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Tag: Vice president

  • FCV Gladiators Football Camp will add value to school sports, says Akinwunmi

    The uniqueness of the maiden FCV Gladiators Football Camp has distinguished from others in terms of adding value to school sports in Nigeria.

    These were the views of the Vice President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Seyi Akinwunmi who believes other academies should take a cue from what FCV Gladiators Camp intends to add to sports.

    Akinwunmi said globally, football and education must be combined well to mould a total child who can compete at global level.

    “Sincerely, the emergence of the maiden FCV Gladiators Camp is really a progress and we have been preaching this for a very long while. We are very happy that this is happening as it is the only way to succeed because if we don’t take back sports to schools, we are only wasting our time,” the NFF helmsman said.

    He added: “FCV Gladiators Camp has come in a unique way and different opportunity for the kids. They are clearly saying football and education must go hand-in-hand. There is no disguise and this is what other academies should come to say. Many of our academies are interested in the kids to become footballers without education but FCV is saying, play the game and get education.”

    For the Chief Executive Officer of Advanta Interactive Limited, Efe Ojigbede, the camp would not only focus on football but emphasis the need for the participants to marry their football prowess with academics.

    “Football has been a passion across Nigeria and a lot of people got involved in the game at grassroots especially. But what we are looking at doing is to bring into fore education and football. What matter the most for us is the education, we are not saying football alone but education and football because it is important we emphasis this,” Ojigbede said.

    To ensure that the initiative has come to stay, Ojigbede said: “We have been able to enter an agreement with FCV to be here for the next five years. Beyond that we know that the success of the camp will determine how far we go but for now, five years, we are here. Between now and when the camps will hold in Lagos and Abuja, we will have registered a lot of children and getting schools to start getting their kids and teams ready to come to the camps,” he added.

    The camp is a brainchild of Dynaspro Sports Promotion and Advanta Interactive Limited in collaboration with UK-based FCV International Academy with the sole aim of giving a new outlook to football with special attention to education. University of Lagos Sports Centre host the Lagos leg of the camp on April 14 while the Abuja leg holds on April 21.

     

  • FG approves N27.4bn for victims of conflicts, insecurity, flooding

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved N27.4billion as intervention funds for states affected by conflicts, insecurity and flooding across the country.

    The Vice-President of the National Food Security Council and Gov.  Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, disclosed this at the end of the Council’s meeting, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Bagudu said that the council’s approval followed the submission and subsequent consideration of two memos from the national food security council.

    The council, chaired by President Buhari, was inaugurated in March 2018 by him.

    The governor revealed that N8.58billion of the amount (N27.4billion) was approved for 69,872 victims of conflicts and insecurity in Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.

    According to him, the intervention includes provision of fertiliser, seedlings, chemicals, poultry and animals to enable the victims resume economic activity.

    “First, it approved the intervention for states that have been affected by conflicts and insecurity, where many have been displaced from their homes and some are living in Internally Displaced Persons camps.

    “While support has been given in terms of accommodation, food, welfare, the national food security council considered the importance of helping them restore their livelihood activities, particularly agricultural activity.

    “Council approved the memo by Mr President and approved N8,558,529,755 for intervention in Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.

    “The beneficiaries are estimated to be about 69,872 people. The intervention includes provision of fertiliser, seedlings, chemicals, poultry and animals to enable them resume economic activity,’’ he said.

    The governor also stated that the remaining balance of  N18,942,818, 912 was approved for 14 states of the federation that were severely affected by flooding in the country.

    “Secondly, council considered and approved the submission, which originated from national food security council on states that have been severely affected by flooding.

    “It is not an exhaustive list because the National Emergency Management Agency statutorily provides all states that experience one emergency or the other.

    “Last year, there was unusual amount of flooding in some states about 14 of them and the national food security council considered the impact of that flooding on the agricultural sector, food security, animal husbandry and fisheries.

    “And so, today the council approved an intervention totalling N18,942,818,912.14,” he said.

