5,000 GUNS RECOVERED FROM MOSQUES IN ABA, ABIA STATE

Hausa/Fulanis are off-loading arms into a Mosque located at Onions market, Uratta Express Junction, Aba, Biafrans in Aba actually did the needful and the police stormed the Mosque and recovered over 5,000 different types of guns including the ones recovered from Aba Central Mosque.
A number of Hausa/Fulanis were arrested and taken to Central Police Station (CPS), Aba, from where they were transferred to Umuahia yesterday, May 14, 2016.


Now the question is, if over 5,000 guns were recovered from just two Mosques, who knows the total number of guns they have stored in Aba and the entire Abia, Rivers, Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Bayelsa, Delta and Ebonyi states?
In fact, Biafrans must declare “OPERATION SEARCH ALL THE MOSQUE” in all states in Biafra land. We must also search all the areas the Hausa/Fulanis are doing businesses in Biafra land. Places like where they off-load Yam, Potatoes, Onions, Sugar Cane, Tomatoes, also where they buy and sell gold and where they change Dollars.

These people have stored up ammunitions in our land to kill us like chicken and take over our land, just as Adamu Mohamed said, “We will make life unbearable for Igbos like they are in Hell, and yet we won’t let them have their useless Biafra because the whole of South is a conquered territory. We can never see Yorubas as allies no matter how hard they try to please or serve us because they are born traitors and infidels.
Those slaves in the Middle Belt would continue to be willing tools in our hands, and the day they attempt to raise their heads, we will cut off their heads like weeds. I lack words to tell the inconsequential and always crying Niger Delta because what we are waiting for is for President Buhari to declare a state of emergency in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta, then we will show them how to use power. We are at war with you people but we won’t allow the country to break up because natural resources found in any part of the country is our heritage and birthright.
We will continue killing you in large numbers until you are truly submissive to us as your slave masters. We won’t stop killing you until we fully take over your land as a conquered territory. This is not the time to mince words, this is not the time to sugarcoat things, and this is not the time to be economical with the truth, this is nothing but the truth, ignore it at your own peril”
Last night, we received information from a reliable source and an eye witness that there are a uncountable number of Hausa/Fulani men trooping in a fenced hectare of land located along Osisioma Industrial Layout, just opposite Summer LTD, adjacent Guinness Breweries and Clover Paint, all in Aba, Abia State. As I write this article, there is a uncountable number of them still going in and out. This parcel of land is owned by a former late Secretary to Abia State government. This is real, and I think the Hausa/Fulani people are surrounding us to unleash their terror.


Biafrans, this is not the time to enjoy sleep. We must wake up and chase this blood sucking demon out of our land. These people are ready to kill all of us but we cannot let that happen in our time. Our lives and the lives of our children are on the line. They have surrounded us and we must not go to sleep until they are chased out of our land and bring down all the Mosques where they have stored arms to kill us. The time to act is now. (Onye ndi iro gbara gburugburu na-eche ndu ya nche). We must declare OPERATION SEARCH THE MOSQUE now. It is Biafra or death!

Read More

Kogi Court Remands Suspected Boko Haram Member

A Lokoja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Friday ordered that a 27-year-old man, Adamu Anas Mohammed, be remanded in prison over alleged membership of Boko Haram terrorist group.

Chief Magistrate Alhassan Husaini ordered that the accused be remanded in Koton-Karfe Prison pending further investigation into the alleged offence.

Husaini adjourned the case until May 31. Earlier, the Prosecutor, Mohammad Abaji, told the court that Mohammed was arrested by security agents on April 6 at Obajana in Kogi, following intelligence report.

According to the prosecutor, Mohammed is a member of Boko Haram sect from Jimeta in Adamawa State and had been severally arrested for alleged involvement in terrorist activities.


Abaji further alleged that the accused recently moved to Obajana for undisclosed undercover terrorist mission being investigated by security operatives.

He said the offence contravened Section 16 of the Terrorist (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.

Mohammed, who denied the allegation, said he used to worship with some members of the sect at NEPA Mosque in Jimeta, Yola.

The accused added that although at a point, he was approached for enlistment by members of the sect, he allegedly declined.

He admitted that he was arrested and remanded in prison for eight months in Adamawa over alleged membership of the sect but was later released.

Mohammed said that he was on his way to Warri in Delta but made a brief stopover at Obajana when security operatives arrested him.

He said he was neither on recruitment drive nor trying to propagate the beliefs of the sect in the state.

