By Felicia Imohimi

The Management of School of the Blind, Jabi, FCT, on has solicited the support of government for improved funding to ensure academic excellence of the visually impaired pupils.

Mrs Regina Dung, Head Teacher of the school, made the appeal in Jabi on Thursday during a road walk organised by the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA), in commemoration of the 2018 World Sight Day with the theme Universal Eyecare.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Sight Day is commemorated globally every second Thursday of October.

The day was set aside by international communities to draw attention of governments and other stakeholders to the challenges facing the populace in respect to eye care.

The head teacher expressed displeasure that the school was poorly funded considering expectations to be met, as well as the enormous challenges of the pupils.

On some of the challenges impeding quality academic performance in the school, Dung said they include lack of teaching aid, inadequate funding and lack of conducive learning environment

A book for the regular child goes for N50 while a brail paper for the visually impaired child goes for N3,500.

The environment is not conducive for the visually impaired people to move around independently; so we solicit for government to come to our aid to improve their learning skills and well-being.

So, if government is allocating one million naira to regular schools, it should allocate three million to visually impaired schools; this will enhance academic performance.

Also, 80 per cent of the visually impaired pupils are from poor socio-economic background and cannot afford the cost of these aids.

Ordinary N5,000 would have prevented majority of them from going blind but due to poor financial status of their parents, they find themselves in this condition, the head teacher said.

Speaking on behalf of the pupils of the school, Blessing Okon, a visually impaired, commended NOA for counting them worthy to participate in the commemoration.

She, however, noted some of their challenges to include inadequate computers, lack of brail machines and typewriters.

According to her, if these machines are available in the school, it will go a long way to aid their writing skills and capability.

When I got blind some years ago, I thought all hope of schooling was gone.

I never knew that being handicapped does not deter anyone from forging ahead academically.

Though we still lack a lot of facilities in the school but the school has really helped us, she said.

Source: NAN

Libya coach Adel Amrouche has resigned just days before his side face Nigeria in an African Nations Cup qualifier. The match is billed for Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

His departure has been confirmed by the Libyan Football Federation and on Wednesday by Belgian Amrouche, who told the media that he was frustrated by working conditions with the team.

The 50-year-old, who was born in Algeria, was only appointed in May and his first match in charge last month saw Libya force a 0-0 draw in South Africa.

They were forced to play all their home qualifiers at a neutral venue because of the tenuous security situation in the North African country.

Libya travel to face Nigeria on Friday and then play them again in the return in Sfax, Tunisia on Monday.

Libya have four points from their first two games in their bid to qualify for the 2019 finals in Cameroon, ahead of South Africa on goal difference with Nigeria one point behind.

The Seychelles are last in the group without any points.

Source: NAN

The only female senator from the North in the National Assembly, Sen. Binta Masi Garba of Adamawa North Senatorial, said the automatic ticket granted her by the All Progressives Congress to re-contest in 2019, came to her as a big surprise.

Masi, 51, who emerged unopposed, told newsmen in Yola Tuesday that her endorsement by the All Progressives Congress and delegates in the just concluded party primaries , was touching and an indication that her past efforts had been appreciated.

Masi said she was overwhelmed by the show of love and support she had been getting from the party and government of Gov. Muhammadu Bindow.

The endorsement came as a big surprise to me because I never expected it; it shows that my stewardship as legislature is appreciated by my constituency.

I feel humbled and honoured. Its a new challenge put to me to do more for my constituency, which has suffered insurgency, Masi said.

She also expressed her excitement with the emergence of another female senatorial candidate under APC in Adamawa, Hajiya Aishatu Ahmed.

Masi said that the emergence of Hajiya Ashatu Ahmed as the candidate of APC for Adamawa Central Senatorial district, making them two female APC candidates in Adamawa, was heart-warming.

We need more women in the National Assembly,irrespective of political party. The plight of Nigerian women would bind us together to work for common interest, Masi said.

Binta was born in Kaduna on 17 April, 1967. Her father was a soldier, who was once the driver of former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida.

Between 1975 and 1981, she attended Army Children School, Kaduna and went on study for OLevel at Government Day School, Kurmin Mashi, Kaduna South, between 1981 and 1987.

She then went to Kaduna Polytechnic and obtained Ordinary National Diploma in Marketing in 1990 and Higher National Diploma in 1997).

In 2004, while serving in the House of Representatives, she went to Harvard Kennedy School of Government Harvard University (Public Financial Management).

She began her political career in Kaduna in 1999, and won election twice to represent Kaduna South in the House of Representatives. In 2007, she moved to her state of origin, Adamawa, for a third spell in the House of Representatives as a representative of Michika/Madagali constituency.

She however lost her fourth term bid in 2011. But in 2015, from being the first female chairman of a major political party, she won the senate seat to represent, Adamawa North.

