ahead of the 2019 elections.

Mr. Obasanjo made the disclosure while speaking atthe 14th Annual Lecture of Women in Management, Business and Public Service, held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

He said the coalition in conjunction with other movements is the way out of the nation’s political problems.He said the movement would make an inroad into the grassroots across the country.

He pointed out that he would pull out of CNM when it transforms into a political party and sponsors persons for elective offices in future elections.

Mr. Obasanjo also encouraged women to be active participants in the next political dispensation, addingthey should be ready to support the next phase of the political process.

The former president, who was a guest speaker on the theme, ‘Press for Progress: Women in Politics and Nation Building’, said he was ready to give adequate and full support to women towards playingrelevant roles in the country.

Mr. Obasanjo lamented that no woman has attained the position of an elected governor, senate presidentand some other top positions in the country.

Police to declare Senator Dino Malaye wanted

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Saturday said it would declare Senator Dino Malaye wanted if he fails to appear before a Federal High Court in Lokoja Kogi State on 28th March 2018.

A statement from Police Spokesman ACP Jimoh Moshood said working on intelligence, the Kogi State Police Command personnel and operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad trailed and arrested two  suspects, Kabiru Saidu and Nuhu Salisu after a gun battle with the Police team that lasted for some hours on the 19th January, 2018 at Ogojueje in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.

He said  “During investigation, they confessed to the various criminal roles they played in the commissionof several kidnappings and armed robbery, murder and other violent crimes in different parts of Kogi State for which they have been on the wanted list of the Police for more than two years now.”He added that, “the gang leader revealed that he andhis gang have been working as political thugs for one Alh. Mohammed Audu a politician in the State and that Alh. Mohammed Audu invited him to Abuja and introduced him to Senator Dino Melaye and theymet on Airport road, Abuja inside Senator Melaye’s Car in December, 2017.

Moshood said Kabiru Saidu further confessed to the Police investigative team that Senator Dino Melaye handed over a bag containing firearms; one AK47 rifle, two pump action guns and the sum of N430 thousand to share with his boys.

He said, “The Police conducted investigation into thecriminal indictments against Sen. Dino Melaye and Mohammed Audu and discovered that the two of them have case to answer.

He said, “The two  suspects namely; Kabiru Saidu and Nuhu Salisu were paraded at the Kogi State Command Headquarters, Lokoja on 19th March, 2018.

– Daily Trust

Why we keep ‘secret accounts’ unknown to our husbands – Women.

Women in the FCT on Wednesday expressed divergent views on why they operate secret bank accounts without the knowledge of theirspouses or partners.

Some of these women told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the reasons for shielding such accounts from their husbands range from mistrust, fear of separation and behaviour change.

However, some said it was to enable them to save money for the `rainy day’ as well as to assist their family members without unnecessary confrontation from their husbands or partners.

Jummai Danladi, a health worker, said that she did not trust her husband and had no confidence that her marriage would stand the test of time.“I do not trust my husband because he cheatson me indiscriminately; his infidelity is affecting our marriage; the marriage may collapse any moment; that is why I am secretly saving for the rainy day.

According to her, the money she is saving without his knowledge is to enable her to takecare of herself and the children when the needarises.Meanwhile, Bunmi Ade, a sales representative, said that her husband is a spendthrift and mismanages the family’s resources.

My husband and I have a joint account but I had to secretly open another one because he squanders the money on frivolities.“However, when an important and urgent need arises we end up borrowing to solve it,” Mrs. Ade said.

According to her, she lends him money from her personal savings and collects interest claiming it is from her office cooperative to dissuade him from spending indiscriminately.Loveth Chukwuma said her husband’s lack of respect and regard for her and her family led to the non-disclosure of her financial status.

My husband has little regard for my family and rarely attends to their needs even when itis urgent.“In order to avoid friction, I operate my account without his knowledge and I use my money to cater for my parents and personal needs without bothering him.

Similarly, Gift Emmanuel, a food vendor, said she hid her money from her husband becauseit was his responsibility to carter to the needs of the family.“Him money, na our money: it is his responsibility to provide everything that will be needed in the house.

After all, he promised to do that when I married him.“It is an irresponsible man that would expect his wife to take care of financial obligation of the family, especially when he is working,’’ Mrs. Emmanuel said.

Gunmen invade military base, ‘kill 12 Nigeriansoldiers’

At least 12 soldiers were killed after some gunmen raided a military base in Kampanin Doka in Birnin Gwari local government area ofKaduna state.

A source who disclosed this to TheCable said the incident occurred on Tuesday night.

The soldiers were said to be among a  detachment of troops deployed to the village to ensure security for expatriates and others working on a new road linking Zamfara and Kaduna states through Dansadau-Dangulbi and Birnin Gwari.

The expatriates reportedly fled the town after one of them was kidnapped last year.They were said to have returned after soldierswere deployed in the town.