Read More

Police Discover New Kidnappers Hideout In Ikorodu

The Lagos State Police Command said it had discovered a new kidnappers’ hideout where arms as well as Police and military life jackets were recovered.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, who confirmed the discovery to newsmen, said the hideout was discovered during the raids of creeks at Isawo in Ikorodu area of Lagos.

Owoseni said the hideout was discovered on Thursday by a team of Ikorodu Special Anti-Robbery Squad and Volunteer Police led by Superintendent Godfrey Soriweiu. He noted that the success came two weeks after the discovery of a similar hideout in Isawo.


“In continuation of its onslaught against militants operating from the creeks, Lagos State Police Command early Thursday morning raided and recovered seven Army and Police bullet-proof vests.

“The teams also recovered eight ballistic helmets and nine life jackets from a new kidnapper’s hideout in Lagos.

“Other items recovered by the team include a speed boat belonging to the suspected kidnappers,” he said.

NAN

Read More

Adamawa Speaker Beats Up Police Sergeant Attached To Him

The Speaker of Adamawa State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Kabiru Mijinyawa has beaten the hell out of a police Sergeant attached to him for complaining over nonpayment of duty and food allowance, Leadership Newspaper claims.

They claim, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Othman Abubakar, confirmed the development to newsmen in Yola on Thursday.

He said that the Area Commander in charge of Yola Area Command was handling the matter,saying he had no details yet over the incident.

An eye witness who pleaded anonymity however said the sergeant, who was among the policemen attached to the speaker, complained over nonpayment of duty and food allowance.


He said, angered by the complaint, the speaker descended on the policeman, a development which took the intervention of his civil defence counterpart to rescue the uniformed man.

“The dazed sergeant was rescued by a civil defence man who had to remind the speaker that he was beating up a policeman,” the eye witness, who preferred anonymity said.

“You know, the speaker is a hot tempered person and one needs to know how to approach him on sensitive matters like this.”

“The sergeant needed to have followed due process in forwarding any complaint to the speaker.”

Efforts to get the side of the speaker proved abortive as the calls and text message made to his handsetwere by Leadership Newspaper were not replied.

Read More

Pope Francis Arrives Cairo Seeking To Mend Ties With Islam

Pope Francis arrived in Cairo today hoping to mend ties with Muslim leaders just as Egypt's ancient Christian community faces unprecedented pressure from Islamic State militants who have threatened to wipe it out.

In an address to the Egyptian people this week, Francis said he hoped his visit would help bring peace and encourage dialogue and reconciliation with the Islamic world.

But it comes at a painful time for Egypt's Copts, the Middle East's largest Christian community, three weeks after Islamic State suicide bombers killed 45 people in twin church bombings.

Those attacks followed a cathedral bombing that killed 28 people in December and a spree of murders that has forced hundreds of Christians to flee North Sinai, where the group is most active.


"Pope of Peace in Egypt of Peace," read posters plastered along the road leading from the airport to central Cairo, showing a smiling pope, his hand raised above the Christian cross and the Crescent moon of Islam.

Read More

Trailer crushes Okada rider in Lagos

The rider of a motorcycle, popularly called Okada, has died after he was crushed by a trailer today at Isolo, Lagos. The accident, which led to the death of Biliaminu Olayiwola, occurred this morning at the Daleko bridge in Isolo.

The General Manager, Lagos Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Adesina Tiamiyu, confirmed the incident, saying that the agency received a distress call at about 9.19 a.m. concerning an accident at Daleko Bridge inward Isolo, which prompted the immediate activation of the Agency’s Emergency Response Team, ERT to the scene of the accident accordingly. Tiamiyu said the trailer was moved off the road to a safer place using a tow truck provided by LASTMA.


He said:
"Investigation conducted by the Agency’s ERT on getting to the scene of the incident revealed that a bike man was crushed under a trailer while trying to make a u-turn. The driver of the trailer absconded immediately the accident occurred but was later apprehended by Police officers and was taken to Olosan Police Station, Mushin for further interrogation. Unfortunately, the driver of the bike identified as Biliaminu Olayiwola lost his life due to the incident and was recovered by the LASEMA’s response team and was later handed over to the Police. 

"The agency’s ERT with NSCDC attached alongside LASAMBUS, LASTMA, Lagos State Fire Service from Isolo station, Nigeria Police Force and FRSC were the responders at the scene of the incident," he added.He advised motorist and Okada riders to always ensure utmost safety while on the highway to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.

