Nigerian youths have formed a political party, Modern Democratic Party (MDP), to enable them place active role in the upcoming elections in 2019 and beyond.

The formation of the party came at a time that when Not Too Young To Run Bill is still pending assent of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The registration of the political party is an strategy to enable the youths in Nigeria to position themselves for political leadership.

The new party, led by 27-year old activist and entrepreneur, Prince Bukunyi Olateru-Olagbegi, represents the new face of active youth involvement in politics.

The party which was registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on January 10, 2018, intends to galvanise youths into engaging in policy formulation, government accountability and running for political office.

According to Olateru-Olagbegi, the party belongs solely to Nigerians who yearn to see a difference in politics and governance.

He explained that the mission of the party is to be home for those who are weary of the status quo and want to be part of something fresh, new, untainted and different.

We are focused on harnessing the mental and physical resources of this unique generation of youth brimming with fresh ideas and innovations which will finally put Nigeria in its rightful place on the world stage.

We know that the journey ahead of us will be long.

This is not a party registered for the 2019 presidential elections. We are here for the long haul and wish to call on all true patriots of our fatherland to get involved as we embark on this journey towards building Nigerias first and truly Modern Democratic Party, Olateru-Olagbegi said.

Last year, the Nigerian Senate passed the Not Too Young To Run Bill which seeks age reduction for elective officers in the country and allows the youths an opportunity to contest for the office of the president at the age of 35, and governor or senator at the age of 30.

As young people across the country are calling on Buhari to assent to the bill, the Modern Democratic Party has gone ahead to unveil its manifesto and planned activities in preparation for next years general elections.

The party is a youth-driven political organization committed to producing and sustaining efficient, transparent and accountable leadership in all spheres of governance for the benefit of Nigerian citizens.

The party meant for an emerging generation of young people with an unwavering love and belief in Nigeria and her potential to take its rightful place as one of the greatest nations on earth.

Nigerias youth have finally come of age, they have become mature, and they fully understand the shifting power dynamics of Nigerian and global politics.

Never in the history of Nigeria has there been such a technologically-savvy generation with access to information and knowledge that can transform this country profoundly.

MDP hereby offers to Nigerias emerging and immensely talented generation a credible and powerful platform to realise their dreams for this great nation, he said.

The vision of the party is to build a nation where the aspirations of citizens can be realized irrespective of their social, political, ethnic or religious convictions.

It values includes fairness, inclusiveness, transparency and accountability.

Source: NAN

The All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Tuesday applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for steering the party back to the correct path, after the president in a surprising announcement ruled against elongation of the tenure of the APC National Working Committee (NWC), .

Tinubu heaped praises on the president in a statement released by Tinubus Media Officer, Mr Tunde Rahman, in Lagos.

President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier on Tuesday advised the party to dump the elongation of the tenure of National and State Executive Officers of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He told the National Executive Committee meeting of the party in Abuja on Tuesday that he had sought advice on the elongation, and had come to the conclusion that it was unconstitutional.

The APC, at its NEC meeting on Feb. 27, decided to extend the tenure of members of National Working Committee (NWC) led by John Odigie-Oyegun by one year.

In his reaction, Tinubu said: President Buharis action saves the party from serious legal turmoil.

If the elongations were deemed illegal, then all subsequent party actions, including the nomination of all of our candidates for elective offices, might also be of questionable legality.

Such a predicament would constitute an unnecessary and mortal blow to the party and its role in promoting progressive governance to Nigeria.

Moreover, President Buhari has affirmed for all to see that our party is one based on the rule of law coupled with a firm adherence to internal democracy.

While it would have been easy to allow the ill-conceived motion of 27 February to stand, President Buhari showed principle and courage by steering the party back to its original and correct path.

According to him, the President has spoken.

Today is a good day for those who cherish democracy and legality.

His action will also serve to strengthen the party by allowing party members, including present incumbents, to seek to contribute to the party by vying for executive offices as they see fit.

His action will go far in advancing the process of internal reconciliation that is now underway, he said.

Tinubu said it was time for the party to move forward and begin to plan and organise the needed congresses according to the existing timetables.

After all, a party bearing the name All Progressives Congress should be the last party to resist holding congresses in which all its people have a fair say and fair chance to aspire to any position in the party for which they are qualified to hold.

Again, this is a good day for the APC and democratic practice in Nigeria.

We shun the politics of old to move toward a new and better way of governing ourselves and this nation, he said.