A source at the emirate council told The Cable that the attackers killed three soldiers in a hole and nine others elsewhere within the camp.

We gathered that the soldiers had caught a thief in a village called Maganda in the area and were taking him back to their camp when some personnel of the Nigerian Police Force asked them to hand over the thief to them which the soldiers refused,” he said.

The same police followed the soldiers to their camp in Kampanin Doka and again asked them to hand over the thief to them, but the soldiers still refused.

Around 8pm on Tuesday, bandits attacked the soldier’s camp and killed three soldiers in a hole and nine others in a tent in the camp.”The source called on the state government to find a means of tackling the activities of suspected bandits in the area.

The government has not deemed it fit to declare the bandits as terrorists and are still describing the attacks as farmer/herdsmen conflict,” he said.“This is not the case, in fact, now there are no cows in the area because of banditry.

When contacted, Mohammed Dole, spokesman of the 1 division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, said a statement would soon be issued.“We are preparing a press release which will be released to the media as soon as possible, please give me some time” he said.

- The Cable

Those who voted Buhari in 2015 should ask God for forgiveness'' - Fayose

Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose, who is a strong critic of the Buhari administration, said this when he spoke to representatives of teachers, local government workers and private sector operators who paid him a courtesy visit in the state house in Ado-Ekiti, under the Oshoko Mass Movement(OMM), a political group.“Those who voted Muhammadu Buhari as the president of our country must seek for forgiveness. His leadership has brought unimaginable hardship and misery on the people.

The killing is too much and if he continues in office the hardship will be intolerable. They said he would come and make the difference and make things better but the reverse is the case. Unemployment is second to none and he has killed the economy and made the people poorer. The level of nepotism is also unprecedented.

Even their so-called fight against corruption is laced with favouritism and is one-sided,”he saidFayose during his speech, lamblasted the former governor of the state now Minister of Mines and Steel, Kayode Fayemi, for allegedly not using his office for the benefit of the state.

There are natural deposits across Ekiti, President Muhammadu Buhari spent N40 billion searching for crude oil in the north, what is Fayemi doing to unearth the minerals that abound here?” he asked.Fayose thanked Ekiti teachers and parents for making it possible for the state to take a big leap in the secondary education sector.

He applauded them for endorsing his deputy,  Kolapo Olusola, as his successor.

Corruption no longer threat to economy, says APC National Chairman

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, says corruption no longer poses a threat to the national economy because of the war being waged against it by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

Chief Odigie-Oyegun said this yesterday in Abuja at the party’s national secretariat, when he received the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State, Dr Abubakar Dzukogi and the management team on a courtesy visit and official notification of his nomination for a fellowship award and invitation to the 15th combined convocation ceremony ofthe institution scheduled for Wednesday, March 28, 2018.“On corruption, we all know that corruption is fighting back.

But it is not a problem, you fight with a flick of a switch, because corruption is very rich, corruption is very wealthy, corruption is very elitist; they are bound to fight back and theyare fighting back. But thank God we have a president who is single-minded about taming that scourge and tame it with will.

We know now that corruption is not as brazen as it was.“We don’t just now take money from the public till and distribute to politicians and the rest of it, that no longer happens... nobody is saying corruption has been wiped out, there is no country in the world where corruption has been wiped out; but it is being tackled in Nigeria to the point where it can no longer be a threat to the national economy, where it does not become an acceptable way of life, of doing business,” He said.

EFCC, ONSA Arrest Boroh, $9m Cash Recovered

Operatives of EFCC and ONSA, have discovered $9 million cash at the residence of the sacked Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, retired Brig.-Gen. Paul Tarelah Boroh.

Boroh, who was Special Adviser on Niger Delta to President Muhammadu Buhari has also been arrested according to Vanguard.

The discovery of the cash was made a few hours after his arrest by a combined team of EFCC and operatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The Head, Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujiaren, confirmed the arrest and cash recovery in response to enquiries.A senior security agent said Boroh was picked up from his home in Gwarinpa, Abuja, on Monday.He was reported to have been taken back to his residence at about 3 a.m.

Tuesday by the security operatives who raided his house for hours and made the cash discovery of $9 million at his homeHe remains in the custody of the EFCC.Vanguard

FG Confirms 76 Dapchi School Girls Were Freed... Girls Receiving Treatment...

The Federal Government have also confirmed the release of 76 abducted students of Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State.

The government said the girls were released unconditionally following the intervention of “some friends of Nigeria.

A statement by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the 76 girls were those that had been documented so far.

A residents also confirmed to The Nation that the girls are currently receiving treatment at the GeneralHospital in Dapchi."The girls are looking terrible.

Most of them are on drip because they very exhausted and underfed, ” a medical personnel  at the hospital said.At least 110 students were abducted from their hostels by Boko Haram militants on February 19.