Read More

Police return document seized from Senator Goje's Abuja home

The Nigeria Police Force has returned all the documents it collected from Senator Dajuma Goje's Abuja apartment during a search last Thursday, April 20th. The police searched the apartment following allegations that some stolen funds were being kept in the house.

The police returned the documents today after the senate issued an order to the IGP, Ibrahim Idris, to do so. Senator Goje yesterday alleged that some of the documents seized were documents of the 2017 budget, an allegation the police has since denied.

Read More

Atiku: Poverty, Unemployment, Getting Worse

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says Nigeria is currently at a crossroads as poverty, unemployment, inflation, infant mortality and other social vices are on the increase.

He, therefore, called on Nigerians to unite in the demand for true federalism.

Atiku said this while delivering his speech at the formal public presentation of the Daily Stream newspaper in Abuja on Thursday.

He said, “A huge pall of pessimism hangs over a section of the citizenry, and the ranks of those who harbour real doubt about the future of the country swell by the day.

“The country is truly at a crossroads, and things are made worse by the cocktail of economic, social and political problems which we have had to contend with, and which add to the abysmally low estimation of our country even by its own citizens.”

The former Vice-President recalled that life was better in the First Republic because each region was allowed to grow at its own pace while the Federal Government was weaker.

Atiku, however, noted that following the creation of states, the Federal Government became very powerful while the federating units became poor, thereby, deepening poverty among the populace

He added, “Our beloved country has been in the throes of severe and debilitating social and economic problems. Virtually all the development indices have not been favourable: massive and pervasive poverty, double-digit inflation, unemployment, dwindling foreign exchange receipts, poor GDP growth rates, high infant and maternal mortality, high levels of illiteracy, and millions of school-age children out of school.”

Atiku said the many problems facing the nation were already threatening the unity and the existence of the country. He, therefore, urged Nigerians to come together to renegotiate the terms of our union.

The former vice-president said no leader could make far-reaching positive changes in the country except the current political structure is changed.

He added, “To be sure, good leaders do make a difference in the fortunes of countries. However, leaders operate within structural constraints imposed by constitutions, laws and regulations and the local and world economy.

“But the most germane question we need to ask ourselves is: must we really continue to live together as one country amidst such a pervasive climate of disunity, which is impeding our development?

“My prompt answer to this is yes, we should remain together because it is the best option, and because we will be stronger, greater, and better in one piece than in pieces.”

Attempts to get reactions of President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, did not succeed. He had not responded to an email and an SMS sent to him as of the time of sending this report.

Read More

Photos: Debbie-Rise meets with the first lady of Kogi State, Mrs. Rashida Bello

Ex-BBA housemate and Kogi State Indigene, Debbie-Rise was today pictured with the first lady of Kogi state, Mrs Rashida Bello at the Government house.

The 3rd runner up of the 2017 reality TV show is currently on a visit to her state as part of her homecoming and yesterday she commissioned a new borehole project at GGSS Oboroke.

Another photo after the cut.

Read More

Senate to present 2017 budget to the President

Ahmed Lawan

Senate Majority leader, Ahmed Lawan, says the 2017 budget would hopefully be ready for President Buhari to sign into law next week. Lawan disclosed this when he spoke to state house correspondents after he had a closed-door meeting with President Buhari.According to Lawan, the search carried out at the home of Senate Chairman on Appropriation, Danjuma Goje, and the allegedly carting away of some documents relating to the budget, are some of the factors that have caused the delay of the passage of the budget by the senate.
"This and other things that happened and essentially, the trauma that the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation had to go through, affected the process of budgeting. When we were going on Easter recess, members of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, including that of the House, did not go on recess. They stayed back because that was the arrangement so that by the time we returned on April 25, that was Tuesday, they should lay the report of the budget. Unfortunately, that was not possible because of what happened. But the good news is that we are doing everything possible to ensure that we catch up with the lost time. By the grace of God, I am thinking that by next week, we should be able to finish our own work and pass the budget for Mr President to sign" He said

Read More

The presidency via the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Garba Shehu have released a statement on Buhari's health, assuring Nigerians that there is no cause apprehension.

The presidency via the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Garba Shehu have released a statement on Buhari's health, assuring Nigerians that there is no cause apprehension.

Read below....

