By Blessing Odega,

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if the federal government fails to implement the 2017 FGN/ASUU agreement.

Prof. Lawan Abubakar, the Bauchi Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, at a news conference on Thursday in Jos, expressed surprise that the federal government has yet to implement the various agreements aimed at revitalising public universities, as agreed in 2017.

ASUU and the federal government signed an agreement on the revitalisation of the universities and the payment of arrears of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA). We also agreed that the EAA be captured in 2018 universities budgets.

We also agreed on the need for adequate budgetary allocation to education in line with the UNESCO minimum standard of 26 per cent, he said.

Abubakar regretted that only 7 per cent of the total 2018 budget was allocated to the education sector, and called for the immediate release of the N20 billion revitalisation funding.

He enjoined members of the public to put pressure on the federal government to live up to its national responsibility by honouring agreements and MoUs so as to avoid disruptions in academic activities. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Gami Tadanyigbe

Prof. Abdalla Adamu, Vice Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria, (NOUN), has called on service providers, especially contractors to engage in a transparent public procurement for the development of the country.

Adamu made the call during a-2-day workshop on Public Procurement at the NOUNs headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

The theme of the workshop titled Overview Of Public procurement ACT 2007 and Process was aimed at sensitising the University on the essence of due process.

According to him, Public procurement is the acquisition of public goods, works and services by public Entities using public fund usually through a third party through a systematic process.

Prior to the enactment of Nigerias Public procurement Act 2007, Nigeria was guided in the purchase of goods and services by financial regulations.

The purpose of this workshop is to make the University aware of public procurement processes and the transparency of this Government.

I inherited this University from excellent predecessors and there is need to maintain the standard by engendering public confidence in government.

Transparent process is geared towards achieving best value for money expended and sanctioning violators of the set rules, he said.

Adamu described the refusal by the Council for Legal Education to admit graduates of the university into law school as unfair.

He said that the council did not seem to recognise the importance of NOUN, despite being accredited by National Universities Commission (NUC).

The vice chancellor added that Law degree programmes in the University had been properly accredited by the NUC and therefore, did not have any issues with quality of law students graduated from the school.

Source: NAN

Adebayo Shittu, the Minister of Communications has been disqualified from the Oyo State governorship race by the screening panel of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress.

He was disqualified for not submitting his National Youth Service Corps certificate, a matter that has dogged him in recent weeks following a disclosure that he skipped the NYSC in 1979 after graduation.

Adebayo went on to serve in the Oyo State House of Assembly as a legislator and has argued that his service at the House was equivalent of serving the nation as prescribed by the NYSC law which became effective in 1973.

Former minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun, recently resigned after being found guilty for forging the NYSC exemption certificate.

Shittus case is on the same scale: he dodged the NYSC and he has been brazenly defending justifying his action.

Skipping the NYSC carries a prison penalty.

Shittus disqualification leaves the coast clear to 7 other aspirants in the state.

They are:

1. Niyi Akintola, SAN Cleared

2.H.E. Christopher Alao Akala Cleared

3.Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe Cleared

4.Dr. Olusola Ayandele, PhD Cleared

5.Dr. Owolabi Babalola Cleared

6.Dr. Azeez Popoola Adeduntun Cleared

7.Adebayo Adekola Adelabu Cleared

Source: NAN

By Vivian Ihechu

Nestl Nigeria on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) Trust Fund to institute a Nestl Prize for Nutrition Reporting.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the aim of the partnership endorsed by the Nigeria Union of Journalists. (NUJ) is to empower media professionals in the area of nutrition and health reporting.

It will also recognise, reward and celebrate excellence among nutrition and health writers.

The DAME is the only award scheme in Nigeria that covers the media disciplines of Journalism, Broadcasting and Advertising.

Founded upon the ideals that the media is the watchdog of the society, as well as the fourth estate of the realm, DAME exists to celebrate and reward superior performance in the fulfilment of such pivotal roles.

The sponsorship of a Nestl Prize for Nutrition Reporting in DAME is another step in Nestl Nigerias continuous collaboration with stakeholders and partners to provide adequate research-based information to help people make healthier food choices.

Nestl recognises the key role the media has to play in achieving this objective.

Signing the MoU at its headquarter in Lagos, the company explained that it had instituted the Prize in collaboration with DAME to empower media professionals in nutrition and health reporting.

The companys Managing Director, Mr Mauricio Alarcon said that it was important to create sustained awareness to improve health indices in the face of the current challenges associated with the triple burden of nutrition undernutrition, over-nutrition and micro-nutrient deficiency in Nigeria.

Alarcon said that that the company was committed to promoting healthy nutrition habits.

Nestle believes that promoting healthy nutrition habits, as well as improving access to nutritious food will have a positive impact on Nigerias health profile.

