National Chairman, Action Peoples Party (APP), Mr Ikenga Ugo-Chinyeri, says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led coalition, which emerged on Monday, is not a merger but platform to re-unify Nigerians.

Ugo-Chinyeri told News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja that the Coalition for United Political Parties (CUPP) was a timely action taken by 39 political parties in the interest of Nigerians.

He said that the alliance was not just to capture power, but to unify Nigerians as well as redeem the country from shambles.

This is not a merger. It is a coalition of 39 political parties, including the leading opposition party, PDP, which share the same goal.

It is not about capturing power, it is about the urgency to serve and save our motherland which is dancing at the edge of total economic and political eclipse, he said.

Ugo-Chinyeri admitted that it was not an easy task getting together at this period, but stated that it was voluntary among the 39 political parties that were already set to put their energy and resources together.

He said that the parties decision to act now by forming the coalition was timely, adding that it would save the country from collapse.

He added that the parties were willing to sacrifice everything, especially the presidential slot in the 2019 general elections.

The 39 political parties, including PDP, will bring forth a grand single presidential candidate.

We will all queue to vote in that candidate and vote out the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), the APP chairman said.

He explained that a significance of the alliance was the agreement and signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by all the parties to form a government of national unity to represent and unify Nigerians.

According to him, the coalition is needed to take Nigeria to its promised land and it will redeem and retrieve both the country and the people from the incompetency of APC and its leadership.

Ugo-Chinyeri said that the coalition was different from that of 2015, adding that the terms were clearly spelt out and over time more details about its manifesto and other vital information will be disclosed.

He stressed that the coalition was driven by national interest and expressed hope that individual or party interest would not in the future set in to de-stabilise it.

He said that the coalition would secure 25 per cent appointment for youths from 18 years to 35 years, adding that it would also focus on respect for human right, security of the country and restructuring.

Ugo-Chinyeri urged Nigerians to get registered and collect Permanent Voter Card (PVC) in order to vote in the 2019 elections.

Nigerians should observe the willingness behind this coalition.

They should see the sacrifices the opposition has made and now is the time for them to go and collect their PVCs and join the coalition to root out incompetency, he said.

He added that more news would be heard from the coalition even as more political parties were already indicating interest to join.

The National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has described Ekiti governor Ayo Fayase as a poor student of struggle.

Fayose abuses everybody. He is a typical armed robber who diverts attention of the police in order to escape, Oshiomhole said on Tuesday at the grand rally for Mr Kayode Feyemi, the APC governorship candidate of APC.

He said Fayose s payment of road transport workers to park their vehicles to make it difficult for people to attend APCs rally, is an indication that he has resorted to primitive tactics.

Fayose also gave an unlawful order asking all shops and markets to close today.

Has also called workers to monitor workers vote to know who is voting for APC.

The fighting spirit of Ekiti people overcame all the obstacles created by a man.

This is how the Asiwaju of the Universe and National Leader of our Great Party arrived the venue of the APC Mega rally in ekiti

Daddy D.O (@DOlusegun)

He assured the people not to be intimidated and no one can intimidate you. Remember you are educated more than the man who is trying to manipulate you, he said.

He also described the alliance of opposition on the platform of CUPP as an alliance of lies.

Oshiomhole assured the people that Fayemi would clear all salary arrears and pay pensioners who have not been paid for more than one year.

He explained that President Muhammadu Buhari was a democrat and a progressive who would not intimidate anyone irrespective of the divide unlike Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which prevented the opposition APC memebers from joining the campaign of Fayemi in 2014.

Around this time four years ago, PDP was going to make sure I did not come to Ekiti to campaign. I was denied movement.

Buhari, I praise you for not doing what they did. You are not for vengeance but for correction.

He said Fayose brought poverty to the people of Ekiti, He has pauperised the people. The workers are not paid and so cannot pay their rents nor go to the market.

Fayose has brought poverty because he belongs to a deceiving party.

Ogun governor, Mr. Amosu also narrated how he was also prevented from entering Ado Ekiti to attend APCs rally in 2014.