"The Presidency hereby assures the good people of Nigeria that, despite the insinuations of a number of media organisations, there is no need for apprehension over the health of our President, Muhammadu Buhari.
President Buhari’s absence at the Federal Executive Council meeting of Wednesday, April 26, was a last minute decision; otherwise, the cabinet and the public might have been alerted in advance. As eager as he is to be up and about, the President’s doctors have advised on his taking things slowly, as he fully recovers from the long period of treatment in the United Kingdom some weeks ago.
President Buhari himself, on his return to the country, madeNigerians aware of the state of his health while he was in London. Full recovery is sometimes a slow process, requiring periods of rest and relaxation, as the Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed, intimated in his press briefing after the FEC meeting on Wednesday.
Despite his lack of visibility, Nigerians should rest assured that President Buhari has not abdicated his role as Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria. He receives daily briefings on the activities of government and confers regularly with his Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. His private residence, in which he has been spending the majority of his time recently, also has a fully equipped office.
God is the giver of life and health. We are grateful that He has seen our President through the worst period of his convalescence in London. We are thankful that the President has passed a number of benchmarks already. We pray that God continues to see him through this period of recuperation." 

GARBA SHEHU
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
April 27, 2017

Read More

A lady pictured with Peter Okoye in Owerri Hotel blasts Bloggers

I hv tried to ignore all this
Attention seekin blogs
And the way they have tried twisting up the pictures i took with peter of psquare. .some jobless blogs and
Individuals hv decided to turn it into something else
Sayin all kinds of trash bout a picture that was taken
Without any bad motive. I and Peter are just friends
N nothing more..and he isn't complaining bout the
pictures..so u all shuld look for something more
Productive and worthy to do with ur time than trying to make something out of nothing. . N stop tarnishing
someone's image...***( just to clear some Assholes)***

Read More

Harvard Poll: 66% of Millennials Disapprove of President Trump

A majority of millennials disapprove of the President Donald Trump's job performance, a Harvard online poll showed Tuesday.

In the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics survey, 66 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds disapprove of the president's leadership, while 32 percent approve.

Asked to give the president a letter grade for his work so far in the White House, 41 percent gave Trump an "F," 15 percent gave him a "D," 14 percent offered a "C," 18 percent said he had earned a "B," and 10 percent gave him an "A."

The younger generation is disapproving of the president's use of Twitter as well, the survey found; 68 percent said Trump's use of the social media platform is "not appropriate," 11 percent said it was appropriate, and 20 percent were unsure.

The millennials were generally disapproving of members of Congress: 54 disapproved of Democrats, and 69 percent felt that way about Republicans, the survey found.


The Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics conducted its latest survey of 2,654 18- to 29-year-olds via online interviews from March 10-24. It has a 2.7 percent margin of error.

Read More

EFCC Arraigns Jonathan’s Doctor Over N258m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned Dr. Fortunate Fiberesima, the ex-Chief Physician to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The EFCC said in a statement by its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, that Fiberesima, who is also a former Chief Executive Officer, State House Medical Centre, was arraigned for an alleged fraud of N258.9m.


The doctor was arraigned before Justice Peter Affen of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on six counts bordering on money laundering.

Fiberesima was alleged to have abused his position as the chief physician to the President in 2012 in awarding a contract to a company where he had an interest.

According to the anti-graft agency, the defendant, who also parades himself as Fortunate David and David ThankGod Fiberesima, was initially meant to be arraigned by the EFCC on March 7, but the trial judge observed that, “all the charges are under the ICPC Act and not that of the EFCC” and consequently ordered that the charge be either amended or transferred to the appropriate authority for prosecution.

At the resumed sitting on Tuesday, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against him by the EFCC.

Counsel for the defendant, U. B. Eyo, prayed the court to grant his client bail in liberal terms. He said the accused person had no previous criminal record and he would always be available for his trial.

Counsel for the EFCC, Y. Y. Tarfa, did not oppose the bail application.

Justice Affen ordered that the defendant should continue on the bail condition earlier granted him but added that he should submit his passport to the court registrar.

The case was, thereafter, adjourned till June 6, 2017 for commencement of trial.

Read More

Spanish International Striker Diego Costa, the reason The Blue are on top of their game

If Chelsea go on to win the Premier League title this season, Diego Costa's goals will be a big reason the Blues top the table.