    Bagudu said that contracts would be awarded to 15 companies to provide seedlings, agro chemicals and fertilisers to 163,117 beneficiaries located in 14 states.

    He gave the names of the affected states to include Adamawa, Anambra, Beyelsa, Benue, Delta, Edo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Rivers, Sokoto and Taraba.

    The governor maintained that, as part of the work of national food security council, other interventions were being worked upon for the fishing communities and also the livestock sector.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the broad objectives of the National Food Security Council include developing sustainable solutions to the farmers/herdsmen clashes, as well as climate change and desertification and their impact on farmland.

    The Council also aims to address the issues of grazing areas and lakes, rivers and other water bodies; oil spillage and its impact on Niger Delta fishing communities; piracy and banditry; agricultural research institutions and extension services and the problem of smuggling. (NAN)

  • Osinbajo heads policies, programmes, projects audit panel

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday approved the constitution of the Policies, Programmes and Projects Audit Committee.

    He named Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as the chairman.

    A statement by the Permanent Secretary (General Services Office), Olusegun Adekunle, listed members of the committee, Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari; Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF) Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, Budget & National Planning Minister Senator Udo Udoma and Finance Minister Mrs. Zainab Ahmed.

    Others are: Power, Works & Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola; Attorney General of the Federation & Minister of Justice, Abubakar Mallami; Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment Okechukwu Enelamah; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development Audu Ogbe.

    Read also: Nigeria youngsters impressive at qualifiers despite failing to pick AJC tickets

    Also in the committee are: Minister of Water Resources, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, National Security Adviser, Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President is a member and secretary of the committee.

    The terms of reference include:

    To audit and determine the status of implementation of policies, programmes and projects either inherited or commenced by the out-going administration

    Identify and highlight a residue of works and challenges that may militate against their successful implementation;

    Prepare and produce a detailed working document that would guide the incoming cabinet members on the direction of government regarding policies, programmes and projects;

    Co-opt any organisation(s)/person(s) relevant towards the successful execution of the exercise; and

    Make any other recommendation(s) as may be necessary.

    Members of the committee are to be inaugurated on Friday at the Conference Room of the Vice President Office.

  • …He ‘s a worthy partner — Tinubu

    All Progressives Congress National Leader and former Lagos governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has congratulated Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on turning 62.

    He described Osinbajo as an erudite legal luminary and worthy partner with whom he worked along with other technocrats to lay a solid foundation for the Lagos that is the envy of others today.

    In a statement on Friday by his Media Adviser, Tunde Rahman, the former Lagos governor said as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Osinbajo led Lagos to institute and win most of the important cases that changed the political landscape and advanced the course of restructuring and true federalism.

    He said: “Since I knew him, he has n’t changed one bit in brilliance, commitment to causes he believes in, selflessness and loyalty to the nation.  He remains an erudite legal luminary and worthy ally.

    “Together with Osinbajo and other technocrats we helped to lay a solid foundation for an egalitarian and prosperous Lagos that is blind to ethnicity and religion.

    “Most of the landmark cases Lagos won at the Supreme Court bore his imprint. He is a champion of restructuring and true federalism of sort because he used the instrumentality of the law to advance the course of restructuring.

    “One of such landmark cases won by Lagos is the one on creation of Local Governments where the Supreme Court held that the state had the power to create additional councils and complied with the extant constitutional provisions.

    “That judgment helped in expanding the centres of development which has changed the Lagos political landscape forever”.

    Asiwaju Tinubu commended the vice president for working harmoniously with President Muhammadu Buhari. He again congratulated the duo for winning re-election.

    While wishing Osinbajo continued good health, renewed vitality and many more years of meritorious services to the country, he congratulated Osinbajo’s wife, Dolapo, and other members of the family on the birthday.

     

  • Osinbajo to meet Aba traders today

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will today hold an interactive session with members of the Aba business community.

    It was learnt that Osinbajo was earlier scheduled to visit on February 14 to interact with members of the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA), but the meeting was rescheduled because of his engagement in Kwara State same day.

    Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Benedict Godson, who confirmed the visit through a telephone interview, said Osinbajo’s visit underscores the importance of the Aba business community to President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    According to him, the president is determined to ensure that traders in Aba, Southeast and Nigeria enjoy ease of doing business.

    Godson said the visit would ensure that Osinbajo has firsthand information on some of the challenges facing traders in Aba.

    Read also: Defections, court battles as parties intensify campaigns

    He said: “You know that the Federal Government has initiated various policies, plans and programmes to ensure that some of the bottlenecks facing ease of doing business in the country is addressed.

    “You know of the trader moni, and the government recently signed an agreement with Abia State to establish the Economic Trade Free Zone to take off in Ukwa. It is expected that the Free Trade Zone will promote trade and investment at the Enyimba Economic city…”

  • APC will complete the takeover of Delta on Saturday, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said next Saturday’s election will complete All Progressives Congress’ (APC) takeover of Delta State, going by the party’s scores in the state during the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Buhari spoke at the PTI Conference Centre, Effurun, Uvwie council area yesterday when he addressed a congregation of the party’s stakeholders and others including traditional rulers.

    Buhari, who was represented by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, also assured the stakeholders that the Federal Government would ensure adequate security during next Saturday’s elections to address concerns about rigging and other electoral anomalies.

    Osinbajo said: “What happened last Saturday is a great victory for us, but it is only the beginning because the completion of that victory is going to come by the grace of God on Saturday March 9, 2019 when we vote in our own governor, Great Ogboru, who will, by the grace of God, be a governor from that very day.

    “It is very clear to everybody and to the world that Delta State can never be the same again. It’s impossible for Delta State to go back after what happened on Saturday. As the APC chairman said, we all watched to see what will happen in Delta State. Delta State was a focus of all of our attention.

    “Just as the chairman has said, we have seen a Delta State where the PDP was unable to record a vote of 1.2 million and we knew they wrote the result. We wanted to see what way they can be curtailed, but you all proved that ‘you can tell a lie for a thousand years, but one day the truth will catch up’ and the truth caught up with them last Saturday. That truth will manifest itself fully this Saturday when we hold the next election. Delta State has proved a very important point that this state is ready for change to the next level.”

    “The other reason why it is so important for us to ensure that Delta State become an APC state has been pointed out. The social investment programme that we put in place, it is only APC governor that can implement such programmes faithfully. We believe that once we are able to have an APC governor such programmes will be implemented,” the Vice President said.

    Speaking on why the state should not remain in the opposition to the Federal Government, Osinbajo pointed at the various projects for the economic and social development of the oil-rich Niger Delta, especially Delta State.

    “I heard talks about Delta Steel Company (DSC), after so many years, the Itakpe-Aladja railway has been completed, 35 years after being on the cards. It’s this same President that completed it. PDP has been in power all these many years, why didn’t they complete it? They (PDP) are the ones who created this mess.

    “Even the Warri seaport which we are now dredging has been there for years. They didn’t do it. All of these times that PDP has been in power. Sometimes, it surprises me that with the resources that Delta State has had for so many years; where are the fruit of the resources? Look at the Warri Seaport, it could have been seamlessly done by the state. Here we are, we (APC) are completing the dredging of the channel. Even the East-West road; this is the first government that has put resources for its completion. We are putting large amount of money into the East-West road. We all will benefit from it.

    “Delta State should not be an opposition state. Why should Delta be an opposition state? Why? There is no reason for it at all. For all the periods that Delta State has had high resources; what we need was a change from a progressive party. The time has come. This is the moment, let us seize that moment. You have shown courage, it is only the courageous that wins,” he said.

    Various speakers had urged Buhari to ensure strict security cover for the state to prevent the rigging of next Saturday’s election, warning that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would repeat its alleged rigging pattern during the governorship and House of Assembly election if there is no proper security to deter such.

    The event gathered leaders and stakeholders of the party, including the governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru, the leaders of the party, such as the Minister of State of Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and others.