Source: NAN

Ariwodola Idowu

The Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC), has advised outgoing Governor Ayo Fayos to look elsewhere for political sanctuary, should he jump out of the PDP.

Chief Paul Omotoso, Chairman of the party in the state, gave the advice in a statement on Tuesday in Ado Ekiti.

Fayose should not think of moving from PDP to APC until he clears himself of several criminal cases hanging on his neck, Omotoso stated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Omotoso was reacting to reports quoting Fayose as threatening to leave the PDP.

Fayose had threatened to leave the PDP in protest over the outcome of the partys primary election which gave former Vice President Atiku Abubakar the PDP presidential ticket over Fayoses choice, Aminu Tambuwal, the Sokoto State governor.

Tambuwal came second with 693 votes, conceding the ticket to Abubakar, who scored 1,532 votes at the National Convention held on Saturday in Port Harcourt. 12 aspirants battled for the ticket.

Omotoso, in his reaction to Fayoses outburst, advised him to conclude his court cases before contemplating to join APC.

We want to tell the world that the APC will not provide sanctuary for criminal suspects, political prostitutes and lepers.

We will never admit such character to this party and we advise Fayose to play his `politics of destruction somewhere else.

Fayoses prosecution on the alleged poultry project fraud resumes on November 4, 2018.

Fayose cannot turn Ekiti APC to a haven and sanctuary for criminal suspects. He should forget any plan to smear Ekiti APC with criminal records

APC is a political party bounded by common ideals of integrity, openness, discipline and commitment to common goals of progressive governance; Fayose does not possess or believe in these attributes as can be seen from his style of politics and governance

Fayose, over the years, abused, disrespected and openly denigrated President Muhammadu Buhari, the leader of our party who is also the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Fayose is coming to destroy our party and ensure President Buhari does not get a second term in 2019. We wont allow Fayoses evil plan to materialise, he said.

Omotoso warned all ward chairmen, where Fayose lives and runs his businesses, against accepting him into the party.

Our party is not a sanctuary for criminal suspects, political lepers and serial destroyers of the parties they once belonged to.

No ward chairman should open talks with Fayose until such ward chairman clears with the party leadership at the state level, he stated

Efforts to obtain Fayoses reaction to the APCs stance proved abortive as his lines could not be reached while his aides refused to respond to the APC statement. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has informed the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC that it will not be allowed to field candidates for elective positions in Zamfara state in the 2019 elections.

The commissions acting secretary, Okechukwe Ndeche in a letter to the APC said the party is barred from fielding candidates for governorship, national assembly and state assembly elections, as it failed to comply with Sections 87 and 31 of the Electoral Act of 2010.

Parties according to the act were expected to comply with the timetable and schedule of INEC, which says that the conduct of primaries must be concluded between 18 August and 7 October, 2018.

The APC ran out of time and INEC said it received reports from its Zamfara office, indicating that no primaries were conducted in the state notwithstanding that our officials werte fully mobilised and deployed.

Zamfara problem began when The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party announced the dissolution of Zamfara APC executive committee led by Alhaji Lawali M. Liman.

The sacked leadership however claimed it returned Alhaji Mukhtar Shehu Idris as winner of last Wednesdays botched governorship primary election in the state.

It also declared Governor Abdulaziz Yari as winner of Zamfara West senatorial zones primary election in the state, claiming he polled 166,000 votes.

However, the Major General Abubakar Mustapha Gana-led Zamfara State Electoral Committee, said no primaries took place in the state.

The primary election was rescheduled for last weekend, but Governor Yari threatened to mobilise his supporters to disrupt it.
*Also read:

Source: NAN

The Sokoto State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma on Tuesday dispelled rumor that the partys 2019 election flag-bearer, Alhaji Mannir Dan-iya has been substituted.

Speaking to newsmen in Sokoto over the rumour that Dan-iya had been substituted by Gov. Tambuwal after he failed to secure partys presidential ticket was unfounded.

Milgoma explained that at present Dan-iya remained the partys 2019 governorship candidate noting that there was still time to substitute candidate according to the law.

The chairman said the party would formally announce any change if any in future noting that substitution had processes which must be complied with based on electoral guidelines.

Milgoma explained that the event held on Oct.7 at the state party headquarters was to express Gov. Tambuwals appreciation over the support he enjoyed at PDP Presidential primary election in Port Harcourt.

According to him, party members are still united and will continue to support any person that emerged victorious during the concluded primaries and urged loyalists to work toward ensuring maximum success of all party candidates in coming elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that speculations were going round that the party had conducted fresh primary and produced Tambuwal as governorship candidate at the 11th hour on Oct. 7, to comply with INEC deadline on conducting primary election.