The Spain international scored two more goals on Tuesday, leading the Blues to a crucial 4-2 victory over Southampton at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea's win at least temporarily extended their lead to seven points over second-placed Tottenham. That cushion can be significantly attributed to Costa, who has managed to earn a league-best 15 points from his 19 Premier League goals.
Costa is tied with Alexis Sanchez for the third-most goals in the league this season. Harry Kane (20) and Romelu Lukaku (24) occupy the top two places in the race for the Golden Boot.

Read More

Russia 2018 W/Cup: FIFA heading for sponsorship crisis

FIFA are heading for a sponsorship crisis a year on from president Gianni Infantino’s first Congress at which he pledged to restore confidence following Sepp Blatter’s corrupt regime.

World football’s ruling body made a loss of $369million (£289million) in 2016 and 23 backers still have to be found for a sponsorship model that has 34 slots to fill.

Blue-chip firms such as Castrol, Continental Tyres and Johnson & Johnson have been lost, with no replacements emerging.

The biggest hole is at the third tier, which has 20 places available. Only one has been brought on board, a Russian bank who are understood to be paying well below the ambitious, £7.8m asking price. Even a home World Cup next year has failed to attract significant Russian interest.

FIFA’s best hope of restoring their finances is to set plans in motion at the forthcoming Congress for a joint bid from the USA, Mexico and Canada to stage the 2026 World Cup. That way, big American companies might come to the rescue.

Meanwhile, still on the FIFA gravy train is former FA chairman Geoff Thompson, who carries on receiving £78,000-a-year plus a daily expenses allowance for chairing the dispute resolution chamber, six years after he left the executive.

Read More

Nigeria to exit recession in third Quarter-CBN

The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, yesterday, told newsmen in Abuja that with the current foreign exchange policy of the apex bank, Nigeria will exit recession on or before the end of the third quarter of 2017.

Emefiele stated this after he briefed the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, and other principal officers of the Red Chamber, on how to resolve issues surrounding foreign exchange market in the country.

Emefiele who briefed the lawmakers in a closed door session, told newsmen after the meeting that it was convened at the instance of the Senate at the instance of Saraki.

Emefiele said the recent monetary policies of the CBN have resulted in the low exchange rate currently in the foreign exchange market.

Emefiele said: “The Senate President invited us to come and brief the Senate in a closed door session and the leadership about providing some updates about the foreign exchange markets and you will all have observed that in the last two months, the central bank has been involved in some form of intensive intervention in the foreign exchange market and this has fortunately resulted in a downward trend in the parallel market price of foreign exchange from as high as N525 to as low as N370. Right now, it hovers between N370 and N380.

“It is an opportunity for me to say we are going to continue this intervention because the reserve looks very good. As I speak to you, our reserve stands at above $31 billion. That provides us enough of firepower or ammunition to be able to defend the currency and we will do so with all intensity to ensure that foreign exchange is procured by everybody.

“You want to import raw materials, you will get foreign exchange; you want to import plant and equipment, you will get foreign exchange; you want to pay school fees or you are a small business that wants to buy foreign exchange for you to import your small items, you will procure foreign exchange.

“We have started to see a downward trend even in prices and we have also observed that inflation is also trending downward. We are very much optimistic that by the end of the second quarter, we should be out of the recession that we are in right now.

“With the kind of firepower we have, we are also going to play in the market to ensure that as the prices move on, based on the managed float regime we run, we should be able to control the prices based on willing buyer and willing seller basis.”
Source: Sun Newspaper

Read More

More Nigerians Return From Libya

No fewer than 253 Nigerians repatriated from Libya arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Monday evening. The returnees, who arrived aboard an airbus belonging to Libyan Air, touched down at the airport around 6.45pm.

They were assisted back into the country through the intervention of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). 148 of the returnees were females, while 105 were males.

Read More

IPOB Leader Nnamdi Kanu Granted Bail

The leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has been granted bail. He was granted bail this morning by Justice Nyako on health grounds. Part of his bail conditions include;

Sureties with N1m each. He must deposit all his international passport in court.
"Since he's on bail, no rally, no interview and must not be seen in a crowd exceeding ten people. “No interviews, no rallies, because if you breach any of these things, I'll recall you back,” Justice Nyako maintained.

She also banned him from filing any application in court as part of the conditions for his release. After reading out these conditions, case was adjourned to 11th July, 2017, for continued trial.