  • Osinbajo, Ambode, Fashola, Sanwo-Olu meet in Lagos

    Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola on Saturday met in Lagos.

    The gathering was made known by the Lagos State All Progressives Congress Governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in a photo tweeted on his official twitter handle.

    It was also attended by Chairman of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, (AMCON) Muiz Banire and President Muhammadu Buhari Deputy Chief of Staff, Adeola Rahman Ipaye.

  • Oshiomhole to Atiku: we’ll meet you in court

    APC chair can’t tell Nigerians who is electable, says PDP

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole said yesterday that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was destined never to be President.

    He told the PDP candidate in last Saturday’s election that the governing party was prepared to meet him in court.

    Addressing a news conference in Abuja on the outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly elections and the decision of the PDP candidate to reject the outcome of the election, Oshiomhole said Atiku was desperate to be President and has been jumping from one party to the other to actualise his ambition.

    He said it smacked of arrogance for the former Vice President to believe that the destiny of Nigerians is tied to his being President, stressing that Atiku and his party were never committed to the peace accord as they believe that the election was free and fair only if they won.

    Oshiomhole said: “I think it is arrogance for Atiku to think that our future is tied to his presidency. Atiku is destined never to be President of Nigeria and I ask you to review his character. Leadership is about character.

    “Atiku’s desperation is so obvious. He is so desperate that in 2003, he challenged his own boss, Obasanjo. He decamped to join ACN and we offered him the ticket and he lost the election and returned to PDP. He contested again and lost the nomination and because he has only his interest at heart, he decamped again from PDP. He joined us in Lagos and rolled out the dollars, but we voted for Buhari as our candidate. He knew that he cannot defeat Buhari in the primary and went back to the PDP.

    “Do you think that such a political rolling stone, does he think that Nigerians are so insincere as to think that a man who is not stable and whose interest is about himself will be a possible candidate to be elected?

    “What makes him have that sense of entitlement that he must be President of Nigeria? You cannot deny anyone the right to dispute the outcome of an election, however, free, fair. So, we hope and we are looking forward to meeting Atiku Abubakar in court. We might also choose to also cross petition because there were many areas we can dispute. In Adamawa State, he had already lost the election before he did some magic that gave him that narrow victory in Adamawa State.”

    Oshiomhole said the turnout of voters in the Northeast, especially in Borno State, was a reflection of the substantial peace that has returned to the area, adding that if the former Vice President does not know about that, it could be because he does not go home regularly.

    Accusing Atiku of not being committed to the peace accord, Oshiomhole said: “When the National Peace Committee invited political parties to commit themselves to peace and to pledge to accepting the outcome of the results, you will recall that the PDP and their candidate were absent at the first meeting.

    “Following public outcry and pressure from their friends, he reluctantly went  to sign the peace accord. So, from day one, Atiku made up his mind that unless he wins, the election is not free and fair and that it will only be free and fair if he is returned as the winner. Then, we ask the question, what is the value of the peace accord?

    Oshiomhole congratulated Nigerians for defending democracy and for celebrating democracy. He said: “We are proud as a people that all those who thought that last Saturday was going to be a war have realised that election is not another word for war. It is a day to celebrate democracy and the only day in democracy in which everybody is equal.

    “I am happy that Nigerians have spoken and they did every thing to maintain the peace, inspite of the fact that some elements conducted themselves in such a way that  led to the loss of lives of some of our countrymen.

    “I believe that government must do everything possible to identify those behind those killings and bring them to justice. Each time hoodlums and ballot box snatchers maim and kill and try to destablise the will of the Nigerian people and they go away without being prosecuted, the culture of impunity is strengthened and the fear for the rule of law is weakened.

    “I believe that now that the President has been declared winner, he has a duty to call on the Inspector-General of Police and indeed all the security agencies to identify all those behind these killings. No Nigerian deserves to die because he wanted to go and vote.