We are happy some are back, may God let others bereturned safely too, Amen.

Celine Dion Celebrates Mom’s 91st Birthday..

To celebrate her dear mother’s 91st birthday, CelineDion posted a heartwarming photo that shows the powerful love the duo shares between them!

The singer marked the occasion by sharing a photo of a meaningful mother-daughter moment on her Instagram account.

The sweet picture showed the mother and daughter singing together with the caption:

“Happy Birthday, Mom!” the 49-year-old wrote in the caption. “You are an infinite source of comfort and inspiration.

I love you.”Dion’s mother has supported her daughter’s music career from the very beginning. When Dion was just12 years old, she wrote her first song with the help of her mom and her brother Jacques.

And, the singer’s sweet message to her mom came just two and a half weeks after she shared a similar post to celebrate her late father.

In that post, she shared a picture of her father and wrote: “Papa, you would have been 95 years old today,” she wrote. “I think ofyou and I love you.”Dion’s father, Adhemar-Charles Dion, died back in 2003. Dion’s parents are both musicians themselves and were married for 48 years.

Dion is the youngest of their 14 children.

Student, 20, Remanded In Prison For Impersonating Emir Of Kano

A 20-year-old student, Sultan Bello, was on Wednesday remanded in prison custody by a Kano Senior Magistrates’ Court, for impersonating the Emir of Kano,Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II.

The accused who resides at Ja’oji New Court Road Quarters, Kano, is facing a three-count charge of impersonation, cheating and defamation of character.

The Senior Magistrate, Hassan Ahmad, ordered the remand of the accused and adjourned the case untilMarch 26, for summary trial.

The accused had pleaded guilty to the charge. Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Haziel Ledapwa, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Feb. 27.

Ledapwa said that the defendant operated an Instagram page and dubiously posted himself as the Emir of Kano“The accused also demanded N1.4 million from one Barka Sani, N150,000 from Sadiq Saflan, N50,000 from Sadiq Sani, N50,000 from Aisha Ahmad, N50,000 from Surajo Zakari and N150,000 from Yahaya, totaling N1.85 million.

He also told the court that the accused demanded the money on the pretext that one Hausa film actress, Zubaida Mu’azu, sang a song for him as the Emir of Kano.

“The accused requested the complainants to pay the said amount into the actress’ First Bank account number 3049986447,” he said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene Sections 132, 322 and 392 of the penal code.

NAN

I’m ready to commit suicide if… – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that he wouldn’t mind to commit suicide if Nigeria loses hope even as he offered reasons why he could not chose to remain silent when he sees things going wrong in the country.

He says because he is an incurable optimist in the Nigerian project, he would continue to talk and point out things going wrong because he still believes that Nigeria has great hope.

Answering questions from students of the Ijaw National Academy(INA) Kaiama at the school auditorium as part of activities lined up for his two day working visit to Bayelsa, Obasanjo said in spite of the economic and political challenges confrontingthe country, there is great hope for Nigeria.

While admitting that there are things that could havebeen done differently, he insisted that Nigerians should not give up hope as that would spell doom for the country.“If Nigeria does not have hope I would find a rope and commit suicide immediately because then what am I living for? I am an incurable optimist in Nigeria.

Nigeria has hope. There are many things we should have done as we should have done them. There is no doubt about that. But that does not mean Nigeria does not have hope.  Look, hope is what drives any human being. A person without hope is like a personwithout life.

How can I therefore say that Nigeria hasno hope? Nigeria has hope and you are part of the hope of Nigeria. You asking me that question heightens my conviction that Nigeria has hope.  This country in spite of our difficulties, we have hope.

I just came back from Rome and while there I asked the Ambassador what are his major problems and he told me that there are 1600 Nigerians in Italian prisons, that is a problem but we shouldn’t because of that say that there is no hope for Nigeria.

No, I won’t say that. I would say that we have a problem that we have to address and if we don’t address thatproblem we are postponing the evil day. That doesn’t mean that Nigeria has no hope.

Never lose hope. If you lose hope you lose everything. Great hope because of you and great hope because I would not keep my mouth shut when I see things or anything wrong in Nigeria”Obasanjo who insisted that he has no single regret as military Head of State and civilian President said he did everything humanly possible with the resources, facilities and knowledge at his disposal at that material time.“Is there anything I would have wanted to do with theresources that I had, with the knowledge that I had when I was in government, with facilities that I had that I did not do? I would say no.

Now If I had more resources there are things I would have done differently.

But with what I had at the time that I had at my disposal and some of the people who worked with me are here, I did all the things I believe are humanly possible for me to do. Now mind you, I did not say that I was perfect, I would never say that, only God is perfect.

I did not have any regret when I was in government”When asked to compare and contrast his challenge as a military Head of State and an elected President,he explained that the Dimka coup and subsequent assassination of Muritala Mohammed was a major challenge which he had to deal with.