Source: NAN

The All Progressives Congress(APC) is consulting its lawyers in its legal department to file a reaction on the eligibility of its candidates to run in Zamfara state in the 2019 election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said in a letter today that the party is not eligible to field candidates for governorship, national assembly and state assembly positions in Zamfara.

The letter signed by Okechukwu Ndeche, the commission`s acting Secretary read: Failure to Conduct Primaries in Zamfara State Within the Stipulated Time-frame .

Please refer to the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2019 general elections released by the commission on Jan. 9 2018.

You would note that from the timetable the conduct of primaries is scheduled to take place between August 18 to Oct 7 2018.

However, report received from our office in Zamfara state shows that no primaries were conducted by your party in Zamfara, notwithstanding that our officials were fully mobilised and deployed.

Consequently, based on the provision of Section 87 and 31 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, the commission does not expect that your party will submit names of any candidate from Zamfara state.

For clarity, our position therefore, is that the APC will not be fielding candidates for the Governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly elections in Zamfara for the 2019 general elections.

However, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt from an authoritative source in the APC National Secretariat, that the party leadership would contact its legal department before responding on the matter.

The APC National Working Committee (NWC) had on Oct. 5, dissolved the party executives at all levels in Zamfara, after contentious primaries said to have been conducted on Wednesday 3 October and 4 October.

Mr Yekini Nabena, the APC acting National Publicity had said that by the decision, all party executives, at all levels in Zamfara were dissolved.

The dissolved party executives had claimed they conducted primaries on 3 October which picked a Yari anointed candidate, Alhaji Mukhtar Shehu Idris as winner of the governorship primary election, and Yari himself as winner of Zamfara West senatorial ticket, in a primary conducted 4 October. The NWC invalidated the results.

The NWC inaugurated a new committee which attempted to conduct the Governorship and Legislative primaries in the State between Saturday October 6, to Sunday October 7.

The panel failed to conduct the elections because of the threats by Governor Abdulaziz Yari to call out supporters in protest.

Source: NAN

(Reuters/NAN)The Tour de France trophy won by Team Skys Geraint Thomas earlier this year has been stolen during a cycle show in Birmingham, the British team said on Wednesday.

The trophy, loaned to bike manufacturer Pinarello, had been on display at venues across the UK along with the teams other grand tour titles but was picked up when left unattended at the NEC in Birmingham recently.

It is incredibly unfortunate that this has happened.

It goes without saying that the trophy is of pretty limited value to whoever took it, but means a lot to me and to the team.

Hopefully whoever took it will have the good grace to return it.

A trophy is important, but clearly what matters most are the amazing memories from this incredible summer and no one can ever take those away, Thomas said in a statement.

Pinarello managing director Richard Hemington said he was devastated by the theft.

We accept full responsibility and have personally apologized to Geraint.

We hope that the trophy can be recovered, Hemington said.

Team Sky said police were investigating the matter and they were liaising with all relevant parties to agree on the best course of action to resolve the issue.

Thomas won the teams sixth Tour de France title in seven years in July.

It was the fourth successive grand tour win for the team after Chris Froome won the Tour and the Vuelta a Espana last year before clinching this years Giro dItalia.

Source: NAN

By Shedrack Frank

No fewer than 500 rice farms at Okpotuwari and Ondewari communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa, have been submerged by flood, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Mr Ezekiel Ogbianko, Chairman, Rice Farmers Association in the state, who inspected the submerged farms on Wednesday, called on the federal and state governments to come to the aid of the affected farmers.

At Ondewari, a community leader, Prof. Itimi Godwin, said that the rice farms were ready for harvest before the disaster.

We need a lot of things, particularly we want the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to come and see the level of damage done here.

As you can see, this is a colossal loss; we are calling on the federal government to come to our aid, as the people here are suffering. We need relief materials such as rice, garri, cement and roofing sheets, he said.

NAN recalls that NEMA had earlier said that over 150,000 people have been displaced by flood in Bayelsa this year.

The site manager of Ondewari Rice Farm, Mr Fredrick Adam, said the loss was colossal and the farmers would appreciate immediate support fromgovernment.

Also, the Paramount Ruler of Okpotuwari Community, Chief Tiger Moses, said that the community was expecting bountiful harvest before the flood.

As you can see the flood is very disturbing, our crops have been destroyed, fish settlement and plantain farms are also damaged.

We want the assistance of the federal government and other stakeholders; right now our sources of water have been contaminated, he added.

Source: NAN

By Dorcas Jonah

The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) has accused major political parties in the country of being unfair to womenfolk in the just concluded primary elections preparatory to 2019 general elections.

Mrs Gloria Shoda, the president of the council, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday that the actions of political parties in the primaries discouraged women from participating further in the electoral process.