Source: NAN

The inconclusive Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting has forced finance minister Kemi Adeosun to liaise with the NNPC over discrepancies in payment into the Federation Account.

This is coming after FAAC noticed discrepancies of about N37.76 billion in revenue presented by the NNPC.

Adeosun, who is also the Chairman of FAAC, said she called for an emergency meeting next week with the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr Maikanti Baru, and other key management staff over revenue payment into the Federation Account.

The minister, in a statement made available to newsmen by her Senior Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Oluyinka Akintunde, assured Nigerians that the FAAC meeting would hold on Wednesday at 9. a. m.

She said that the Accountant General of the Federation, Commissioners of Finance and Accountant-Generals of the 36 States would also be present at the meeting.

Similarly, she said that other representatives of the NNPC, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Department of Petroleum Resources would also be at the meeting. (NAN)

Source: NAN

President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered an end to special legal status for certain immigrants from Liberia, including some who have lived in the United States for decades, effective next year, citing improved conditions in the West African nation.

Liberia is no longer experiencing armed conflict and has made significant progress in restoring stability and democratic governance, according to a memorandum signed by Trump and released by the White House.

Trump has pursued a crackdown on legal and illegal immigration since becoming president last year.

Some Liberians have been eligible for either Temporary Protected Status or Deferred Enforced Departure since March 1991 due to civil war, fragile political and economic conditions and an Ebola virus outbreak in 2014, the memorandum said. The special status will end on March 31, 2019.

Liberia has also concluded reconstruction from prior conflicts, which has contributed significantly to an environment that is able to handle adequately the return of its nationals, Trump said.

The 2014 outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease caused a tragic loss of life and economic damage to the country, but Liberia has made tremendous progress in its ability to diagnose and contain future outbreaks of the disease, Trump added.

A 12-month wind-down period starting March 31, 2018, will allow the Liberian government to prepare to re-integrate returning citizens and give time for affected Liberians to make necessary arrangements, said the memorandum, which was addressed to the Department of Homeland Security.

Trump previously included three other African countries Chad, Somalia and Libya among several nations whose citizens were blocked from entering the United States.

African politicians and diplomats blasted Trump in January after he was reported to have used vulgar language to describe African countries and Haiti, with some calling him a racist.

Trump later denied making the remark.

Source: NAN

Solid Gold castings of the hands of South Africas first black President Nelson Mandela have been sold for $10m (7m) in bitcoin.

The castings of the late former South African presidents hand, palm and fist are believed to be the only ones left in the world.

Canadian crypto-currency exchange firm Arbitrade bought four casts from South African businessman Malcolm Duncan, according to a report by BBC Africa.

The firm said it planned to launch a global Golden Hands of Nelson Mandela tour to educate young people about the anti-apartheid icons life.

This is the first time artefacts of Mr Mandela have been sold in bitcoin.

Mr Mandela was jailed for 27 years for fighting white minority rule in South Africa.

He was released in 1990, and served as president from 1994 to 1999.

Mandela died in 2013 at the age of 95. He had turned into a global brand, with businessmen and artists cashing in on his name.

Mr Duncan, who now lives in Canada, bought the casts from mining group Harmony Gold in 2002 for about $31,000.

Half of the money paid to Harmony Gold was meant to go to charity, but it remains unclear as to whether that happened, Bloomberg news agency reports.

Harmony said it had supplied Mr Duncan with the necessary paperwork verifying the provenance as requested by his attorneys, but declined to comment on what happened to the donation, Bloomberg reports.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday admitted that Nigeria has been turbulent since he came on board in 2015.

The president made this comment while inaugurating the Food Security Council chaired by him.

At the inauguration, the president spoke about Nigeria’s “very turbulent” journey in the past three years, the period of his administration.

Read the full speech below.

“Two weeks ago, I announced my intention to establish and chair a presidential level committee that focuses on food security, I am happy that today it has become a reality.

“Nigeria’s journey in the last three (3) years, has been a very turbulent one. The country’s need for critical job creating sectors which has been ignored for decades is now beginning to yield results.

“We introduced the National Social Investment Programmes targeting millions of Nigerians who are living from hand to mouth.

“We launched agricultural programmes focusing on import substitution, job creation and rural development thereby bringing socio-economic transformation to the millions of citizens living in some of the most remote rural parts of our country.