As an elected President, he said he had to come to grips with the fact that he was dealing with democratic institutions with its own peculiarities.“Dealing with democracy is far different from military government.

That was what I had to understand. As military Head of State I did not have a party to contend with, I did not have a National Assembly to contend with, I did not have the opposition to contend with;  Labour Union, ASUU etc.

These are things that you had to contend with and manage them.”

Young Nigerian man set to marry two beautiful ladies in Abia State..

This young man named Ejindu is set to marry two women, Ebere and Oyediya at the same time and same venue, on Sunday, February 25, 2018, in Abriba, Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State.

However, the traditional wedding ceremonies of the two ladies will hold on February 23 and 24 at their family compounds, also in Abriba.

Buhari loses two family members...

President Muhammadu Buhari’s extended family has been struck by the loss of two senior members who died within a few hours of one another.

Halima Dauda who was buried in Daura on Saturday morning is the president’s niece andyounger sister to his close associate and nephew, Mamman Daura.

She died at about the age of 56, leaving behind 10 children, four of them male and six female including one of President Buhari’s personal assistants, Mohammed Sabi’u Tunde.

The burial, according to Garba Shehu, the spokesperson to the president, was attended by a federal government delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.

The Buhari family had earlier buried Ai’sha Mamman on Friday. She was the wife of the president’s older brother, Alhaji Mamman.

Ex-senator dies in road accident..

A former senator, John Shagaya, was on Sunday afternoon involved in a ghastly car crash.He died from the accident, an official confirmed.

Dan Dandur, a former chairman, Langtang North Local Government in Plateau, confirmed the death to the News Agency of Nigeria.

Mr. Shagaya, a retired army general, was saidto have been returning from his country homein Langtang on his way to Jos wh

Ex-Super Eagles Defender Now A Professional Hunter..

Ex-Super Eagles defender, Uche Okechukwu is now a professional hunter in Abia State. A twitter user, Imam Imam disclosed this. See a photo of Uche when he was active below;

Nigerians who own property in UK panic over new law...

Nigerians who own properties in the United Kingdom have inundated the Federal Ministry of Finance’s Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme hotlines with calls, causing the lines to crash on Friday.

A source at the VAIDs office told theNews Agency ofNigeriathat the unprecedented level of calls was not unconnected with the new UK regulation on Unexplained Wealth Orders.

The source disclosed that the VAIDs office received massive calls and frantic requests from tax payers based in the UK in the last 72 hours, asking for extension of time to enable them complete their VAIDS declaration forms.

The UK Government had, last week, introduced a new law that requires foreigners who own propertiesin the country to explain the source of their funds or risk forfeiting them to the government.According to the new law, the UWOs could be obtained on any property or combination of properties valued at 50,000 pounds (N25m) or more, for which the owner is unable to explain a legal source of its funding.

The source said the data already in the possession of the VAIDS office in the Federal Ministry of Financerevealed that many UK property owners had underpaid their taxes before transferring funds overseas to buy properties.“Concerted efforts are ongoing to restore the hotlines following the crash on Friday.“Most of the calls received are from high net worth individuals, including company executives, bankers and even a governor.“All seem to be in panic over the prospect of losing their investments,” said a source within the VAIDS Office.

The official said that some of the apprehensive Nigerian property investors in UK had even visited the Federal Ministry of Finance, requesting to see the minister and also the Head of the VAIDS office.

The source explained that most of the inquiries wereabout seeking assurance from the Nigerian government that the VAIDs programme could protectthem from potential asset forfeiture to the UK Government.

Buhari appoints Tinubu to lead APC strategy committee..

President Muhammadu Buhari has named Bola Tinubu to lead the charge for a united All Progressives Congress as 2019 election season draws closer.

In a statement Tuesday morning, the president said the former Lagos would focus on “consultation, reconciliation and confidence building efforts” for the ruling party.

The assignment will involve resolving disagreements among party members, party leadership and political office holders in some statesof the Federation,” the statement, which was posted on the president’s Twitter handle said.

The statement did not elaborate Mr. Tinubu’s new role, or whether the party’s national leader had accepted the offer.

Mr. Tinubu is also seen as one of the disgruntled leaders in the APC, although he often dismisses this claim in the media and regularly reiterates his loyaltyto Mr. Buhari.

The APC has been grappling with internal crisis since it became the ruling party in 2015.

Many of its state chapters, especially Kano, Kogi andKaduna, are drawn in separate battles for supremacy.

The party had previously raised different committeesto resolve the crisis across the states. The latest appointment appears to be an indication the party’s internal efforts had failed.

Mr. Buhari has yet to formally launch his bid for 2019 election, but he has made pronouncements and taken steps that suggest he is scheming to keephis job for another term.

The president has been urged by many, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, not to run for reelection for various reasons that include his unstable health condition.

Quack doctor infects 33 with HIV..