We assembled all women aspirants and party leadersin a summit where we discussed and they agreed to give the women a soft landing.

This, however, was not adhered to by the political parties as the cost of nomination forms and violence that ensued at the primaries did not allow women to come out to vote.

Beside this, I dont see how a woman will be able to get N12 million not to talk of N45 million for nomination form for presidency in the case of the Peoples Democratic Parties (PDP) and All Progressives Alliance (APC), respectively.

I watched the just concluded primaries with keen interest; the first thing that struck my mind was the amount women were asked to pay for the nomination forms, she said.

Shoda said that it was worrisome that the APC had no concession for women, asking: How do they expect women to feel?

We hear that the PDP had some concession for women. Women were only asked to pay expression of interest form which was reasonable because women are not moneybags.

Some political parties did not even collect money at all from women to encourage them to participate in the electoral process.

This means that the big parties do not want women to participate in the electoral process further because making nominations forms costly means that women will not participate, she observed.

But NAN reports thatthe wife of the president, Mrs Aisha Buhari, recently assured the women aspiring for elective positions on the platform of All Progressives Congress of her support to achieve the 35 per cent affirmative action for women.

Mrs Buhari gave the assurance when the newly elected APC National women leaders and their women wing in the 36 states and FCT paid her a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The group including women leaders of North-Central, North-East, North-West, South-East, South-West and South-South were led to the Presidential Villa by the National Woman Leader of APC, Mrs Salamatu Baiwa.

The wife of the president maintained that women were responsible for the successes recorded in many elections in Nigeria.

It is time to start mobilisation of women at the grassroots level because women are responsible for the successes of every elections in Nigeria she said.

Mrs Buhari urged the APC women to always respect the constitution of the party and called on them to continue to support the APC administration.

Source: NAN

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointments of Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi as deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria and Muiz Banire as chairman of the governing board of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

The two confirmations were announced by the Senate on its Twitter handle, @NGRSenate.

Mr. Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi is confirmed for appointment as the Deputy Governor of CBN.

The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate)

The nomination of Mr. Banire, Muiz Adeyemi Ph.D, SAN for appointment as Chairman of the governing board of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) is hereby confirmed.

The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate)

The confirmation of the two appointments followed the recommendations of the Senate committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, headed by Senator Rafiu Ibrahim.

President Muhammadu Buhari had nominated Shonubi for the CBN post in June. The presidents letter was read on 3 July, weeks before the senate went on its long recess on 25 July.

Buhari sent Banires nomination to the Senate for approval on July 18. Banire from Lagos, is a senior advocate of Nigeria, a former commissioner in Lagos and the pioneer legal secretary of the All Progressives Congress.

Shonubi will replace Adebayo Adelabu, who resigned to take part in politics in Oyo state. Adelabu is now the APC governorship candidate in the state.

Shonubi was the Managing Director of the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS) the financial payments, facilitation and settlement platform, before his appointment.

Before assuming the headship of NIBBS in 2012, Shonubi had garnered decades of executive-level experience in financial service operations, notably as Executive Director at Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Renaissance Securities Nigeria Ltd and Ecobank Nigeria Plc.

On the website of NIBBS, he is described as an Information Technology-driven banker with over 22 years professional experience.

Prior to his appointment as the Managing Director of NIBSS Plc., Mr. Shonubi was Executive Director, Information Technology and Operations at Union Bank of Nigeria Plc; a member of the Board of Union Homes and Director Information Technology and Corporate Services in Renaissance Securities Nigeria limited, with responsibility for the Groups IT infrastructure in Africa.

Mr. Shonubi also had a stint with Citibank Nigeria Limited as its Head, Treasury Operations (1990-1993).

Between 1999 and 2007, he worked in MBC International as Deputy General Manager and supervised their IT operational platforms. He served in First City Monument Bank Limited as Vice President and in Ecobank Nigeria Limited as Executive Director.

He has served on a number of sub-committees of the Bankers Committee, including the Ethics and Professionalism sub-committee.

Shonubi holds double Masters Degree respectively in Business Administration and Mechanical Engineering, from University of Lagos.

Source: NAN

By Felicia Imohimi

Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) on Wednesday in Abuja solicited the local production of ophthalmic drugs and equipment (eye medications) to make eye care services accessible to more people.

The president of the association, Dr Ozy Okonokhua, made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) ahead of the of the observance of World Sight Day on every October 11.

Okonokhua further explained that local production of drugs and preparations would further reduce the current rate of blindness and vision impairment in the country.

Reduction in tariff on importation of ophthalmic equipment and engagement of local players in the producing ophthalmic drugs and preparations are also part of remedies in ensuring availability, accessibility to quality, affordable eye care by majority of the populace, he said.