    “Yesterday, the PDP candidate who lost and who was a signatory to the peace accord and who went into this race knowing fully well that Nigerians can not possibly elect two Presidents because only one President will emerge, having suffered defeat which I believe he deserved, rejected the results, adducing very laughable arguments as basis for his decisions.

    “I have found out that in this country, when you recycle lies, people begin to think there is truth in it. The conventional wisdom is that there is no smoke without fire. But in Nigerian politics, there can be huge smoke and yet, there is no fire. It is not about whether this election was perfect, but whether it was substantially free and fair and whether it represents the will of the Nigerian people. I am convinced that this election reflects the will of the Nigerian people.

    “Atiku spoke about what he called statistical impossibility and also about the two zones where he is strongest and that votes in those areas were smaller and the margin of victory also small. In 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari got fewer votes than he got in 2015 and from INEC figures, we secured 15.2 million votes. So, when Alhaji Atiku Abubakar talks about statistical impossibilities, I don’t want to call him a poor student of history, but invite you to look at the figures of registered new voters.

    “If Atiku had taken time to review the performance of his political party over the years and compare them to that of President Buhari over the same period, he wold have understood and be clearer. To suggest that votes were suppressed in the Southsouth and the Southeast is not to be able to appreciate what the resort to card readers have done to election riggers.

    “When we conducted an isolated election in Anambra State, no governor secured 400,000 votes and any one who is familiar with the realities of Rivers State know that if you conduct a free and fair election and you deny periwinkles the opportunity to come out and vote, it is impossible for them to get up to 500,000 votes. Yet, you had situations where you had 99 percent of voters turning out to vote in Rivers State before the advent of the card reader.

    “Rather than Atiku thinking that rigging has come to stay and could not understand why the numbers can’t add up in the absence of massive rigging, he should be reminded that the essence of the collective effort that has been made and the intervention of genuine friends of Nigeria has been to try to improve the electoral process, such that rigging can be eliminated or reduced to tolerable level.”

    Oshiomhole said the APC had petitioned INEC on how it allegedly rigged out in Akwa Ibom State. “It is interesting that it is the PDP that is complaining about rigging in Akwa Ibom State. How do you explain that INEC cancelled so many units in several states in order to be able to declare PDP candidates winners. That was how Senator Akpabio was rigged out in Akwa Ibom State,” the party chief said.

    “Atiku also alleged that the economy lost N85 billion on hearing that President Buhari won the election. That is twisting the facts. When Atiku start talking about his irrevocable commitment to privatise and sell NNPC, many people wondered aloud whether he has not already collected deposit, especially when he says even if he was going to die.

    “Was he going to rule Nigeria against our will because democracy does not end at voting. Citizens must hold their leaders accountable for their policy choices. So, if those depositors see that it will not be business as usual and decided to take their flight, we don’t even want them to come back. Nigeria needs genuine investors who have faith in our country with long term interest,” Oshiomhole said.

     

  • ‘Baba Suwe’ on admission at LUTH- TAMPAN President

    Babatunde Omidina popularly known as ‘Baba Suwe’ has been admitted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Idi Araba, Lagos.

    Mr Bolaji Amusan, the National President, Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Producers Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

    Amusan popularly known as ‘Mr Latin’ as his stage name said that the development was as a result of the approval of the association’s appeal to the Federal Government to foot the medical bill of Baba Suwe.

    He said the ailing veteran comedian, who was alleged to be suffering from an unknown sickness, had been promised a first class treatment by the Federal Government at LUTH.

    Amusan said the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, had made arrangements for the comedian to be treated while the Federal Government will foot the medical bills.

    Amusan said: “Myself and other association members have just taken Baba Suwe to LUTH from his residence.

    ”I want to appreciate the minister for this gesture, we are happy that our colleague will be back on his feet after a comprehensive treatment.

    Read also: Don’t blame us over Baba Suwe’s ailment, says Dele Odule

    ”He is receiving first-class treatment and we feel so honoured.

    ” I also thank the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, for his generosity, having donated N1m toward Baba Suwe’s treatment.

    “I also thank everyone who had made donations toward our appeal for him, we can’t appreciate them enough.