Police on Tuesday filed a complaint against a quack doctor who infected 33 people in northern India with HIV after a quack doctor used contaminated syringes and needles to administer injections.

The police in Uttar Pradesh state’s Unnao district filed a complaint against Rajendra Yadav, who has fled the region in anticipation of arrest, the district’s chief medical officer SPC houdhary said.

Choudhary said the state’s health department had launched an investigation following reports of the high number of HIV cases from the Bangarmau region.

The official said 33 of 566 people screened were confirmed HIV positive.

“Locals say the fake doctor who used to treat them for common ailments rarely changed needles and syringes, often using them repeatedly,” Choudhary said by phone from Unnao.

We suspect that most if not all of the cases here are due to the contaminated syringes and needles being used time and again,” he added.India has poor standards of medical care due to lack of doctors and hospitals for its burgeoning population.

Millions of poor in towns and villages rely on quack doctors for cheap treatment, with the Indian Medical Association estimating there are one million fake doctors practising in the country in spite of campaigns by health authorities.

-NAN

Nigerians to experience ‘I pass my neighbour’generator powered AC..

Goneare the days, when air conditioners were regarded as luxury items in the home because it came with extra cost that included big generators to power and, even when powered with on grid electricity, they consumed a lot of power that cost a lot of money.

To ensure that it meets the desires of its consumers,LG has come up with the advanced all-new Gencool air conditioner with dual inverter technology; this is in its determination to offer Nigerians cutting-edge technology, especially consumers seeking energy-efficient products.

The air conditioner is renowned for its ability to save as much as 70 per cent on electricity consumption with 40 per cent faster cooling, thereby reducing bills.

The all new Gencool Air Conditioner features a DUAL inverter compressor with a 10-year warranty that helps users enjoy benefits of LG’s air conditioner for a longer period of time.

According to a consumer, Mr. John Gbadebo, who shared his experience: “The Gencool AC works seamlessly with his 0.7 KVA generator (popularly referred to as ‘I better pass my neighbour’), which is a common source of power among Nigerians.

This is a clear departure from the conventional ACs.

He added that with this unique feature, LG has demonstrated clearly that it possess the ability to meet the needs of consumers who wants to use AC with small capacity generators “without necessarily worrying about the start-up electric power for optimum performance in Nigeria anymore.

LG Electronics has said it remains determination to offer Nigerians cutting-edge technologies, especiallyconsumers seeking energy-saving products.

Unlike the conventionalair conditioner that cannot operate at lower speeds due to its constant rotation, the dualinverteris designed to save energy by 70 per cent by constantly adjusting the compressor speed to maintain desired temperature level thereby reducing energy costs.

The AC comes with dual Rotor inverter compressor, making it more stable hereby increasing durability.

– Sun News

FG renames Federal University after Ekwueme

The federal government has renamed the Federal University Nduflu Alike, Ebonyi state, after Alex Ekwueme, former vice-president, who died in London last year.

Buhari asks ministers to account for funds...

President Muhammadu Buhari has mandatedministers to give account of their stewardshipat the weekly cabinet meetings.

Ministers have since last week been explaining to the Federal Executive Council how funds released so far to their respective ministries were being spent.

The process began with the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh and his Health counterpart, Professor Isaac Adewole.Information Minister Lai Mohammed confirmed to State House reporters yesterdayafter the Federal Executive Council meeting presided by President Buhari that ministers were asked to account for funds received so far by their ministries.

According to him, ministers are to explain how far they have gone with execution of projects for which their ministries had received funds.

Mohammed said this was aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability.

Woman marries man, pays his family N289 million (Photos)...

A newly married Chinese couple has been making waves on the internet for their unorthodox match- she is a wealthy 38-year-old mother of one, and he is a 23-year-old whose mother is only a year older than his bride.

The wedding, which was filmed on Jan. 10, took place in Qionghai, Hainan, China, where it first went viral and stirred up controversy.

The woman apparently fell pregnant after a romancewith the younger man, after which he proposed marriage.

Initially, the groom’s parents opposed the wedding, citing the 15 year age difference between them, as well as the bride’s 14-year-old child from a previous marriage.

However, the bride – a wealthy real estate businesswoman – offered them a dowry of 660,000 yuan (USD 104,273) in cash, a real estate lot, and a Ferrari sports car, altogether worth an estimated a 5,000,000 yuan (USD 789,950). The parents gave their blessing immediately following the generous offer.

They married in an extravagant ceremony, arriving ina red Ferrari with the bride bedecked in gold and other expensive jewelry.

Chinese netizens have had mixed reactions to the union, with many congratulating the pair, but some claiming the young man only married the woman for her money rather than love.

2019 Elections May Not Be Credible — PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party has said there are signs that the 2019 elections may lack credibility.Apart from this, the opposition party said the ruling All Progressives Congress administration was not ready to conduct free, fair and credible elections.