“We commenced the long term Pollution Remediation Projects in the Niger Delta with the hope of restoring dignity and normalcy to the millions of Nigerians impacted by decades of pollution in their communities. Fishing and farming will resume once blighted areas are rehabilitated.

“We intensified our participation in the Lake Chad Basin Commission with the goal of reversing the shrinkage of the lake, which impacts the livelihoods of over 45 million farmers, herdsmen and fishermen in the LCBC countries.

“We issued the first ever green bond that will act as a catalyst for investments in renewable energy and afforestation projects. This was oversubscribed, sharing market confidence in the country and our government.

“We established the Agro Rangers Unit within the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to protect the billions of naira of investments recorded in Nigeria’s agricultural sector across the country.

“We continued to equip the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency to fight maritime criminals such as pirates and sea robbers who adversely impact offshore and inland fishing activities in our waters.

“These programmes and many more, have started yielding results and if sustained, will transform the lives of millions of Nigerians across the country.

“We are well aware that the full results will not be felt or seen overnight. The journey is long. It is therefore our collective duty to ensure the actual and potential positive impacts of these programmes are sustained, improved and expanded.

“A key mandate of the Food Security Council is to continuously assess and enhance these infant, but impactful programmes, thereby guaranteeing they achieve their full potential.

“We shall also develop new programmes and projects that will protect and indeed, create more jobs in farming, fisheries, animal husbandry and forestry.

“As we all know, land is use for farming, grazing and forestry, Water is used for irrigation, livestock sustenance and fishing. Therefore, any strategy for land and water management must take into account the interconnectivity of all these key sectors to ensure equity and sustainability.

“We will also not lose sight of the other issues that will impact our food production ambitions such as; Population growth, Urbanisation, IndustrialisationRural Infrastructure Development andClimate Change.

“These factors will also stress and stretch our land and water resources. This means we must invest in research and development to enhance yields and outputs.

“Moreover, we are not insulated from Global and Regional events. Accordingly we develop local programs, but not lose sight of events from a far and their impact on us. Specifically, issues such as smuggling and dumping, which is our responsibility to ensure we develop and enforce strategies to protect Nigeria from these illegal and unhealthy imports.

“The Council includes Governors representing the six (6) geopolitical zones. Some geopolitical zones have similar Eco climatic conditions. The council is therefore a platform to further enhance the collaboration between the federal and state governments. We shall share success stories and collaborate to address common threats.

“We will also engage key stakeholders representing the core sectors of the Food Value Chain. Regular consultations will be held with investors, development partners, financiers, academia and our friends and allies abroad.

“ Our deliberations will look into all the issues and our decisions will be implementable and impactful. We shall stay focused, first and foremost on securing our food requirements and employment for our people, especially the youth. We shall feed ourselves and build an inclusive Nigeria for ourselves and for future generations.”

Source: Dailypost.NG

Iceland on Monday announced it would stage a diplomatic boycott of the 2018 World Cup in Russia over the poisoning of a former double agent in Britain.

“Icelandic officials will not go to the FIFA World Cup in Russia this summer,” a statement from the foreign ministry read.

The EU member states have said it was highly likely Russia was responsible for the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia on March 4.

They also ordered the recall of the bloc’s ambassador to Moscow.

Iceland are in Group D alongside Nigeria, Argentina and Croatia.

Source: Dailypost.NG

According to media reports, founder of the MMM series of financial pyramid schemes, Sergei Mavrodi, has died in Moscow.

Mavrodi was taken to a city hospital from a bus stop overnight Monday after he felt weakness and pain in the chest area, reports Moskovsky Komsomolets.

The emergency team has failed to save his life.

“He died this morning,” the report said.

In 2007 Sergei Mavrodi was convicted in a Russian court of defrauding 10,000 investors out of 110 million rubles ($4.3 million).

Mavrodi claimed he is not the beneficiary of the donations and he is not used to flamboyant lifestyle.

His true charges of which he was later convicted of is tax fraud though he claimed that MMM scheme is not a business, but a mutual donation program of which there is no law against such.

Source: NAN

Here is the face of the Dapchi schoolboy, a pure water vendor captured by Boko Haram on 19 February, along with 111 schoolgirls.

The boy came to the Dapchi Girls Secondary Science and Tech College to sell pure water, when he was kidnapped alongside the Dapchi schoolgirls.

As 105 of the girls were released on Wednesday, he too got his freedom, said Alhaji Lai Mohammed, minister of information and Culture.

“Also kidnapped were two other persons, who are not students of the college.