    ” As the new president of the association, the welfare of my members is paramount on my mind which I have determined to improve within my four years’ tenure,” he said.

    NAN efforts to confirm the admission of Baba Suwe as a patient from the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of LUTH, Mr Kelechi Otuneme, was not successful as he did not pick calls made to his mobile phone.

    NAN reports that the ailing comedian had been soliciting financial support to enable him seek urgent medical attention.

    Some of his colleagues in the industry had made generous donations coupled with the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Oshibajo who donated N1m.

    The comedian began his acting career in 1972 but came into limelight after he featured in a movie titled ” Iru Esin “, a film produced by Olaiya Igwe in 1977 and had produced several Nigerian movies.

    His career, however, nosedived in 2011 when the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested him for allegedly trafficking in substances suspected to be hard drug.

    The allegation that was described as false and defamatory by the ruling of a Lagos High Court.(NAN)

  • Osinbajo to Nigerians: don’t be discouraged

    From Bisi Olaniyi, Precious Igbonwelundu, Adekunle Jimoh, Gbenga Omokhunu, and Rosemary Nwisi.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday urged Nigerians not to be discouraged by the earlier postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The vice president made the plea in Ilorin during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.

    The vice president was in Ilorin to conclude the door-to-door campaign to mobilise votes for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Osinbajo said the only way Nigerians could assist to sustain the nation’s democracy and promote good governance was to come out en mass on Saturday and vote for continuity.

    He commended the monarch for his fairness toward political parties and their candidates in the state.

    The vice president  said he did not envy the monarch who “has his sons vying for different positions across different parties in Kwara.’’

    The vice president prayed for the victory of the president and all All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the general elections.

    The emir, in his remarks, welcomed the vice president and wished him and his entourage well in the elections.

    The vice president was accompanied by Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who is the leader of  APC in Kwara.

    Also on the entourage were the governorship candidate of the APC in  Kwara, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the party’s chairman in the state, Bashir Bolarinwa,  and other party stalwarts.

    The vice president and his entourage were welcomed by an unprecedented crowd who thronged the streets leading to the palace and were chanting “ O to ge’ (Enough is Enough).

    From Adabata to Pakata and on to  Isale-Aluko as well as Oja Gboro and Ipata,   the people in their thousands, particularly women and youths,  lined up on the streets with brooms chanting that they were tired of the old order and in need of  a change in Kwara.

     

    APC, PDP clash over attack in Ilorin

     

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday accused suspected thugs loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of attacking its supporters after the convoy of the Vice President Yemi Osibajo passed through an area in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. But the PDP last night denied the allegation.

    Two supporters of APC sustained injuries.

    A police source revealed that the incident happened around Isale-Koko, Ilorin suburb, after the vice president’s convoy had left the area.

    Police spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi could not confirm the incident.

    The APC governorship candidate in the state, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, condemned “the brazen attack today in Ilorin on the convoy of the Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo by armed PDP thugs.”

    In a statement, Abdulrazaq’s media aide Rafiu Ajakaye said: “The vice president was at Isale Aluko suburb of Ilorin on a door-to-door campaign when some dare-devil gunmen opened fire at his convoy which included thousands of APC members and supporters.

    “In what is a reminiscence of the Offa robbery, this attack is the height of recklessness on the part of these street urchins who have long been empowered and armed by the discredited dynasty to terrorise our community and anyone who has contrary views to their amala politics.

    “Coming just a day after two of our supporters were killed in Ojoku in the convoy of our senatorial candidate Arc. Lola Ashiru, this is becoming too much and the madness must stop.

    “Going into an election with these thugs clearly on the loose is an existential threat not just to all of us challenging the misrule in our state but to the entire people of the state and their properties.

    “We call for immediate arrest and prosecution of these thugs. We also demand investigations to reveal those who gave the orders for these deadly attacks. We call for all measures to be taken to ensure safety of lives and properties and sanctity of the ballot box in Kwara and beyond.