Okonokhua attributed the present burden of blindness in the country to high cost of ophthalmic equipment and drugs, high cost of living and lack of access to eye-care in the rural areas, among others.

He observed that if the government reduced the tariff on imported ophthalmic equipment and drugs, eye care services would be more affordable to large number of Nigerians.

Eye-care is not isolated from the general issues affecting healthcare in the country and on the global scene.

Most of the people who should access healthcare are not able to do so because of location and finance, he said.

He said that the observance of World Sight Day is an avenue for eye-care providers to enlighten the public on measures to adopt in order to reduce the prevalence of blindness.

Okonokhua, therefore, urged governments to collaborate with non-governmental organisations in preventing blindness.

The theme of the 2018 World Sight Day is Universal Eye-care and the Days call for action is Eye-care Everywhere.

Source: NAN

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has vowed to ensure that the Chairman, Innoson Motors Nigeria Limited, Innocent Chukwuma is arrested to face a fraud charge in court.

The Commission made the vow Wednesday, after Justice Olusola Williams of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, struck out the case of fraud it instituted against Chukwuma.

The Judge struck out the case after the EFCC failed to produce Chukwuma in court to face trial.

Chukwuma and his company, Innoson Motors Nigeria Limited, were to be arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy to obtain by false pretences, obtaining by false pretence, stealing and forgery.

The defendants allegedly committed the offences between 2009 and July 2011 in Lagos.

The defendants were alleged to have conspired to obtain, by false pretences, containers of motorcycles, spare parts and raw materials, property of Guaranty Trust Bank, from Mitsui OSK Lines Limited, Apapa, Lagos.

They were also alleged to have fraudulently induced staff of Mitsui OSK and Maersk Line to deliver to them, via their clearing agents, the goods that were imported from China in the name of GTB by falsely pretending that they were authorized by the bank to clear the goods.

The defendants were said to have forged a bill of lading numbered 598286020 of Maersk Line Limited and 11007950841 of Mutsui O.S.K. Line by knowingly putting a false GTB stamp and signature of the bank staff.

The alleged fraud was to enable the forged documents to be used or acted upon as genuine to the prejudice of any person within Lagos or elsewhere.

However, since the suit was instituted, first before Justice Mojisola Dada of the same court, the defendant has refused to appear in court to face his trial.

In a short ruling today, Justice Williams held that it was the responsibility of the EFCC to produce him in court.

This court is not an investigator or a prosecutor. This court cannot waste precious judicial time prosecuting a matter that is going nowhere.

This is a criminal matter that can be instituted anytime the prosecution is ready. The court hereby strikes out the matter, the Judge held.

Justice Dada on June 22, 2018, stepped down from presiding over the matter on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

All efforts by the EFCC to arraign the defendant before Justice Dada on five consecutive occasions failed despite being declared wanted on May 23, 2018 and also procuring a bench warrant for his arrest.

Source: NAN

UK chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) saysthe emergence of Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has made the re-electionof President Muhammadu Buhari easier.

Mr Ade Omole, leader of APC UK made the assertion in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Monday in Abuja.

According to him,President Buhari remains the best candidate for the 2019 presidential election among the array ofpresidential candidates being paraded byother political parties.

He maintained that Atikus candidature would not stop the victory of the APC.

The task for 2019 election has just been made easier by the leading opposition party by electing a presidential candidate who was part of the countrys problem in the 16 years of PDP rule.

Nigerians should be wise enough to know, therefore, that he has nothing new to bring to the table.

While I want Nigerians to vote wisely in 2019, I assure that as we did in 2015, we will work hard again to ensure that President Buhari is re-elected.

On behalf of Nigerians and the progressives in the Diaspora, I congratulate President Buhari for accepting his nomination to be the APC presidential candidate for 2019 election.

`His election by over 14 million registered members of the party during the APC presidential primaries held across the federation speaks volumes,Omole said.

He further said that Nigerians in the Diaspora were delighted at the enormous recovery tasks undertaken by the Buhari-led administration in securing the country, growing the economy and curbing corruption within the polity.

The leader of the APC UK chapter commended Buhari and his cabinet for laying the foundation for a better Nigeria.

He however urged APC members across the world not to be distracted, but continue to work hard to ensure the partys victory at all levels of government in 2019.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PresidentBuhari scored a total of 14,842,072 votes at the partys recent direct primaries held in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to pick the APC presidential ticket.

His candidacy was affirmed by 7,000 delegates from 36 states of the federation and the FCT at the APC National Presidential Convention on Saturday.

Aside the statutory delegates,three delegates were drawn from 774 Local Government Area of the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, who got elected at the partys Congresses held earlier.

NAN further reports that Atiku, a former Vice President beat 11 contestants to secure the PDP ticket with 1,532 votesduring the partys presidential primaries held in Port Harcourt.