Read More

Oshiomhole, Mamora may be become Next SGF

If the Yemi Osinbajo-led panel probing the allegations of financial impropriety against the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir David Lawal, indicts him, either the former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, or former Deputy Senate Minority Leader, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, may clinch the top-ranking cabinet post,THISDAY has learnt.
Both men are said to be on a shortlist that is currently before President Muhammadu Buhari, as the Osinbajo panel kicks off the investigation into the management of funds meant for humanitarian assistance in the North-east.
Lawal and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayo Oke, were sent home by Buhari last week over their respective involvement in the alleged mismanagement of the funds allocated to the Presidential Initiative on the North-east (PINE) and the discovery of N13.3 billion in an apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos, penultimate week.
The president also set up a panel headed by Vice-President Osinbajo, with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), as members to probe the suspended officials.
However, before the panel concludes its findings and submits its reports, THISDAY learnt from sources in the presidency that a shortlist was already being considered for Lawal’s replacement in the event of his indictment.
Lawal, who oversaw the management of PINE in his capacity as SGF, was alleged to have awarded a N220 million tree-cutting contract to his company, Rholavision Engineering Limited, in contravention of public sector rules barring government officials from awarding contracts to companies in which they have an interest.
Given the damning evidence against him, the thinking is that Lawal may not survive the probe, hence the decision to send a shortlist of possible replacements for the post of SGF.
Speaking on the development, a reliable presidency source said: “The general belief is that Babachir Lawal may not survive the findings of the probe panel, so a shortlist has been drawn up.
“Two names featured prominently on the list. They are Adams Oshiomhole and Olorunnimbe Mamora.”
The source recalled that Buhari had on the expiration of the tenure of Oshiomhole in November last year, told the former labour leader that he deserved a federal appointment, having in his estimation done well as a two-term governor of Edo State.
Although no one knew what the president actually had in mind when he made the remark, it was later believed that Oshiomhole might have been pencilled down as a possible replacement for the incumbent National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), since the office had been zoned to the South-south, the source volunteered.
But with the suspension of Lawal and inability of the APC to hold its national convention due to financial constraints, the presidency source said Oshiomhole has been listed as one of the candidates being considered as SGF.
About two weeks before Lawal’s suspension, Oshiomhole was sighted in the Presidential Villa where he had visited Buhari and held a closed-door meeting with him.
Although the purpose of the meeting was not made public, sources believed that it might not be unconnected with the consideration of the former governor for an appointment.
On the other hand, THISDAY also learnt that some officials in both the cabinet and presidency are pushing for Mamora for the job.
Mamora was recently dropped as a non-career ambassadorial nominee.
Those pushing for Mamora, it was learnt, were said to have held the position that the former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and two-term senator, was the most marginalised among those who worked assiduously for Buhari’s victory at the 2015 polls.
A reliable source told THISDAY that the wife of the president, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, is one of those who have been unhappy that Mamora, who was the Deputy Director-General of the Buhari Campaign Organisation during the electioneering, has been left out in the cold since Buhari assumed office almost two years ago.
The presidency source said when Mrs. Buhari came out openly last year to express displeasure that some individuals who worked diligently for her husband’s election victory had been abandoned while those who were not part of the campaign had been rewarded with appointments, Mamora was actually top on the list of those she was referring to.
It was also learnt that some government officials favourably disposed to Mamora had met with Buhari before he travelled for his medical vacation on January 19 and strongly made a case for the former senator.
It was also learnt that the meeting with the president had led to his decision to remove Mamora’s name from the list of non-career ambassadorial nominees, because the thinking was that the former lawmaker deserved a better appointment.
Their argument, it was learnt, was that having waited for over one and a half years then, sending him out of his base would not be helpful for his political future.
THISDAY was also informed that those making the case for Mamora were of the view that if he had waited for almost two years while his counterparts who jointly worked with him for Buhari’s victory, he deserved nothing less that the SGF’s office.
The argument of those pushing for Mamora is predicated on the maxim that the patient dog eats the fattest bone.
Other than Oshiomhole and Mamora, THISDAY also learnt at the weekend that the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Dr. Habitat Lawal, who is presently the acting SGF, appears to be scheming to ensure that she is made the substantive SGF despite being a career civil servant.
But those privy to her ambition have said her chances of clinching the job are very slim because she is a civil servant and the post of SGF over time has been made a political appointment.

Read More

Buhari now operating as ceremonial, part-time president

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has said that Nigerians did not elect General Muhammadu Buhari to function as “Friday President”, adding that he (Buhari) was now acting more like ceremonial and part-time President. The governor, who said he was glad that his constructive criticism was getting to the President and his handlers, noted that it was not enough for the President of a country like Nigeria to be seen in public only while attending Friday Jumat service at the Presidential Villa, videos of his activities should be made public too.