We strongly believe that when provided with adequate information and training, the media plays a key role in raising awareness of key nutrition, health and wellness issues among stakeholders and the public.

Armed with fact-based information, individuals and families are empowered to make healthier nutrition choices.

We are confident that this partnership will provide a good platform to equip journalists with training and capacity building opportunities to help them perform at optimal capacity, Alarcon said.

The Trustee of DAME, Mr Lanre Idowu, said: We are very happy to haveNestle Prize for Nutrition Reporting on the list of categories for the 27th edition of the prestigious media wards.

This will encourage and give the much needed attention and recognition to exceptional nutrition writers and stimulate interest in nutrition writing, Idowu said.

The Chairman, NUJ Lagos State Council, Dr Qasim Akinreti, commended Nestl Nigeria for sponsoring the nutrition category to fill the gap in that area.

We appreciate Nestl Nigeria for this collaboration ina Nestle Prize for Nutrition Reporting.

This award will not only motivate our members but willalso help us to work toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals which includes health, he said.

Also, Mrs Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs (CCPA) Manager of Nestle, said that the company was committed to enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future by working with partners to empower individuals to make healthier food choices.

According to her, the Nestle Prize for Nutrition would help to achieve the commitment by training and building the capacity of media practitioners in the field.

Contributing, Mrs Chioma Emma-Nwachukwu, Manager, Nestle Nutrition Institute Africa, said the prize was being put in place not only to promote excellence in nutrition reporting but also improve nutrition knowledge, attitude and practices among Nigerians.

The MoU signing was witnessed by the members of executive of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Trustee of DAME.

Nestle Nigeria Plc begam simple trading operations in Nigeria in 1961 and has today grown into a leading food manufacturing and marketing company.

It is the biggest food company in West Africa, employing about 2,200 people and has three world-class factories.

It manufactures and markets a range of high quality brands including: NESTLE PURE LIFE, GOLDEN MORN, MAGGI, CERELAC and NESCAFE.

Source: NAN

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won the rerun election conducted in some units in four local governments of Osun State.

With the landslide win in the supplementary election, the APC candidate, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola is heading for victory as the governor-elect of the state.

Senator Ademola Adeleke is not too lucky in the supplementary polls held on Thursday to finally determine who emerges as the governor of Osun.

The results of the elections as announced by the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are as follows

Unit 15 Ward 5 Oshogbo local government at supplementary governorship election is as follows

APC 299
PDP 165

Orolu local government , Two wards in unit 4

APC 280
PDP 122

Ife South, Ward 7, polling 12, RA 8 polling unit 10
APC 455

PDP 36

Ife North, Orolu 2, RA 10, polling unit 002
APC 126
PDP 02

The final collation is being awaited as the results presented from the four local government areas would be merged with that of September 22, election which turned out to be inconclusive.

Source: NAN

Adultery is no longer a crime, India’s Supreme Court ruled Thursday, declaring a colonial-era law that punished the offence with jail time unconstitutional and discriminatory against women.

The more than century-old law prescribed that any man who slept with a married woman without her husband’s permission had committed adultery, a crime carrying a five-year prison term in the conservative country.

A petitioner had challenged the court to strike down the law, describing it as arbitrary and discriminatory against women.

“Thinking of adultery from a point of view of criminality is a retrograde step,” unanimously declared the five-judge bench of the Supreme Court.

Women could not file a complaint under the archaic law nor be held liable for adultery themselves, making it solely the realm of men.

The court said it deprived women of dignity and individual choice and “gives license to the husband to use women as a chattel”.

“It disregards the sexual autonomy which every woman possesses and denies agency to a woman in a matrimonial tie,” said Supreme Court Justice D. Y. Chandrachud.

“She is subjugated to the will of her spouse.”

It was the second time this month the court overturned Victorian-era laws governing the sexual choices of India’s 1.25 billion citizens.

Earlier this month, the court struck a ban on gay sex introduced by British rulers in 1861.

The bench argued that Section 377 had become “a weapon for harassment” of homosexuals and “history owes an apology to the members of this community and their families”.

On adultery, government lawyers argued it should remain a crime as it threatens the institution of marriage, and caused harm to children and families.

But in its ruling, the court said extramarital affairs — while still a valid ground for divorce — were a private matter between adults.

In 1954, the court upheld adultery as a crime arguing “it is commonly accepted that it is the man who is the seducer, and not the woman”.

But in their ruling on Thursday, the judges said this narrative no longer applied, noting also that Britain did away with its own laws penalising adultery long ago.

“Man being the seducer and women being the victim no longer exits. Equality is the governing principle of a system. Husband is not the master of the wife,” the verdict added.

Gboyega Oyetola, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress on Thursday swept the two polling units in Ile-Ife, in Osun state, where rerun elections were ordered by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to determine the winner.

