Mr Philip Gwada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won the rescheduled chairmanship election in Jaba Local Government Area.

The Returning Officer, Grace Doyaro, who announced the result in Kwoi on Thursday said Gwada secured 17,967 votes to defeat the APC candidate Mr Benjamin Jok who scored 7,401 votes.

Doyaro described the election as free and fair, devoid of rancour, adding that the PDP won all the 10 councillors seats in the local government.

Source: NAN

The Senate on Thursday asked the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to release result of the June 12, 1993 presidential election result which late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola was presumed winner.

The upper chamber also called for all allowances and entitlements be made available to the family of late Abiola and his running mate in that election, Amb. Babagana Kingibe.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Wednesday directed that effective from 2019, Nigerian Democracy Day, marked every May 29 for the past 18 years should be shifted to June 12.

These resolutions were sequel to a Point-of-Order raised by Sen. Olanrewaju Tejuoso (APC-Ogun) at plenary.

He said that recognition of June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day was a remarkable event in the country’s history.

“I believe President Muhammadu Buhari needs further encouragement to continue this reconciliation that he started.

“There are so many reconciliations that we need, like reconciliation between the Executive and the Legislature.

“We need to encourage the President-what he has started took us 25 years to achieve.

“So I believe that the Senate should acknowledge this major feat of the President and to ensure that the peace we need, pre-election of 2019, we will begin to develop it from now.”

Contributing, Sen. Biodun Olujimi (PDP-Ekiti) said the late Abiola had done well especially for those of the Southwest Nigeria.

“This is one time that a President had given to what MKO Abiola and his family went through to fight for this democracy that we today encourage.

“I salute the president’s courage and I thank my colleague for bringing it to the fore.

“However, going forward, there are issues to be addressed so that we can feel confident and comfortable that this is not a Greek Gift.”

Olujimi who noted that the result of that election was never announced said this was the time for the result to be properly announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“This is because government is a continuum; MKO declare should be declared president.

“If and when that is done, there has to be reparation of all his entitlements,” she said.

Also speaking, Leader of the Senate, Sen. Ahmad Lawan said President Buhari had shown clearly that he was a democrat.

“There is no history that could link May 29 to actual democratic evolution of Nigeria better than June 12.”

Similarly, Deputy Senate President Mr Ike Ekweremadu said the recognition was “a good day” for Nigeria.

“We must commend the President because finally, we are beginning to address injustice in the country.

“Our prayer is that this must be sustained. We must address the injustices all over the country.

“Those who are complaining about environmental degradation, marginalisation, killings or any kind of injustice.

“This is time to address them,” he said.

He added that any country that allowed this was heading to a major crisis.

Ekweremdu, however, said that there were two critical issues involved including:

“The provisions of Section 135 of the Constitution on the tenure of the President.

“If we now say that June 12 is now democracy day, presupposing that in 2019, the President will be sworn in June.

“This is legally impossible because the law says subject to the provision of this Constitution, a person shall hold the Office of the President until when the successor in office takes his oath of office.

“The implication therefore is that May 29 remains the day the President will be inaugurated and he takes his oath of office.

“If we are moving from May 29 to June 12, it means we are to amend this Constitution otherwise we will be extending the tenure of a President beyond what the Constitution stipulates.

“We have to advise the President properly,” he said.

Source: NAN

Hafsat Abiola-Costello, daughter of MKO and Kudirat Abiola, went for poetry to celebrate the recognition of her father by President Muhammadu Buhari and the dual honour done for his memory.

In one fell swoop, President Buhari gave Abiola a posthumous honour that ranked him with all Nigeria’s leaders and also declared June 12, the day Abiola clearly won a democratic election that was annulled by Babangida’s junta, as Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

Hafsat, who only a day before became the President of Women in Africa, was short of words, but instead sought the help of poetry to express her happiness and gratitude to Muhammadu Buhari, while at the same time chiding Obasanjo, a beneficiary of June 12, for ignoring MKO. Obasanjo did not even ask for a minute of silence for the Democracy martyrs on his inauguration on May 29, 1999, she noted.

Here is Hafsat’s poem for all time:

Twenty five years after June 12: Our Long Wait for Justice is Ending

I had expected that the handover from military rule to democracy would be held on the 12th of June.

That would have signalled the completion of a circle that began with a dream deferred.

That became one fulfilled.

But I waited in vain.

The handover was set for May 29, a date pulled out of thin air, signifying nothing.

Then I thought that the chief beneficiary would ask the country to observe a minute of silence,

In memory of MKO, Kudirat, Alfred Rewane, Umaru Yar’Adua, Bagauda Kaltho, the thousands of students, the tens of journalists, traders and politicians who lost their lives fighting to actualise an unjustly annulled election.