“They include a primary school boy who came to the school to sell pure water and another primary school girl,’’ he said.

He said a total of 111 girls were abducted from the Government Girls Secondary and Technical College (GGSTC) in Dapchi on Feb. 19.

“That means one student was not captured on the list of 110 abducted students that was compiled by the school, on the basis of which the Federal Government gave the number of abducted schoolgirls as 110.

“So far, a total of 107 persons, comprising 105 Dapchi schoolgirls and the two non-students have been released by the insurgents.

He said that six Dapchi schoolgirls were yet unaccounted for and all efforts will be made to secure their release.

Source: NAN

More details have now emerged showing how billions of naira and hundred millions of dollars were illegally removed from the public till by the Jonathan administration specifically ahead of the 2015 presidential elections.

The information came on the tail of the denial by Jonathan’s spokesmen that any money was taken illegally out of the Nigerian treasury and shared by Jonathan and his aides.

The information was given by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to illustrate how grand corruption has been doing great havoc to the Nigerian economy. He said weeks to the 2015 election under the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan about N100B was released and embezzled. He also disclosed that about $289m was disbursed illegally about the same time.

Now, there are some new details of how some of the funds were illegally transported from the Central Bank to the private residence of the former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The former NSA, Sambo Dasuki personally supervised the physical transfer of the money from the CBN vaults to the private residence of the former President.

In one particular instance over N70 billion was released in parts from the national treasury between January 8 and February 25, 2015. The over $289M which was also referenced last week by the Vice President is said to be included in this particular series of illegal transactions.

in another illegal disbursement, the minutes of the Central Bank board meeting of 25th August 2014 indicated the board’s approval of another N60B requested by the former President and released later by the Central Bank.

A Presidency source said the sum which was okayed by the CBN board was not tied to any project or procurement, and was meant and disbursed purely for campaign purposes, through the office of the then NSA and the SSS leadership at the time.

Specifically that N60 billion that was okayed by the CBN on August 25, 2014 was said to have been shared between the two security agencies thus: N40B went to the NSA while N20 billion was released to the State Security Services (SSS).

While some of these newly emerging fund disbursements have been traced to the former NSA, there are indications that some of the funds are unconnected to the ongoing Defence contract trials of the former NSA,while some might.

It has now been revealed that the $289m mentioned by the Vice President was released on February 25, 2015.

Documents including cash vouchers indicate that $289,202,382 was released in cash to the NIA by the Central Bank of Nigeria from the Joint Venture (JV) Cash Call Account No. 000-0000-11658-366 of the NNPC/NAPIMS with JP Morgan Chase Bank, New York, USA.

At the exchange rate then of $199 to a naira, $289m is equivalent to about N60 billion. But had the money not been stolen, it would be at today’ s rate over N104B.

Further findings showed that in yet another set of illegal fund withdrawals under one week between January 8 and 16, 2015, the sum of N1.5 billion was released in three tranches of N300m, N400m and N800m respectively.

“This money was released from the MEA Research Library Account to the Jointrust Dimension reportedly owned by Danjuma Yusuf and Nenadi Esther Usman,” an official source with knowledge of the transaction disclosed.

The source further said the sum was transferred to their various political associates, which included a former minister of aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode.

Further findings showed that N350 million was allegedly transferred to Femi Fani-Kayode through his Zenith Bank Account No. 1004735721, on February 2, 2015.

Also, another N250 million was allegedly transferred to Fani-Kayode through the same Zenith Bank Account on February 19, 2015.

A document further showed that yet another N10 billion was released to the Office of the National Security Adviser by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on September 15, 2014.

The money was said to have been released in tranches of foreign exchange of $47 million, $5 million, 4 million Euros and 1.6 million Euros.

A letter from the Office of the NSA in November, 2014 further showed that the monies were released by the CBN as ‘funds for special services’.

“Further to our discussion, you are pleased requested to provide the sum of Forty Seven Million United States Dollars (USD47,000,000,00)cash out of the Ten Billion Naira (N10,000,000,000,00) and the balance in Euro to this office for special services,” a letter signed by the former NSA read.

Findings have shown that this particular CBN release of N10B was sourced in November 2014 from a N40 Billion CBN released funds meant for Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR. It was this N10B that former President Jonathan instructed the CBN Governor and the then NSA to deliver to him personally in a private residence in Abuja. Sources said the money was illegally transferred using CBN van for the use of “PDP Presidential Primaries.”

Source: NAN