Speaking on Sunday, through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor said it was necessary for Nigerians to be properly informed about the well-being of their president.

He accused some close allies of the President of deliberately shielding him and preventing him from attending to his health so as to continue to run the government on the basis of “Mr. President has directed” even when the President did not direct anything.

“That’s why Nigerians are told every day that the President said this and that with the President neither speaking directly nor attending any official function. This is not good for the image of a country like Nigeria that is struggling to get out of economic recession,” the governor said.

Governor Fayose, who said by virtue of his old age, the President could be susceptible to illness, advised that “President Buhari should rather be allowed to take proper care of his health while the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo acts constitutionally as the president. 

“However, it is doubtful if those cabals that are obviously running their own Presidency within President Buhari’s Presidency will allow him to take a long vacation, probably outside Nigeria to take care of himself.”

The governor insisted that Nigerians must hear the voice of their President and see him physically, not through surrogates or the cabal operating behind the scene.

“It is only when the President is seen and heard physically that Nigerians will believe that they are not being ruled by a part-time and ceremonial president, whose powers are being exercised on his behalf by some cabal,” he said.

Read More

Lionel Messi makes history, scores 500th goal for Barcelona

The La Liga title race has been blown wide open again after Barcelona's 3-2 win over rivals, Real Madrid on Sunday night at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The dramatic victory sandwiched with goals from Casemiro in the 28th minute, Lionel Messi in the 33rd minute,
Ivan Rakitic in the 73rd minute, James Rodriguez (2nd half substitute) in the 86th minute, before Lionel Messi's superb winner in the last minute of extra-time- keeps Barcelona’s chances of winning the league alive. 

Zinedine Zidane can be forgiven for playing the latter part of the game with ten men after Sergio Ramos' red card but the loss was purely his fault with his tactical decisions in critical points during the game leaving much to be desired.

Barcelona is now level at the top of the table after the win with the Spanish giants now holding a better head-to-head against their rivals.

More photos below...

Read More

El-Zakzaky’s Detention Illegal, Shiites Tell Osinbajo

Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, otherwise known as Shiites, have criticized Vice President Yemi Osinbajo over his comments on the continued detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and some other members of the sect.

They faulted the Vice President, who had said the failure of the Federal Government to free El-Zakzaky after a court had ordered his release was because the Federal Government had appealed the court judgment.

The spokesperson of the Shiites, Ibrahim Musa, in a statement on Saturday, argued that it was unfortunate that Osinbajo, as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, could justify such “contempt of court.”


The group added that the government’s action was a gross abuse of the legal process.

Musa said, “The Vice President knows quite well that an appeal against a lower court judgment does not justify its disobedience without suspension by a superior court.”

Consequently, the group urged Osinbajo to ensure that the leader of the group is released without further delay, noting that the case of the continued detention of their leader and his wife is the worst form of human rights violation in history.

“It is the height of impunity that has ever been committed by a democratic government in this country, to detain without a court order and without charges for 15 months.

“It is even worse when a court has ordered the release of such a person, and the government still contemptuously holds him.

“Even previously, under a military dictatorship headed by Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, nobody was detained without an order made, pursuant to a decree, the States Security Detention of Persons Decree Number 2 of 1984.

“Nobody was detained without an order made by the detaining authority.

“Today, there is no such law. So, our case should not be worse under a democratic dispensation as against what occurred in that military junta,” the group said.

Musa added, “It is both curious and ridiculous that the VP, not only because of his professional calling but also as a SAN, would justify contempt of court on mere appeal of a judgment without a contrary ruling or stay of execution order by a superior court.”

The group reiterated their call for the Federal Government to release their leader and his wife, as ordered by the Federal High Court, Abuja.

“We also call for the immediate release of hundreds of IMN members languishing in Kaduna prison and many detention centers across the country,” the Shiites added.

Punch

Read More

Photos: Efe visits IDP camp in Abuja

Big Brother Naija winner, Efe is currently on a tour of Abuja where he also made out time to visit and share relief material with the people at IDP camp at Kuchingoro area of Abuja. More photos after the cut...

 

Read More

North Korea threatens Australia with nuclear strike

North Korea has threatened to hit Australia with a nuclear strike if it continues to follow the United States. The stern warning comes after Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Thursday that North Korea would be hit with further Australian sanctions as a clear message that its behaviour will not be tolerated.