He said that Buhari has not and would not stop anyone from attending rallies because he is a democrat and noble.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has said he would not play politics with Ekiti people regardless of the partisan and hostile nature of the government of that state.

Buhari spoke at a grand rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday in Ado Ekiti for Mr Kayode Fayemi, the candidate of the party in the July 14 governorship election.

Despite being in opposition and the disposition of the governor of the state, Buhari said Ekiti state would continue to receive its fair share in resource allocations.

Buhari explained that Ekiti people were intelligent and honourable and should be so treated.

He explained that he had not come to Ekiti just to campaign but to explain to the people efforts of the government to implement its change agenda.

Buhari urged Ekiti people not allow themselves to be deceived.

He explained that the federal government embarked on 13 projects in the state, including the construction of N700 million roads.

The government, he said, also extended the national housing programme to the state and the project was being handled by 16 contractors who are from Ekiti.

The president also explained that he had released Paris Club loan refund to the state government.

He also said that he was concerned by the herders and farmers clashes and the violence in parts of the country and assured that the government was taking steps to find a sustainable solution.

He explained that it was his primary responsibility to protect lives and property of Nigerians and said: This I will do. Measures are being take to stop the killings.

He told the electorate, do not allow yourselves to be deceived with stomach infrastructure. Vote for APC and grow beyond stomach infrastructure.

Do not waste you vote. Vote for Fayemi, Buhari told the excited crowd.

Source: NAN

Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the aegis of Development Advocacy Group(DAG) on Tuesday in Osogbo staged a peaceful protest against the zoning of the partys governorship ticket.

The protesters numbering hundreds, who carried placards with various inscriptions, marched from the popular Ayetoro Road through Olaiya area to the partys secretariat on Gbongan-Ibadan road.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards read: Evaluate merit not sentiment, Good governance is about merit and not zoning and Dont divide us, we stand on merit.

The protest, which lasted more than two hours, resulted in a gridlock on major roads.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there had been agitation by some members of the party that the governorship ticket for the Sept. 22 election be zoned to Osun West Senatorial District of the state.

NAN also recalls that some members of APC from the zone had on July 6 staged a protest, insisting that the partys candidate must emerge from the West District.

As a result of the agitation, the partys primary slated for July 7 was postponed.

Dr Ademola Oyedokun, the spokesperson for the group, told newsmen at the partys secretariat that merit should not be sacrificed on the altar of zoning.

Oyedokun said the agitation for zoning was a mere emotional tool and a negative value to serve the interest of a few stalwarts and not the people of the state.

The ordinary man is concerned with a decent life and not the region that produces the governor.

Poverty, hunger, illiteracy and insecurity do not know any zone or region and that is why we are against it.

What we want is the best and wherever that best will come from is a welcome development to us.

We do not want a situation whereby we will promote mediocrity at the altar of merit, he said.

Oyedokun urged the party leadership to provide a level playing ground for all the aspirants for the best to emerge.

NAN reports that 29 aspirants on the platform of APC had so far expressed intention to contest the partys primary slated for July 19.

Source: NAN

Senator Ahmed Tinubu, the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), was heralded into the Ado Ekiti in grand style by a crowd of youths, where he accused the PDP members of shouting loud over the problem they caused Nigerians.

This is how the Asiwaju of the Universe and National Leader of our Great Party arrived the venue of the APC Mega rally in ekiti

This is how the Asiwaju of the Universe and National Leader of our Great Party arrived the venue of the APC Mega rally in ekiti #ReclaimEkiti pic.twitter.com/ZffXpCEDWb

— Iyanda sunday (@IyandaKido4us) July 10, 2018

He accused them of causing the nations problem through the perpetration of corruption and are shouting louder.

They are shouting that prices have gone up; we say yes because they ate the breakfast of their children, Tinubu said at the grand rally of his party held in Ado Ekiti for Chief Kayode Fayemi, the partys candidate for the July 14 governorship election.

Amidst ovation from the crowd, Tinubu said: If you eat everything in a yam, there will be no food for the children.

They stole all the money. They talk of high exchange rate. PDP is a party of destruction. It is Poverty Development Party.