The National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, stated this in Abuja on Wednesday while playing host to a United Nations delegation which paid him a courtesy visit at the party’s national secretariat.

Speaking with the delegation, Secondus said the conduct of elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office had shown that the 2019 polls might not be credible.

Naming Buhari AU’s Anti-Graft Champion, A Joke Of The Year – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party has described the reported naming of President Muhammed Buhari as African Union anti-corruption champion as laughable, and derisory.

The PDP added that Buhari’s appointment eminently qualified as Africa’s joke of the year. 

The party said it was clear that the AU leaders were not well briefed on happenings in Nigeria, including the alleged heavy sleazes going on around the Presidency.

It said that the AU was misled by the Federal Government, which it said planned to use the naming as a face-saving stunt for the administration.

George Weah To Cut Salary By 25% As Part Of Effort To Confront Liberia's Broken Economy

In one of his first acts as President of Liberia, George Weah has announced he will cut his salary by 25% as part of an effort to confront his country's "broken economy.

In view of the very rapidly deteriorating situation of the economy, I am informing you today, with immediate effect, that I will reduce my salary and benefits by 25%," Weah said in his first State of the Republic address.

Weah, a former professional soccer star in Europe, was sworn in as President of the West African nation last week.

Why nobody can remove Saraki from office - Senate

The senate has said that any plot to remove the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, would fail as other senators are ‘notready to remove him.’Senate Spokesperson, Sabi Abdullahi, made this known while speaking with reporters at the weekend.

Mr. Abdullahi noted that the senate president has provided stability not only in the National Assembly, but the entire country, ThisDay reported.“Nobody can remove Saraki. We elected him and we are not ready to remove him yet. From day one, ‘they’ never wanted Saraki.

What we are saying is that the right to choose the Senate President lies with senators and we have chosen our leader.“From everything he has been doing as chairman of the National Assembly and as President of the Senate, he has provided stability.

He has not only brought this to the National Assembly, but the entire country.“The true face of democracy is the parliament and since Saraki came in, we have not failed this democracy,”He noted that it was in Nigeria’s interest that the stability in the National Assembly be allowed to endure so that all hands can be on deck to tackle the challenges in the country.

Current Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Monday injected another$210m into various segments of the inter-bank foreign exchange market.

This came on the heels of the regulator’s $304.4m Retail Secondary Market Intervention sales in the inter-bank forex market on Friday.

Despite this, the naira closed at 364/dollar at the parallel market on Monday, the same rate the United States greenback traded against the local unit on Friday.

Nollywood Actress, Sophia Williams Speaks On Sex With Dolls..

Recently, a trend broke out all over the world about robot sex dolls and it has got celebrities, men and women talking about it.

The craze to acquire such a doll has become a thing to worry about.The doll is said to have features as a woman and some men feel they are better off with a robot than being with a woman.Nollywood actress, Sophia Willams, thinks theidea is crazy and ungodly.

I’m still trying to come to reality how someone will be comfortable to have sex with asex doll! For real? For me it’s crazy and unacceptable. Trust me, sex with dolls can never be the same with that of humans. It’s just like women using vibrator! And again it’s not godly and my faith condemns such acts,” she told Inside Nollywood.

The mother of three also has an advice for men who are craving for such robots as sex partners. “I’ll advice them to stay away from such practice because it can become an addiction and you know what that means.

”– Sun News

Between Tonto Dikeh & Ex-husband: The Saga Continues!..

Those who thought that the marital  drama between Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh and her ex-husband,Olakunle Churchill has ended with the annullment of their marriage last year, have been proved wrong as they are still on each other’s throat.

Churchill, last week, filed a suit at the family court of the Lagos State Magistrate court against the releaseof a Reality Show called “King Tonto” being produced by Linda Ikeji Media Limited and featuring King Andre.Churchill is worried that featuring ”King” in such a production is solely to exploit his son for financial gain and exposing the life and times of the little boy at a period when he cannot make a decision for himself, as the production is basically of adult content.
But despite the court injunction, and moves by Churchill to halt the airing of the production, nothing seems to be stopping Tonto from going ahead with the campaign for the show.

In meantime, the actress posted a one minute campaign video on her Instagram page telling her fans to watch out as an indirect response to all who have been asking what would happen next since her baby daddy is bent on stopping the show. Indeed, the last of the unfolding drama is yet to be seen!

– Vanguard

South Africans attack Nigerians, burn houses

The Nigerian Community in South Africa said on Saturday that a mob destroyed four shops and several houses belonging to their members at Krugersdorp, near Johannesburg.

Mr Cyril James, the Ward Chairman of the Nigerian Union in the area, told the News Agency of Nigeriaonthe telephone from Johannesburg, South Africa that the attacks began on Jan. 18.

James said that the mob alleged that a Nigerian abducted a South African girl and raped her.“The South Africans attacked our homes and shops, destroyed all we have.