A total of 3,274 delegates participated in the election, with his closest challenger, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, having just 693 votes.

Other presidential candidates seeking to upstage Buhari include, Mr Donald Duke of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr Oby Ezekwesili of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria among others.

The presidential election will hold on Feb. 14,2019.

Source: NAN

As the deadline for the conduct of primaries ended on Sunday, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has nominated retired Gen. John Ogbor as its presidential candidate for the 2019 elections.

Ogbor, who was elected during the partys primary election held in Abuja, were a running mate, Mr Jerry Chukwueke, was also picked.

He said he was contesting for president in order to restructure the country so that it could become a developed nation.

I want to be your president so as to fix Nigeria;my government will be unequivocally committed to a unified and prosperous nation where no one and no place will be left behind.

Right now, Nigeria is confronted with many challenges such as insecurity ,unemployment ,poverty and illiteracy.

Ogbor said that the time had come for Nigerians to feel the impact of leadership.

He said that APGA would produce a leadership were all lives and property would be protected, adding that Nigerians needed not to despair because hope had come.

He said that he would transform Nigeria with his five point agenda of true federalism, social reconstruction and security.

He also listed economic reconstruction, youth and women empowerment as part of the agenda.

The National Chairman of the party, Dr Victor Oye, said Ogbor had satisfied the requirement of APGAs constitution .

Oye said that the party would strive to ensure his victory in 2019.

He urged Nigerians to vote for APGA for a paadigm shift in the nation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gen. Ogbor is a former Commandant of the Nigerian Army Education Corps.(NAN)

Source: NAN

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is certainly not a fan of Atiku Abubakar, his former vice-president, who is now the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party. His various testimonials about his former deputy are trending online.

The 72 year-old former customs officer, emerged on Sunday as the oppositions standard bearer for the 2019 election, to face incumbent Muhammadu Buhari.

Nigerias Twitterati have been dredging out Atikus testimonial as given by Obasanjo, who said in a BBC TV interview why he will never support Atiku for Nigerias highest office. He even stated the reason in his book, about his eight-year presidency. Watch the video:

God will never forgive me OBJVideo credit:

Yekini Nabena (@ynabena)

Here is Obasanjos testimonial in the book, My Watch:

From the day I nominated Atiku to be my vice, he set his mind not for any good, benefit or service of the country, but on furiously planning to upstage, supplant or remove me at all cost and to take my place.

That was what I brought him for, but he was impatient and over-ambitious. He was not ready to learn and to wait. His marabout, who predicted that despite being elected as governor, he would not be sworn in as a governor, which happened, also assured him that he would take over from me in a matter of months rather than years.

All his plans, appointments of people and his actions were towards the actualisation of his marabouts prediction. Once I realised his intention and programme, I watched him like a hawk without giving any indication of what I knew and letting down my guard. I could not succumb to the distraction, diversion and malevolence of an ambitious but unwise deputy.

The work in hand was more important than a confrontational relationship with my deputy, a man over whom I knew I had far more experience and outreach in all matters. To alert him of what I knew he was up to, would only lead to lying, denial, more mischievous plans and more duplicity on his part.

He was better managed that way. What was important was not allowing myself to be surprised or outmanoeuvred by him. I must always seize the initiative and know what was going on if not in his mind, but at least in his camp. That I did very effectively.

Sometime in the fourth quarter of 2004, an associate of Atiku came to my residence at the Aso Villa from Atikus official residence. He felt uncomfortable and I tried to make him feel at ease. Then, he settled to tell me the story of what had just transpired in Atikus residence. I listened with rapt attention.

He went on to say that Atiku told him that for him to become the President of Nigeria, the 2007 elections were only a formality.

The seven ingredients he needed for his enthronement were already in his hands. He controlled the National Assembly because both the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives were in his pocket. He controlled twenty-eight out of thirty-six governors. He had control of the media. His influence over the judiciary was overwhelming.

What he needed was foreign endorsement and for that he had employed two lobby groups in the US and one in the UK. And finally, the money for the elections was in his purse.

When the man finished, I thanked him without passing any comment. The man was surprised at my reaction and asked, You have nothing to say to these? I said that I had nothing to say and I immediately called my ADC, Chris Jemitola, to play a game of squash with me.

On our way to the squash court with my ADC, I said, People at times make plans and leave God out of their plans. My casual remark struck Chris and he said, Sir, that was a profound statement. I said that I made the statement because of what I had just heard of Atikus plan. I was not convinced he had put God in his plans.

Atiku was confident and God was laughing. Most of Atikus ingredients soon started to fall out of place one by one. The first was the party, PDP.