Commending President Muhammadu Buhari for his effort at rebuilding Nigeria, he said: It is not easy to rebuild what has been destroyed.

Recounting the nobility and honesty of Buhari, he said that President Buhari then built three refineries which PDP tried to dismantle and sell.

One old man, baba, at the back of my house; I am from Lagos started dismantling the refineries and wanted to sell them.

The old man brought turbines for electricity, but did not provide pipelines for the diesel to the turbines.

Asking Ekiti people to vote for Fayemi and be free from the pains inflicted on them by PDP, Tinubu said: APC is a pain killer. Take APC to ease your pains.

Do not allow anybody to intimidate or make you afraid. You are protected and you will be protected, he told the crowd at the stadium in Ado Ekiti.

Source: NAN

The Borno chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), has closed down MTN Nigeria in Maiduguri over alleged insensitivity to workers welfare.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that picketing of MTN offices started on Monday nationwide to address the company’s penchant for engaging casual workers thereby denying them their privileges.

Alhaji Bulama Abiso, the Borno NLC Vice Chairman on Tuesday said that all congresses leaders were directed to mobilise their members to participate in the protest.

“The reasons are insensitivity to workers welfare and contract employment of MTN across the country, which must be stopped.

“Our workers are not slaves; they must be made permanent staff.

“For instance in Borno, there are over one million subscribers of MTN but with only two permanent staff in all offices; the rest are on three months renewable agreement.

“This is very much gross insensitivity to the workers welfare in the country.

“The Nigerian Labour Congress deems it fit to do the picketing. And if MTN refuses to comply, we will wait for the directive of our national body for further action.

“We are here today and we will be here for the next two days to ensure it complies with our demands.

The whole MTN offices in Borno will not be allowed to continue operating until they address this insensitivity,” he said.

Source: NAN

The football teams coach, Ekkapol Chantawong, was waiting to be brought out.

ABCsaid the last person to leave the cave ledge would be Australian.

This story has transfixed the world.

Source: NAN

The Kaduna State Police Command has announced total ban on all processions ahead of the trial of Shia leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaki, on Wednesday.

A statement issued Tuesday by the command spokesman, DSP Mukhtar Aliyu, said there would be heavy deployment of security personnel to safeguard the general public.

He said residents should be extra vigilant of their environment, persons around them, activities of suspicious persons so as to prevent miscreants disturbing the peace.

The law abiding people of Kaduna state are to note that adequate security has been put in place for a hitch free court appearance.

He said that part of the strategy put in place would be traffic diversion on Independence way, Bida road and all roads leading to Ibrahim Taiwo Road.

Aliyu stressed that the ban on all forms of processions or demonstrations in the state was still in force and the police would deal with any person or group that violates the ban.

The Kaduna State Police Command uses this medium to call on the general public to report suspicious activities or persons around them to the nearest security agency, he added.

Source: NAN

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday, made a cameo appearance at the rally of Oladipupo Adebutu, one of the governorship aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State.

Adebutu, who represents Remo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and his supporters were at the rally held within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library when the former President arrived in his Toyota jeep in a convoy of other cars.

This threw the supporters into jubilation, as Obasanjo alighted from the vehicle.

The former President, who is also an in-law to the aspirant, said, I am just passing by and decided to say hello and wish you well.

Immediately he extended his pleasantries, he jumped into the jeep and he left with the convoy of cars in his trail to his residence situated within the premises.

Obasanjo had reiterated that he had quit partisan politics when he established his Coalition for Nigeria Movement, which later fused into the African Democratic Congress.

He, however, said his doors remained open for consultations by all Nigerians who shared his views of a united country.

Before the rally, Adebutu had earlier visited the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, in his palace to seek the monarchs support and blessing.

He was accompanied on the visit by some PDP chieftains in the state and he had earlier donated electricity transformers to four communities in the Abeokuta metropolis.

*Reported by Punch

It was a day of reproof in the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) as staff members across the country protested lingering and unbearable working conditions.

The protests spread through Abuja, Ibadan, Akure, Enugu, Kaduna and other stations as the aggrieved staffers bared their grievances at the organisations operations.

Members of staff trooped out in black outfits to register their protest.