Many Nigerians suffered severe injuries during the attack. We have left our homes for safety because they (South Africans) are regrouping to attack us again,” he said.James urged the Nigerian mission to urgently intervene before the mob kills a Nigerian.

According to him, the safety of Nigerians in Krugersdorp is no more guaranteed because there isno help.Mr Adetola Olubajo, President of the union, said that the situation in the area was bad.

Under Buhari, lives of cows more important than humans — Governor Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari was under pressure at ‘some point in the past’ to declare a state of emergency in the state.

The governor, who is a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, also said the lives of animals are treated better under the present administration.“When I went to see the President, he told me that he was under pressure to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State,” a Government House statement quoted Mr. Wike to have said on Friday when he received the Anglican Bishops of Niger Delta Province who visited him at the Government House.

The governor did not, however, mention when, and why, the president made the remark.
Apart from political tension caused by hotly contested elections which are oftentimes marred by violence and killings, Rivers has witnessed several cult-related violence and killings, the latest one being the gruesome killing of 17 people in Omoku on New Year Day.

The opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state is accusing the governor of “working with” cult kingpins and lacking the capacity to tackle insecurity in the state. Mr. Wike denies this.

Mr. Wike told the Anglican bishops that his state ceased to be the focus of the APC-controlled federal government because of “mass insecurity across the country”.“Those things they planned to use in declaring a state of emergency in Rivers Statefell on their own states and it became difficult to do so,” he said.“When you sit and plot evil against Rivers State, you will not know peace.

If they don’t apologise for plotting and executing evil against Rivers State, they will never know peace.

The governor accused President Buhari of notshowing interest on the recent killing in Benue State, saying that in some other countries the president would have visited thearea to assess the situation even if the lives lost were fewer in number.“Human lives are not respected,” he said.

“In fact, the lives of cows and chicken appear to be more important than human lives.“This has nothing to do with politics. Let us not trivialise the catastrophy that has befallenNigeria,” he added.

Mr. Wike, who said that his state survived by the prayers of the clerics and the church, urged the church to show interest in the nation’s politics.

- Premium Times

PDP will not disappoint Nigerians – Atiku

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has assured Nigerians that the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, will not fail them.

Mr. Abubakar returned to the PDP last year after about three years in the All Progressives Congress.

He is expected to run for the presidential ticket of the opposition party for next year’s general elections.According to a statement signed by Jacob Onjewu, spokesperson of the Atiku Care Foundation, Mr. Abubakar who was speaking through the chairman of the foundation, Aliyu Ibn Abbas, said the PDP is the only party that can transform Nigeria and take its economy back to prosperity.

He said this in Kaduna on Sunday when one of his supporters, Zainab Pindar, organised a reception for him at the Arewa House to welcome him back to the PDP.

Mr. Abubakar further urged his supporters to spread the message of PDP’s good plans to the people at the grassroots.“PDP still remains the only national party in Nigeria.

It is the hope of the common man to be free from the fraud called the APC,” Mr. Abbas said at the event.

He praised Miss Pindar for committing her resources to funding the reception, adding that Nigeria needs such patriotic youth in good positions to contribute meaningful ideas that would move the country forward.

Earlier in her remarks at the gathering, Miss Pindar vowed to do every thing within her capacity to project and campaign for the success of Mr. Abubakar and the PDP ahead of 2019.

We will use our time, resources, energy and contacts in ensuring the PDP and Wazirin Adamawa is successful in the 2019 election.#AtikuCareProject2019,” she said.

The programme attracted dignitaries which include Ibrahim Wusono who is the PDP Secretary in Kaduna State, A.A Yaron Kirki, who represented former Governor of Kaduna State, Mukhtar Yero; Yusuf Dan Bala and the PDP chairman for Igabi Local Government Area of the state.

- Premium Times

Nigerian banks stop ATM cash withdrawal abroad ; Dollars, Euros, Pounds

A number of Deposit Money Banks in the country have barred their customers from using debit and credit cards to withdraw dollars, euros, pounds and other foreign currencies whenever they travel abroad, investigation by Punch correspondent has revealed.

The development may put business and leisure travellers, who may need hard currencies to meet some obligations abroad, in a difficult situation.

Also, students who are studying abroad and often rely on withdrawing hard currencies with their Nigerian payment cards from Automatic Teller Machines abroad to meet certain needs may find the situation challenging.

Findings by Punch correspondent revealed that the naira volatility of the past year made many of the Nigerian banks to get their fingers burnt and the fear of losing heavily to possible future currency volatilitywas making them to exercise restraint in reactivating overseas ATM withdrawal services for their customers.

However, some banks, which are said to be having high risk appetite and some with partner banks overseas to make settlements easier, are having a smooth ride and as such, have reactivated the ATM withdrawal service overseas.