“God will never forgive me “
- OBJ
Video credit:@Karovoni pic.twitter.com/WPsS6kYWvC

— Yekini Nabena (@ynabena) October 7, 2018

He thought I was powerless and had no clue about the execution of his plan with his group; part of his attack on me was for national chairman of the party to give the first salvo, then other things would follow as his grip on the party would be firm and consolidated.

That salvo came in the form of a letter to me from the chairman of the party, Audu Ogbeh, who had fully defected with (Iyorchia) Ayu to Atiku.

The letter, which was not the product of any issue or matter discussed with or at any party meeting, came suddenly. When I received it, I could read the sinister intention behind it.

I spent that night writing my reply and I sent it in the morning. My reply was clear. I wondered why Atiku and his group did not realise that with my reply, the battle line was clear or maybe they thought that the seven ingredients would remain intact to the end.

My assistants had moles within the Atiku group. Anything that they planned would be reported. That was the case after Ogbehs letter. They decided that Ogbeh should appear remorseful and come with the National Working Committee to apologise to me. It was not from their hearts, but to lure me to a killing ground.

All pieces of information that were reported were verified because it would not come from only one informant.

Timely information is a very important principle of war and also of politics. In politics, just as in war, what matters is not just your plan, but knowledge of your opponents plan. Knowing their plan, I had the choice of playing along with them or being firm, I chose the latter.

I told Ogbeh that my relationship with him as national chairman and me as national leader of the party was based on mutual confidence and trust. But with his letter, my reply and what I knew of him then, I could no longer work with him in confidence and trust.

There were only two choices left for both of us in our best interest and that of the party he, leaves as chairman or I leave as leader of the party.

The following Sunday, I called at his house, which I had done on several occasions in the past when there was an important party matter to discuss. This time, I asked him to give me an undated letter of resignation as the national chairman.

I waited, he gave me but it was wrongly addressed to me rather than to the national secretary of the party as stipulated in the partys constitution.

Ogbeh reported to his group and it was decided by them to play on and to wait for my disgrace whenever I presented a letter of resignation not addressed to the national secretary.

The informants did their job and I, once again, paid another visit to Ogbeh at his residence. He entertained me to a meal and drink, and changed the addressee on his letter of resignation.

How can I be on the same side with Atiku? Mr Obasanjo asked. To do what?

If I support Atiku for anything, God will not forgive me. If I do not know, yes. But once I know, Atiku can never enjoy my support, he added.

I do not have personal grudges with anyone, Mr Obasanjo said. If you do not do well for Nigeria, you do not do well for all of us.

It is not a question of working with or not working with an individual, he said. If you are working for the good of Nigeria, I am working with you. If you are not working for the good of Nigeria it does not matter who you are I am not working with you.

Most of you do not understand the way I operate, Mr Obasanjo said. And I thought your own paper will understand better.

I know Atiku very well. And I have mentioned my position with Atiku. My position has not changed, he said.

If my children are getting married, he has sent representatives. If his children are getting married, I have sent representatives. That is social. That is not political.

Source: NAN

Africas leading businessman, Aliko Dangote has called for conscious efforts at deepening African regional market by African investors and governments to aid rapid growth and development of the continents economy.

Dangote spoke in London during One to One Conversation at the on-going 5th annual Financial Times African Summit.

The Nigerian entrepreneur said the key to Africas economic growth and strength is in the development of the regional market, saying Regional markets in Africa must work.

Dangote said Africans must patronise African markets which is why the free trade agreements by African nations is the direction to go to strengthen African markets.

The president of Dangote group cited neighbouring Benin Republic which continues to import cement from China while his Nigerian factory is only 35 miles away from the border.

The president of Dangote group cited neighbouring Benin Republic which continues to import cement from China while his Nigerian factory is only 35 miles away from the border.

We need to trade with ourselves, Dangote stated as he spoke glowingly about the prospect of African economy, the free trade agreement and the availability of huge raw materials to attract investors.

Asked about when the much touted listing of Dangote cement on the London Stock Exchange, he told his audience comprising of investors, business magnates, captains of Industry and African Heads of Government which included President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana and Ali Bongo of Gabon, that the listing might happen in 2019.

According to him, all hands are on deck to complete the process of listing, the development which he said is being looked towards for by the business community.

Prompted by the Editor of the Newspaper, Lionel Barber to speak about difficult markets like Tanzania and Ethiopia, Dangote dismissed the issue difficulty and re-affirmed our aim is to always provide jobs and worth. As an African investor I dont want any investor anywhere in Africa to have a bad experience.

Dangote repeated his central mantra for African growth urging the reduction of exports of raw materials to other continent but create greater wealth within African economies.

We need to continue to transform the structure of African economies. He alluded to his companys entry into the Ghana Sugar market, pointing that he is further expanding his sugar business to Ghana for the main reason of helping to revitalise its economy.