Ms. Bishop also called on China to do more to pressure North Korea into getting rid of its hostile and aggressive ways and dumping its nuclear warheads and ballistic missile program.

However, in response to the comments, North Korea’s state-run KCNA news agency on Saturday quoted a foreign ministry spokesman accusing Ms. Bishop of “spouting a string of rubbish” against the nation.

The spokesman accused the Australian Government of “blindly and zealously toeing the U.S. line” and warned of a possible nuclear strike if it continues.

“If Australia persists in following the US moves to isolate and stifle North Korea … this will be a suicidal act of coming within the range of the nuclear strike of the strategic force of North Korea,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman also warned Ms. Bishop to “think twice” about the consequences of her “reckless tongue-lashing flattering the U.S.”. Adding:

“What she uttered can never be pardoned,” the spokesman said. “It is hard to expect good words from the foreign minister of such government. But if she is the foreign minister of a country, she should speak with elementary common sense about the essence of the situation. 

“It is entirely attributable to the nuclear threat escalated by the US and its anachronistic policy hostile to North Korea that the situation on the Korean Peninsula is inching close to the brink of war in an evil cycle of increasing tensions.”

Read More

Leadership Crisis Rocks Abia APC

A leadership crisis is brewing in the Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, following allegations of misconduct against the chairman of the party in Isiala-Ngwa South council area of the state, Mr. Ezekiel Nwogwugwu, Punch Reports.

It was gathered that some party stakeholders had in a communiqué dated March 10, accused the party chairman of running the APC as a personal business and trying to sell the party to moneybags ahead of the 2019 general election.

Following the allegations, the planned inauguration of the new executive committee and the opening of the party secretariat at the council headquarters, in Omoba, by some party officials led by the Zonal secretary of the APC, Abia Central, Chief Onyenmuru Aja, was aborted by the state chairman of the party, Donatus Nwankpa, who swiftly petitioned security agencies.


When contacted, Nwankpa said the party had set up a six-man committee to look into the matter, adding that he petitioned the security agencies to stop the formal opening of the party secretariat to avert a breach of peace and order.

In an interview with a Punch correspondent, a former chairman of the Isiala-Ngwa South council, Uzoma Uwa, said the sack of the party chairman was in line with the APC Constitution.

Read More

Dozens Of Psychiatry Experts Say Trump Has 'Dangerous Mental Illness'

A group of leading psychiatrists told a conference that Donald Trump has clear hallmarks of mental illness that compromise his role as president.

Twenty-five researchers made a drastic break away from ethical standards by meeting at Yale University on Thursday to discuss evidence questioning the commander-in-chief's mental health.

They were unanimous in their conclusions that the president suffers a combination of personality disorders.

The psychiatrists defended the move by saying it was their 'ethical responsibility' to warn the American public about the 'dangers' Trump poses to the country.


Speaking to Daily Mail Online, they insisted the president displays anti-social, narcissistic and chauvinistic tendencies that, they believe, are grounds for impeachment.

However, other mental health experts have hit out at the conference, saying that such a 'diagnosis' is not possible without a one-on-one consultation.

And Connecticut Republican Party Chairman JR Romano accused the group of 'throwing ethical standards out the window because they cannot accept the election results'.

Dr. James Gilligan, a psychiatrist, and professor at New York University said many psychiatrists have been timid about approaching the topic because of the Goldwater rule.

The rule states it's unethical for psychiatrists to give a professional opinion about public figures they have not examined in person.

However, Dr. Gilligan insists his and his colleagues' duty comes from the Duty to Warn, a concept about when a medical professional fails to warn 'victims' when someone communicates an explicit threat of danger.

'Not any pun intended, but in this case, the Duty to Warn trumps the Goldwater rule,' Dr. Gilligan told Daily Mail Online.

'And in this case, there's a professional obligation to notify the public and if we remain silent, we're passively going along with it.'

The group, organized by psychiatrist Dr. John Gartner, has considered the president - who's fast approaching his 100th day in office on April 29 - an unfit leader for the US.

They claim that President Trump suffers from a combination of anti-social personality disorders and extreme narcissism.

Dr. Gilligan said he can point to multiple examples that predict Trump's dangerous tendencies.

They cite the incident with Billy Bush as an example of chauvinistic behavior - when Trump was recorded saying that he could grab women 'by the pussy' and get away with it because of his celebrity stature.

Read More