PDP will not disappoint Nigerians – Atiku

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has assured Nigerians that the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, will not fail them.

Mr. Abubakar returned to the PDP last year after about three years in the All Progressives Congress.

He is expected to run for the presidential ticket of the opposition party for next year’s general elections.According to a statement signed by Jacob Onjewu, spokesperson of the Atiku Care Foundation, Mr. Abubakar who was speaking through the chairman of the foundation, Aliyu Ibn Abbas, said the PDP is the only party that can transform Nigeria and take its economy back to prosperity.

He said this in Kaduna on Sunday when one of his supporters, Zainab Pindar, organised a reception for him at the Arewa House to welcome him back to the PDP.

Mr. Abubakar further urged his supporters to spread the message of PDP’s good plans to the people at the grassroots.“PDP still remains the only national party in Nigeria.

It is the hope of the common man to be free from the fraud called the APC,” Mr. Abbas said at the event.

He praised Miss Pindar for committing her resources to funding the reception, adding that Nigeria needs such patriotic youth in good positions to contribute meaningful ideas that would move the country forward.

Earlier in her remarks at the gathering, Miss Pindar vowed to do every thing within her capacity to project and campaign for the success of Mr. Abubakar and the PDP ahead of 2019.

We will use our time, resources, energy and contacts in ensuring the PDP and Wazirin Adamawa is successful in the 2019 election.#AtikuCareProject2019,” she said.

The programme attracted dignitaries which include Ibrahim Wusono who is the PDP Secretary in Kaduna State, A.A Yaron Kirki, who represented former Governor of Kaduna State, Mukhtar Yero; Yusuf Dan Bala and the PDP chairman for Igabi Local Government Area of the state.

- Premium Times

Abomination as Nigerian man impregnates mother-in-law..

Victoria Ulaha is in a dilemma. If it were possible, she would turn back the hands of time and wish all that happened to her never did.

This native of Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, is married to John Ulaha, 45, of Awe Local Government Area of the same state, a farmer and carpenter in Lafia. Both husband and wife are in agony as you read this.

The problem is that in sowing his wild oats, John Ulaha impregnated another woman. What makes hissin so obnoxiously unforgivable? The woman in question is his mother-in-law! Right now, his wife is in a great fix as to what to do about the ugly and shameful development.

Victoria, blessed with a daughter, lives in Lafia where she manages a provision store while her husband runs a carpentry workshop. But by way of augmenting their incomes, they are heavily involved in farming activities in Awe, where they hire labourers to work on their farms.

After the implementation of anti-grazing law in Benue State pushed over 85% of Fulani herdsmen from Benue to settle in Awe, they started destroying, at an alarming rate, farmlands belonging to others.

This situation made Victoria to invite her mother whois a widow to come over and help her husband harvest their farm produce of yam and guinea corn since she was very busy with her shop business in Lafia.

In the course of time, sometime in mid-September 2017, John and his mother-in-law, Mrs. Ashetu Igbasue, 42, relocated to Awe in order tofast-track their harvesting.

Three months into the pair’s sojourn, the bubble burst and Victoria found a big scandal on her hand when her mother came reporting dejectedly that she was pregnant.

For whom? Her daughter’s husband!“I’m distressed, I don’t know how to handle this matter,” Victoria toldSaturday Sunas she threw her hand helplessly into the air. “I got married to my husband nine years ago.

The marriage is blessed with a baby girl and my mother used to come aroundto spend some time with us especially when she losther husband.“But this time around, I personally requested that she should come and help us do some work on the farm.

Since then she had been in the village with my husband helping on the farm, though both of them used to come to Lafia regularly to pick supplies and go back because they were determined to evacuate all crops from the farm to the house before herdsmen could come to destroy them.

There was a time my husband came to Lafia to get some cooking ingredients and I asked him whether they were feeding well. He told me lightheartedly thatmy mother’s cooking was more delicious than mine.

I did not suspect anything bad. I believed my husband. And, moreover, the woman in question is my mother, not a rival.”The mother-in-law, Mrs. Igbasue, said that it all started in the farm during a joke which led to sex later in the night when they returned from the farm.

Iagreed to his demand for sex and thought it was just to satisfy his sexual feelings, but somehow, it became a daily thing,” she confessed.John who attributed the whole scandal to Satan’s work, added that he never imagined that the woman could become pregnant.

He admitted that he has deeply offended God as well as his wife for going toofar by sleeping with his mother-in-law to extent of getting her pregnant, adding that the pregnancy won’t stand as he will do his best by pleading with his wife to accept aborting it.“I have regretted what happened.

It is not in my character and the shame this very act has brought to me, my wife and the entire village as well as thosewho know me is unbearable,” he lamented. “Since my wife leaked this out, I have not been comfortable and have lost appetite for food. I have been pleading with her to forgive me because it is the devil’s work.”

– Sun News