Again, I waited in vain for he started his inauguration speech…

And nothing was said.

The first four years passed and it became clear that the goal was to erase the name of the man whose sacrifice paved the way for our democracy.

Those four years set the tone.

And I got tired of waiting

As it slowly became clear that to wait was to wait in vain.

I stopped expecting my country to do the right thing by my father and instead began to understand why Nigeria struggles to find patriots among its leaders.

Until today.

Today when President Muhammadu Buhari gave an executive order to declare that June 12 was Nigeria’s Democracy Day;

To confer on MKO the title of GCFR, an honour reserved for presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;

To confer on Gani Fawehinmi, the dogged fighter for justice, and my father’s running mate, Babagana Kingibe, the title of GCON, the second highest in the land;

And in one day, demonstrated to my bruised heart that integrity, fairness, honour were alive and well in a country for which both my parents had sacrificed their lives.

There are no words that can capture the depth of my gratitude nor the breadth of my joy.

I thank God that I am alive to witness this day.

May we live to witness many more days when justice triumphs over injustice, when sacrifice and service win over arrogance and fraud, and when the blood of our heroes reach from across time to boldly claim the reward that their actions wrought.

May the sacrifices of our past heroes and heroines never be in vain.

Source: NAN

The House of Representatives has directed the investigation of Muhammed Kazaure for daring to reveal the collection of signatures for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari,

The House of Representatives resolved to investigate Kazaure on Wednesday over his comments on an alleged plot to impeach Buhari.

The lawmaker was said to have accused some lawmakers of collecting signatures from their colleagues.

He reportedly made the allegation on Tuesday during an interview with reporters in Abuja, shortly after the emergency joint executive session of the National Assembly.

Kazaures colleagues, Nicholas Ossai and Kingsley Chinda, told the House during Wednesdays plenary that the lawmaker accused them of gathering signatures to impeach the president.

He was consequently directed to appear before the House Committee on Rights and Privileges for questioning.

Meanwhile, the House has also resolved to investigate another member, Abdulmumin Jibrin, for allegedly accusing some lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of planning to impeach the President.

Shortly after the joint session of the National Assembly on Tuesday in Abuja, Mr Jibrin issued a statement on behalf of lawmakers under the aegis of the Parliamentary Support Group of the Senate and House of Representatives.

In the statement, he faulted the resolutions of the lawmakers and asked the National Assembly leadership to remove the log in its own eyes before removing the speck in the eye of the President.

The lawmaker, who represents Bebeji/Kiru Federal Constituency of Kano, is being probed barely three months after he returned from a suspension which lasted for 17 months.

A Federal High Court has nullified the suspension as illegal and unconstitutional.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has scored a big goal as activists on Thursday commended him for declaring June 12 as the new Democracy Day and bestowing the highest national honour on the winner of the election, MKO Abiola.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Buhari on Wednesday declared that June 12 will henceforth be celebrated as Democracy Day

He also conferred a posthumous national honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic on the winner of June 12, 1993 Presidential election, MKO Abiola.

Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President of Women Arise for Change Initiative (WA), said: We accept these honors no matter how belated because we and other Nigerians have campaigned around these issues over the years.

She said June 12 could not be forgotten so fast by Nigerians because it was the day Nigerians freely elected a President in the freest and fairest election.

The rights activist prayed that the spirit of June 12 would take firm root in Nigeria future elections.

It is our wish that the essential spirit of June 12 takes firm root in our land with free and fair election and become a norm in our land.

From the Ekiti elections scheduled for July 14 and the general elections in 2019. That is the moment the spirits of Abiola and all martyrs of June 12 will forgive Nigeria. She said.

Alhaji Balarabe Musa, National Chairman of Peoples Redemption Party and former governor of old Kaduna State, said Buharis action had given Nigerians renewed hope.

President Buharis action with regards to declaration of June 12 as democracy day and award of the highest honour to late Chief MKO Abiola are relevant, just, courageous and patriotic.

The actions give hope that President Buhari can do the right thing and correct wrongs before its too late for him and for the nation, Musa said.

Hafsat Abiola-Costello, daughter of MKO composed a special poem to thank President Buhari for honouring her father, after 25 years.

Dear friends, words cannot truly express how happy I feel. Here is President Buharis executive order declaring that June 12, the day of the election that my father won, would henceforth be Nigerias Democracy Day and conferring on my dad the title of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, a title reserved for presidents. Twenty five years after June 12; Please celebrate with me.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buharis surprise replacement of May 29 with June 12 as Democracy Day celebration has spiralled commendations from across all activists and groups.

