Buhari is killing Nigeria’s democracy – Enugu monarch

Ahead of the planned arraignment of the Senate President Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, over alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules, a traditional ruler in Enugu State, His Royal Highness, Igwe Hafford Agana, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of chasing shadows.

The monarch said instead of concentrating on the various ‎problems facing the country, the President was engaging in witch-hunt.

He adds that the murder attempt on the life of Ekweremadu on November 17, 2015, and the silence of the presidency over the matter lent further credence to the fact that there was a grand plot to remove the Senator at all costs.

Niger Delta Avengers to fight for Biafra's freedom

 

Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, have stated that they support their fellow freedom fighters, the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, describing them as their greatest allies.

While expressing their unflinching support for the Avengers, who they said were fighting for the freedom of the people of Biafra,‎ stating that the IPOB under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has no connection with those groups who are criticizing the avengers, a group that is calling for the release of Kanu, the detained IPOB leader.

In a statement jointly signed by their Spokesmen, Emma Nmezu and Clifford Iroanya and made available, the group warned that should the Nigerian government send its troops to the oil-rich Niger Delta land to fight the Avengers again, as intelligence report was suggesting, it would direct its members to join hands with the Avengers and engage the troops head-on.

Police Rejects Applicants With Tattoos

The Commissioner of Police in Niger State, Abubakar Marafa, has explained why applicants for the ongoing police recruitment who have tattoos were rejected during screening.
 
He says the decision to screen such applicants was to avoid hiring cultists into the Force. 

Speaking at an inspection of the recruitment process in Minna, the state capital by the Federal Character Commission FCC, Marafa states that it is public knowledge that tattoos are associated with cult membership and the Police Force will not want to be seen as condoning the societal vice by recruiting people with body tattoos.

FCT Minister Replaces All AEPB Management Staff

 The FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello has approved the immediate removal of the Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Baba Shehu Lawan who has been replaced by Oluwatoyin Omolola Olanipekun.

The Minister has also approved the immediate removal of all heads of Department as well as Heads of Unit under the Board and directed their deputies to immediately take charge.

The Minister made these changes  after he and the FCT Permanent Secretary; Babatope Ajakaiye met with the former management team of the AEPB.

Nigeria Air Force deploys helicopter to combat kidnappers

The Nigerian Air Force it will soon deploy helicopters to the northwest in a latest operation codenamed: “Operation Sharan Daji”

The reason for the deployment is to check internal security in the region especially the activities of armed robbers, kidnappers and cattle rustlers especially along the Kaduna-Abuja road.

Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar who is the chief of air staff revealed this operation when he received Governor Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna state in his office.

He says the helicopters received from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation were undergoing reactivation and will soon be deployed for the operation.

On his part, Governor El-Rufai says he was at the office of Air Marshal Abubakar to solicit support to deal with the issue of insecurity in Kaduna.

He also applauded the air force for their contribution to maintain security in the state and the whole country.

Vice President Meets Pastor Kumuyi, General Overseer, Deeper Life Bible Ministry

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says Nigeria has the kind of president it needs at this time.

He said this when he received Pastor W. F. Kumuyi, the General Overseer of the Deeper Christian Life Church, who paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja on Friday.

Osinbajo described President Muhammadu Buhari as “honest, straightforward and operating from a genuine heart.’’

According to Osinbajo, although some people say Buhari is strict because of his forthrightness, “he is the kind of leader we need now, a president who will not cut deals and who is only interested in moving Nigeria forward.

Vice president Osinbajo told the delegation that he and the President worked well together.

While acknowledging the economic situation in the country, the VP noted that the current administration did not create the conditions, “but we are here at this time.

On the ongoing Ogoni clean-up and the situation in Niger Delta, Osinbajo said “the clean-up of Ogoni is very important, the situation is very bad.

He also said the clean-up would take decades but with phased implementation, the people could gradually return to fishing and farming.

On power sector, Osinbajo said by February, the country achieved 5,000mw of electricity for the first time in history, and then the militants’ attacks on pipelines made things go bad.

According to him, militancy is not only retarding electricity, but also cutting the oil revenues of the nation and that government is working diligently on effective solutions to the challenges.

Earlier, Kumuyi said he was in Abuja for a crusade and thought it good to pay a visit to the vice president.

He thanked God for the progress made so far by the administration, adding that “God will fulfill the purpose for which He brought you at a time like this.”

While inviting the Osinbajo to the crusade, Kumuyi pledged his contributions and prayers for the Buhari administration, and also for the progress of the country.

AMCON to take over Ben Murray-Bruce’s companies, assets

The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) says it would take over the assets of three companies belonging to politician Ben Murray-Bruce and his brothers.

The assets are being seized following the failure of Senator Murray-Bruce and his brothers to settle an N11 billion loan owed Union Bank and acquired by AMCON.

EFCC seizes N2 Billion mansion of ex-customs’ boss

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has seized a N2bn mansion allegedly owned by a former Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Dikko.

Reporters who visited the mansion located at 1 Audu Ogbe Street, Jabi, Abuja, on Saturday observed EFCC inscriptions on the fence.

The words painted in red, boldly read, “EFCC, Keep off.”

It was learnt that Dikko, who submitted himself for questioning at the EFCC head office in Abuja, for allegedly diverting N40bn from the coffers of the NCS, had remained in custody since Thursday.
EFCC seizes N2 Billion mansion of ex-customs’ boss

Edo 2016: My victory, a collective one, says Obaseki, winner of APC primaries

The winner of Saturday’s All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in Edo, Godwin Obaseki says his victory was a collective one for him, his co-contestants and the delegates.

According to the result of the primaries announced in the early hours of Sunday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, venue of the exercise, Obaseki scored 1,618 votes to clinch victory. 

The result which was announced by Governor of kastina state and Chairman of the committee charged with the conduct of the election Aminu Masari, stated that Obaseki defeated 11 contestants, including his closest rival, Pius Odubu, the Deputy Governor of the state, who polled 471 votes. 

In his acceptance speech after the announcement, Obaseki urged his co-contestants to work with him to achieve victory for APC in the September 10 governorship election in the state.

He promised to build on the successes of Gov.Adams Oshiomhole. In his remarks, Masari, who presented the Certificate of Return to Obaseki, urged those who participated in the primaries to regard themselves as winners and not losers.

FG to complete all ongoing projects in 3 years – Fashola

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, says the Federal Government is committed to finishing all ongoing projects within three years.

Fashola gave the assurance on Saturday after inspecting work at the Loko-Oweto Bridge over River Benue. The bridge connects Loko and Oweto communities in Nasarawa and Benue respectively.

He said the Federal Government would make funds available to pay contractors as soon as they delivered completed projects.

Fashola expressed the confidence that the resumption of construction activities would stimulate expansion of infrastructure, create jobs and generate commercial opportunities for the people.

Enewz reports that the Loko-Oweto Bridge contract was awarded to RCC Nig. Ltd. in November 2011 at N36. 1 billion with original completion date of Nov. 15, 2015.

The project was stalled in 2014 due to lack of funding and currently, at a revised contract sum of N51.6 billion, the project is scheduled for completion in 2018.