We are going to help Ghana grow its own sugar for the first time.

Source: NAN

By Joan Nwagwu

The Federal Government is set to announce the new minimum wage as the Tripartite Committee completes its assignment for onward submission to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President, made this known while speaking with newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

According to him, the committee used the two-day to reconvene and deliberate on a new minimum wage figure that was acceptable to all employers of labour in the country.

I want to assure workers that all has been concluded and will be passed for signing within the week.

I also want to appreciate the Organised Private Sector, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) for their resolve to pay the new minimum wage when it is signed into law, he said.

The NLC president, however, refused to disclose the figure arrived at by the Tripartite Committee on the new National Minimum Wage.

Wabba said the presidency would make it public after deliberation by the National Economic Council meeting.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC), on Sept. 30, suspended its warning strike on a new minimum wage embarked upon on Sept. 26.

The organised labour had embarked on the strike after a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government for failing to reconvene meeting to come out with its own figure on the new minimum wage.

The three unions had demanded N65,500 as new minimum wage for workers, while the private employers and some state governors were proposing N25,000.(NAN)

Source: NAN

Africas biggest cement producer, Dangote Cement may be listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2019.

The companys president, Aliko Dangote made this known in London on Monday.

Dangote spoke during One to One Conversation, with Lionel Barber, the editor of Financial Times at the on-going 5th annual Financial Times African Summit.

He told his audience comprising of investors, business magnates, captains of industry and African Heads of Government which included President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana and Ali Bongo of Gabon, that the listing might happen in 2019.

According to him, all hands are on deck to complete the process of listing, the development which he said is being looked towards for by the business community.

Asked who the bankers could be for the IPO, Dangote said the usual onesBank of America Merrill Lynch, Standard Chartered.

Dangote Cement is already the most capitalised stock on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, accounting for about 25 per cent of the value. Listed on the exchanges premium board the companys market capitalisation as at October was N3.41 trillion, out of the entire N13 trillion value of the Nigerian Exchange.

The company which began operation in 2007 has manufacturing operations in Obajana, Ibese and Gboko.

The Obajana plant in Kogi state, Nigeria, is the largest in Africa with 13.25Mta of capacity across four lines. The Ibese plant in Ogun State has four cement lines with a combined installed capacity of 12Mta and the Gboko plant in Benue state has 4Mta. The company dominates cement supply market in Nigeria, accounting for 66 per cent of market share.

Through the investments, Dangote Cement has eliminated Nigerias dependence on imported cement and has transformed the nation into a net exporter of cement serving neighbouring countries.

The company also invested almost $3 billion to build manufacturing plants and import and grinding terminals in Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, Ethiopia, Senegal, Sierra Leone , South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia .

According to the companys first half year result for this year, Group revenue hit N482.4 billion($1.34 billion), up 16.9 per cent.

Exchange rate: 360Naira=$1 USD

Source: NAN

Germany has boosted the number of repatriations of rejected asylum seekers to Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, Berlin said on Monday, following years of diplomatic pressure on the Maghreb states.

We have managed to improve cooperation with these countries, which has resulted in a rise of repatriations, said an interior ministry spokesman.

Between 2015 and last year, repatriations from the biggest EU economy to Algeria rose from 57 to 504, he said.

To Morocco, they increased from 61 to 634, and to Tunisia from 17 to 251 over the same period.

Immigration and refugee flows became a flashpoint issue in Germany after Chancellor Angela Merkel decided in 2015 to keep borders open to a mass influx of people fleeing war and misery, half of them from Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.

The move earned her praise from liberal commentators but also sparked a xenophobic backlash that a year ago saw the far-right and anti-Islam Alternative for Germany (AfD) enter parliament for the first time.

Public fears have been heightened by several extremist attacks especially a 2016 truck rampage through a Berlin Christmas market that killed 12 and was attributed to Tunisian rejected asylum seeker Anis Amri.

Germany has since pushed hard to reduce migrant flows, especially of those deemed to be fleeing poverty rather than conflict.

Bild daily quoted unnamed German security sources saying that intensive negotiations had improved cooperation with the Maghreb states, especially in exchanging biometric data to identify deportees and issue them new travel documents.

Merkels government has also repeatedly tried to add the three North African states to its list of safe countries of origin, which would vastly raise the hurdles for asylum requests by its citizens.

However, passage of the bill into law has been blocked in the upper house by states ruled by the left-leaning Greens party, which argues the three Maghreb nations cannot be considered safe as long as journalists, gays and other minority groups are targets of state persecution there.

Germany on Sunday has denied an Italian newspaper report that it planned to fly migrants back to Italy, after the allegation drew a threat from Italys Interior Minister to refuse landing permission to unauthorised planes carrying asylum seekers.

Source: NAN