Activists and non-activists on Thursday commended President Buhari for the declaring June 12 which he said would henceforth be celebrated as Democracy Day beginning from next year.

The President also conferred a posthumous highest national honour on the presumed winner of June 12, 1993, Presidential election, MKO Abiola.

Abiolas Vice Presidential candidate Babagana Kingibe and late human rights and fiery lawyer Gani Fawehinmi are also to be bestowed with National honours on June 12.

All the states in the West have always observed June 12 as democracy day.

Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President of Women Arise for Change Initiative (WA), said: We accept these honors no matter how belated because we and other Nigerians have campaigned around these issues over the years.

She said June 12 could not be forgotten so fast by Nigerians because it was the day Nigerians freely elected a President in the freest and fairest election.

The rights activist prayed that the spirit of June 12 would take firm root in Nigeria future elections.

It is our wish that the essential spirit of June 12 takes firm root in our land with free and fair election and become a norm in our land.

From the Ekiti elections scheduled for July 14 and the general elections in 2019. That is the moment the spirits of Abiola and all martyrs of June 12 will forgive Nigeria. She said.

Alhaji Balarabe Musa, National Chairman of Peoples Redemption Party and former governor of old Kaduna State, said Buharis action had given Nigerians renewed hope.

Musa who has never seen anything about Buhari said: President Buharis action with regards to declaration of June 12 as democracy day and award of the highest honour to late Chief MKO Abiola are relevant, just, courageous and patriotic.

The actions give hope that President Buhari can do the right thing and correct wrongs before its too late for him and for the nation, Musa said.

Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, socio-cultural group in South West, considered the declaration as a reward for all progressives in the country.

Mr Akin Malaolu, Secretary-General of the forum, applauded the decision of Buhari and said the decision and recognition provoked emotions and tears of joy throughout the country, especially in the Western region.

He noted that Abiola was a political figure that was respected by all tribes in the country and across the world in his life time.

We had this opportunity in 1999 when Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo was president, but despite all appeals to him, he turned the teeming masses down.

But GOD and Allah said that this day shall come and it came without rancour but happiness and warm smiles everywhere.

Candidly, when the news broke, artisans, market women and workers were in jubilation, commercial drivers and passengers hugged one another with smiles.

Every word that came out from the jubilant crowd can be interpreted as: do good and good will follow you, Malaolu said.

He congratulated Nigerians and the victims of brutal killings during the struggle for the actualisation of June 12 in 1993.

He also thanked President Buhari, the Vice President and others, including Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the decision.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State hailed the announcement and lauded the President, saying that the development was a historic and symbolic moment in the nations political trajectory.

This is a welcome development. It is a historic moment in our nation, and I join other Nigerians to commend President Buhari on this announcement.

By this move, he has done what previous administrations failed to do.

This not only shows that the president is a man of history and character but also eloquently confirms that the heroes of democracy did not die in vain after all, Ambode said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ebenezer Babatope, also commended President Buhari. He said Abiola, was the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election until his death on July 7, 1998.

Babatope, a former Minister of Transport and member PDP Board of Trustees, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on phone that the presidents motivation was right.

Even though one may question the timing, the motivation is right.

We should commend Buhari for the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day and the conferment of GCFR on the late MKO Abiola, he said.

Also Mr Wasiu Eshinokun-Sanni, the Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, said that the truth had prevailed.

Eshinokun-Sanni, who noted that he received the news with a mixed feeling, commended the Lagos State Government to have recognised Abiola and Chief Gani Fawehinmi, a late human rights lawyer.

The good part is that effort of Nigerians in forgetting religious and tribal sentiments as exhibited by the June 12 elections is not in vain. June 12 is Democracy Day is also symbolic.

What Obasanjo (former President) failed to recognise all this while in spite being the greatest beneficiary of June 12, a Nigerian of northern extraction has brought it to the front burner, he said.

Source: NAN

Osun Governor, Rauf Aregbesola has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for recognising June 12 as Democracy Day, in place of May 29.

In a statement by his media adviser, Sola Fasure, Governor Aregbesola commended the president for mustering the courage to take this historic step 25 years after the freest and fairest presidential election ever held in the history of Nigeria

According to Governor Aregbesola, President Buhari has secured for himself an incomparable position in history for summoning the courage to take this historic step of recognising June 12 as Democracy Day and honouring Chief Moshood Abiola posthumously.

June 12, 1993 was the day democracy was born in Nigeria. It was the day Nigerians negated all the social and political constructs that had been thought would make national unity impossible and democratic governance impossible, but Nigerians in their heterogeneity overwhelmingly voted for a candidate whose very essence was in defiance of religious, ethnic and regional categorisation.

It is most regrettable that the election was annulled and Chief Abiola clamped in illegal detention where he later died.