    “No one’s political interest should be at the expense of human lives and their properties.  We insist that a political contest is a contest of ideas and no one must be allowed to cow or kill others in the process.”

    The PDP, in a statement by its spokesperson, Tunde Ashaolu, said the incident was an intra-party issue involving members of the APC.

    The statement reads: “It was also gathered that the money released to be shared among party supporters triggered the violence.

    “Our party has no time for violence as we have been busy preparing for the presidential and national assembly elections coming up on Saturday as well as the governorship and State Assembly elections.”

     

    Rivers polls: Wike, kinsmen, Cole, APC leaders in fight to the finish

     

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, his Ikwerre kinsmen in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),  All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Tonye Cole and other APC leaders in the state are in a fight to the finish over the general elections.

    Wike, yesterday in a broadcast, urged APC members to allow  peace in Rivers to continue and to prepare for 2023 polls.

    PDP kinsmen of Rivers governor in the four Ikwerre Local Government Areas of Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre and Emohua, also alleged that unending atmosphere of hostility was being foisted by the unholy relationship between the Rivers APC and the security agencies, which was described as a major source of worry, threatening peace and communal tranquility.

    Cole and some leaders of APC in the state, at a news conference in Port Harcourt, however, declared that candidates of the party would not only participate in the 2019 elections, but would win.

    Wike, in the broadcast, called on the leaders of the APC to accept the reality that their party would not be on the ballot for the 2019 general elections in Rivers.

    The governor said: “Truth be told, the Supreme Court has spoken. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed. It is the will of God and there is nothing anybody can do to return the APC to the ballot for the 2019 general elections in Rivers State.”

    The leaders of Ikwerre ethnic nationality, at a world news conference yesterday at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt, through a former Rivers governor, Sir Celestine Omehia, stated that they would not sit idly and watch Minister for Transportation Rotimi Amaechi cause their people unnecessary harm.

    Ikwerre PDP leaders said: “The Minister for Transportation has the penchant for fomenting trouble, which had caused the loss of lives in the past. Keen watchers of political events in our state have also noticed the bitterness exhibited by the minister (Amaechi) towards the governor (Wike).”

    At a news conference yesterday, Cole said: “I want to start by telling our supporters in APC and around the state that not only will we participate in the elections, we will win them. It is better to be prepared than for the opportunity to come and we are not prepared. The opportunity is coming. Be prepared.”

    A chieftain, Chidi Lloyd, while also speaking, stated that what could have resulted in a colossal loss of human lives and property in Rivers State was avoided by the postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the country on February 16, through violence and thuggery displayed by PDP members across Rivers, while again mobilising to unleash mayhem in the state on February 23.

    The party’s spokesman Chris Finebone condemned “the shameful use of card-carrying members of the PDP” by the INEC office in Rivers  as ad hoc staff, insisting that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC in Rivers, Obo Effanga, and his staff were collaborating with the PDP to rig the elections, declaring that they would not get away with it.

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    Rivers APC crisis:  Appeal Court strikes out Abe’s suit

     

    The Appeal Court Panel sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital yesterday struck  out a case filed before it by the Senator representing Rivers South East in the National Assembly, Magnus Abe, for lack of merit.

    Abe and 42 others filed the suit shortly after the Federal High Court upheld the judgment of a State High Court which nullified the state congresses and primary elections conducted by the Ojukaiye Flag Amachree-led faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and disqualified all its candidates.

    At a news conference in Port Harcourt, shortly after the ruling, Abe said: “We had approached the Court of Appeal to help with the logjam arising from the current situation in the APC in the state.

    “We believe that that is not the sum of the judgement of the Supreme Court so in  consultation with our legal practitioners, we’ve asked them to approach the Supreme Court for a final response on that matter.”

     

    Group berates Atiku

     

    A prominent group, Media for Morals, has expressed support for the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, for vowing to ensure the armed forces remain apolitical and professional in the discharge of its duties.

    In a statement by its National Coordinator, Dr. Mairo Mudi, the group also berated the Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP),  Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for “encouraging lawlessness in the armed forces by asking soldiers to disobey orders made by its superiors”.