Some of the workers demands included replacement of obsolete equipment and operational vehicles.

Others were payment of outstanding allowances, expansion of manning levels to enhance promotion of staff, regular training for optimum performance as well as improved staff welfare.

Mr Nofiu Busari, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), FRCN Ibadan Chapter, said the essence of the peaceful protest was to draw attention to the state of facilities in the organisations stations across the country.

Busari said the protest was being held simultaneously across all FRCN stations in the country.

We want the Federal Government to hearken to our plea. Our facilities are over 16 years old.

No doubt, salaries are being paid as at when due but we want to justify what we are being paid for.

Members of staff are using their personal funds to facilitate the running of FRCN and this must stop, he said.

Adewunmi Faniran, the Chairman of the state council of the NUJ in Oyo State, said there was an urgent need for government intervention in redressing the challenges facing the organisation.

We are the hen laying the golden egg and as such shouldnt be killed. Weve realised that they are eating both the hen and egg.

NAN, VON, NTA, FRCN and others need help. That they are not talking doesnt mean all is well in their operations. They are suffering in silence.

All equipment here at FRCN are obsolete, they are nothing to write home about. In Ibadan here, there are over 20 media outfits.

We are operating in a competitive environment but with little or no facilities to aid production. We have equipment here in Ibadan that had been in use since the 80s and 90s.

We want the government without delay to look into our needs and I must emphasise that this protest is not targeted at anyone but for the benefits of members of staff, said Faniran who is also a member of staff.

Mrs Bolanle Owoyemi, Deputy Director Marketing, on behalf of the management commended the workers for the peaceful protest, saying it was for the good of all members of staff of FRCN.

She said that the Director was away to the Abuja headquarters of the organisation over the issues raised.

The management is on top of the development and a meeting is scheduled for today in Abuja over this matter.

No management wants a down turn in operations; everyone wants a good working environment and I believe everything will be put back in place as soon as possible, she said.

In Akure, workers in the organisation also embarked on a peaceful protest at the poor working conditions and obsolete equipment.

The Chairman of FRCN, Akure Chapel, Mr John Ebiofini, said no improvement had been made on the equipment at the station since its debut 16 years ago.

Ebiofini said the equipment at the station could not cover the nooks and crannies of the state.

Today, due to deplorable condition of our outdated equipment, we cannot boast of covering Ondo State where we are located.

We should be ashamed of ourselves being a Federal Government establishment that is supposed to set the pace for state and private broadcasting houses to follow suit, he said.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Radio and Television Theatre and Arts Workers Union at the station, Mr Gabriel Afolabi, said the protest was to send signals to the Federal Government through the management.

There is a big one ahead unless it does everything possible to avert that before the 21-day ultimatum ends, he said.

Also speaking, the NUJ Chairman in the State, Mr James Sowole, urged the Federal Government to send a delegation to assess the deplorable condition under which the workers were carrying out their duties.

Sowole described FRCN as a leading radio station in the country which must not be allowed to collapse due to obsolete equipment and poor working conditions.

At the same time their colleagues shut down the Kaduna station, staff at the FRCN in Abuja staged a protest against non payment of their allowances and Insurance levy.

All of them wearing black clothes, the workers decried poor treatment of the corporation and its staff by the federal government.

We dont have power and water in the building. We have not been paid our Transport Allowances and arrears since 2010, we dont even have insurance, the worker said.

Also, no seats in the office, reporters dont have office equipment like midgets, staff are to buy equipment and fund assignments themselves without getting paid. We also dont have office materials like papers to print in the office.

The Radio Television Theatre and Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) secretary in the office, Ishaku Musa, said that the situation at the headquarters was bad beyond control.

We are mourning today and the protest is tagged Black Monday. Things have gone bad beyond control, when you look at the staff welfare, it is nothing to write home about, he said.

The working condition at FRCN is something that you can never agree that FRCN is like this. When you look at the staff themselves, they dont have working materials, they dont have seats to use in the offices. Most of the allowances are not being paid, and that is why we have called for this Black Monday and started this protest, Mr Musa said.

The permanent staff have not been paid since 2010 their T