Successive administrations had suppressed the significance of June 12 and resisted every admonition to recognise the date and honour Chief Abiola.

We have since the advent of our administration shunned May 29 and celebrated June 12 as Democracy Day.

We are glad therefore that President Buhari has taken this bold step and set the record straight. History will be kind to him for this. I commend him for this uncommon courage and demonstration of leadership, the statement said.

Source: NAN

For stealing chickens and eggs from his neighbors poultry, a 31-year-old farmer, Samuel Asam, is to spend the next two months in prison.

An Epe Magistrates Court in Lagos State handed down the sentence to Asam on Thursday.

The Magistrate, Mrs O.A. Fowowe-Erusiafe, however, gave the convict an option to do 40 hours of community service.

Asam, a resident of Igbojia village in Ibeju-Lekki, near Lagos was convicted on a two-count charge, bordering on breaking and entering and theft.

He was accused of stealing chickens and eggs worth N527, 600 from his neighbors poultry.

The convict had admitted committing the offences and begged the court to tamper justice with mercy, saying that he did not know what came over him.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Moses Oyekanmi had earlier told the court that one Tosin Fadayemi of Igbojia village had on June 2, reported incident of theft at his poultry.

Oyekanmi said that Asam had stolen 120 broilers, valued at N420, 000; 17 cockerels, valued at N51, 000; five red cocks, valued at N17, 500 and 46 crates of eggs, valued at N39, 100.

He said that during police investigation, Asam had confessed to the crime but that the police was however, unable to recover all the stolen items from the convict.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 287 and 308 (2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

Source: NAN

By Perpetua Onuegbu

The Federal Government has appointed Prof. Alex Akpa, the Acting Director-General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA).

Mrs Ifeoma Ndefo, the Head of Communication and Protocol of the agency made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

She said the appointment, which was made by Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology, would take immediate effect.

Akpa is the most Senior Director of NABDA and had served as Director and Head of the Medical Biotechnology Department in NABDA from June 1, 2008 to June 1, 2016.

Akpa took over from Mr Abayomi Oguntunde, a Director in the ministry of science and technology, who was the overseeing Director-General following the completion of the tenure of Prof. Lucy Ogbadu.

He is a professor of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, a Fellow of the World Health Organisation (FWHO), the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene(FRSTMH).

He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria (FCAI).

He has four patents granted for his original inventions and had won several international grants for the development of medical biotechnology in Nigeria.

The statement described the new NABDA boss an astute professor, who has 57 publications including technical reports and scientific papers in both local and International peer reviewed journals.

Akpa was a five time winner of the internationally competed for UNDP/World Bank/World Health Organization, Tropical Diseases Research (WHO-TDR) Research Training/Operational Research grants.

The professor of pharmaceutical microbiology and biotechnology had served as a consultant to several international agencies and bodies including the WHO-TDR on Onchocerciasis.

Others are UNDP on Infectious Diseases including HIV and AIDS control at Community Level; UNICEF on Childhood Diseases.

The Carter Centre/ Global 2000 on operational research involving the assessment and evaluation of the Guinea Worm Eradication Programme in Nigeria and the rehabilitation of broken down boreholes in guinea worm endemic parts of Enugu and Ebonyi States.

NABDA is an agency under the ministry of science and technology established to promote, coordinate and set research and development priority in biotechnology for Nigeria.

Source: NAN

A U.S. man who was found innocent after serving 25 years in prison has received 10 million U.S. dollars on Wednesday as compensation.

The settlement set a record for the city of Philadelphia, in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, where Anthony Wright, who was 20-years-old when the alleged crime occurred, was sentenced to life without parole for a 1991 rape and murder case.

DNA evidence discovered later proved that Wright was innocent.

Innocence Project, an activist group promoting DNA evidence in criminal investigations, said in a statement that Wright was the victim of poor investigation procedures by the police, who allegedly threatened to beat Wright if he wouldn’t sign a confession written by the police.

The group said Wright now 44, is the 344th DNA exoneree in the nation.

It would be recalled that the Philadelphia district attorney’s office in 1991 indicted a 20-year-old black man named Anthony Wright on a charge of capital murder after describing the crime as “heinous.”

A 77-year-old woman had been robbed in her home, then raped and stabbed to death.

The case against Wright was turned around on a confession written by the police, which Wright had signed.

Wright maintained from the beginning that he signed the document only after interrogating officers threatened to “poke his eye out.”

He was later convicted after the jury deadlocked 7–5 in favor of a death sentence.

In Pennsylvania, death penalty verdicts must be unanimous and as such Wright was sent to prison for life without the possibility of parole.

Source: NAN