    “All the hullabaloo about President Buhari’s warning for the military and the police to deal ruthlessly with ballot box snatchers is only indicative of the fact that some politicians, obviously of the opposition stock, were reliant on that method to get to power through rigging.”

     

    Lagos CP warns ballot box snatchers, others

     

    Lagos State Commissioner Zubairu Muazu yesterday warned ballot box snatchers and other electoral offenders to have a rethink or face the wrath of the law.

    Muazu spoke at his maiden interaction with reporters.

    According to him, the command would stop at nothing to ensure that offenders are prosecuted and convicted, reminding residents that the earlier deployment of 30,000 security personnel for the exercise would be maintained.

    Muazu said:“A very robust operation order to cover deployment of security personnel for the elections is on ground; so we will ensure there is a safe and secured environment for electorate in Lagos to go and cast their votes without fear and intimidation.”

     

    Police arrest INEC official, two others with card reader

    A senior official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and two others were Wednesday night arrested by policemen attached to the commission’s head office in Lagos for alleged illegal possession of card reader.

    It was learnt that the officials were taken to SARS office at Ikeja where they allegedly spent the night and were later escorted by policemen back to the commission following directives from the Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu.

    Muazu confirmed policemen escorted Bello to take the card reader back after it was discovered that he did not steal it.

    The police chief said: “We confirmed that the official was posted to Surulere. The card reader in question had problems and he was supposed to turn it over. But there wasn’t enough security and he decided to hold on to it.

    “The said card reader has not been configured. We verified from INEC and as such, we detailed policemen to escort him back so that he will safely return the card reader. I am not aware of any attempted bribery incident.”

    INEC spokesman Olufemi Akinbiyi said he was not aware of the incident.

    He said: “I do not have that information. I am part of the team at the CBN ensuring that electoral materials are moved out without hitches.”

     

    Clerics cautioned against meddling into politics

     

    Clerics in Bauchi State have been cautioned against dragging religious matters into politics.

    Muslims youths and students leaders, in a statement by Prince Mohammed Sani Hassan, Comrade Alhasseenor  Adam and Babangida Bindis, said they were not happy with the way religious matters were being dragged into politics in the state.

    They said: “We are not happy as future leaders the way and manner religious leaders are dragging religion issue into politics in the state.”

    “In the history of politics since 1999 to date, Bauchi State has not produced a leader like Rt Honourable Yakubu Dogara, Speaker and National Assembly member representing Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa Balewa Federal constituency. He built more than 1000 mosques in all the nooks and crannies of Bauchi State, he sponsored  many Muslims to Hajj, he assisted both Christians and Muslims in Bauchi State, he catered for both religion in Bauchi State, he should not be condemned,”the group said.

    ‘Buhari’s directive on riggers has exposed PDP’s antics’

     

    The Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO) yesterday praised President Muhammadu Buhari for exposing the rigging plot of the opposition through his directive to the military and other security agencies that they should deal ruthlessly with ballot box snatchers and other election riggers during Saturday’s elections.

    Buhari’s support group noted that reactions from the camp of the opposition to Buhari’s order were a clear indication that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate are planning to rig the 2019 polls.

    In a statement issued in Abuja by its Director of Communication and Strategic Planning, Mallam Gidado Ibrahim, the BCO stated that what the president did with his directive was to uncover a hornet’s nest in the camp of the opposition and stirring it up for Nigerians to know their plan to rig the polls.

    Ibrahim said: “We in the BCO give kudos to President Muhammadu Buhari for this marching order. Only the evil minded should be afraid of the order. The opposition are criticising President Buhari for his comment on ballot box snatchers because they want Nigerians to see nothing of those who denied them electricity and other infrastructure in the past 16 years.

    “The president said exactly what we have always wanted him to say: thuggery and ballot box snatching have no place in a credible democracy. The president is absolutely right, otherwise we will encourage the opposition and their thugs to dictate democracy for us. “