Ife South, Oyetola got 283 votes, while the PDP candidate got 15 votes. In Ife North(Unit 2), APC got 126 votes, while the PDP candidate, Ademola Adeleke got just two votes.

In both polling units, polling agents of the PDP candidate were conspicuously absent.

The result of the voting at Ward 5 Unit 7 at Alekuwodo in Osogbo also favoured the APC candidate. He got 299 votes, while the PDP candidate got 165 votes.

The PDP candidate came into the rerun election with an advantage of 353 votes.

But from the unconfirmed tally of votes from the seven polling units, he seemed to have lost his pole position to the APC candidate, by a very wide margin.

Senator Ademola Adeleke, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party won one of the seven polling units in Orolu LG, one of the councils where the rerun election held on Thursday.

He polled 64 votes in Orolu Ward 9, Unit 3 polling unit, while his APC rival, Gboyega Oyetola got 41 votes.

However, the APC candidate beat him by wide margin in Orolu ward 8, unit 4. He polled 198 votes, while Adeleke got a paltry 15 votes.

It was bad news as well for Adeleke in Ife South, where the party’s agent did not report for duty. He got 15 votes, while the APC candidate ran away with 283 votes.

The PDP candidate came into the rerun with an advantage of 353 votes. But he appears to be fading out from his pole position.

It's a blast from the past -- and a peek at the future!

Thirty-four years after Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton made the 1984 movie "The Terminator," the action star-politician, 71, posted incredible then-and-now photos on Instagram to celebrate Linda's 62nd birthday on Sept. 26.

"Happy birthday to my dear friend Linda Hamilton. One of my favorite co-stars, a true bada--, and a wonderful human being. I'm pumped to be back together again," he captioned the mashup, which features a photo of them when they made "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" in 1991 next to a photo of them on the set of the untitled "Terminator 6" film, which is currently shooting in Europe.

View this post on Instagram

Happy birthday to my dear friend Linda Hamilton. One of my favorite co-stars, a true badass, and a wonderful human being. I’m pumped to be back together again.

A post shared by Arnold Schwarzenegger (@schwarzenegger) on Sep 26, 2018 at 2:16pm PDT

The "T6" reboot, which is being directed by "Deadpool" director Tim Miller, will hit theaters on Nov. 15, 2019.

Though it might seem strange that Linda's back as Sarah Connor considering that her character was killed off in 2003's "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines," never fear.
Producer James Cameron (who was once married to Linda, with whom he shares 25-year-old daughter Josephine) told The Hollywood Reporter that the new movie will be a direct sequel to "Terminator 2: Judgement Day."

"This is a continuation of the story from 'Terminator 1' and 'Terminator 2,'" he said. "And we're pretending the other films were a bad dream. Or an alternate timeline, which is permissible in our multi-verse."

"T6" started filming in July in Spain and Budapest. It will also star Gabriel Luna as a new Terminator. Mackenzie Davis plays a soldier-assassin from the future and Natalia Reyes plays a young woman from a working-class neighborhood in Mexico City. Diego Boneta also has a key role.

By Sumaila Ogbaje

In spite of the total shutdown proposed by the organised labour unions in the ongoing nationwide strike, normal activities continued on Thursday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

NAN reports that normal flight operations are smoothly ongoing at both the arrival and departure sections of the airports.

NAN also observed that all major airlines were booking and boarding passengers with airport staff fully on ground for normal services.

Mr Abdulahi Saroke, Station Manager for Max Air, told NAN the strike had not affected flight operations in all airports, adding that he had received flights from Lagos and Kano and boarded passengers to those airports.

However, Saroke said he had heard the news that airports could be shut anytime to join the strike.

When contacted, Mr Francis Akinjole, General Secretary, Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN), said that all aviation unions in the country were currently attending their national delegates conference at Asaba, Delta.

Akinjole explained that the delegates conference, at which a new leadership of the National Union of Air Transpirt Employees (NUATE), would be elected, had been planned before the decision by the labour unions to embark on a nationwide strike.

He said the reason why the strike had yet to be enforced at the airports was because all aviation union leaders were out of their stations.

According to him, aviation unions are strongly with the NLC on the strike even though we are not on ground to enforce it today.

We are currently in Asaba for NUATEs national delegates conference for today and tomorrow and we shall enforce the compliance in aviation sector as soon as we finish from here, he said.

A staff of Abuja Airport, who pleaded anonymity, said their various unions had not mobilised them to join the strike.
He said a lot of airport workers were willing to support the strike to press home the demands for a new minimum wage in the country.

According to him, what the labour is fighting for is for the benefit of all workers which is why every worker must be part of this agitation. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Senator Ademola Adeleke, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have already resigned himself to defeat by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the rerun election in the state, as he termed the election as a coup.

His comments ran against the grain of incidents in the state and the attempted disruption of voting by thugs of his party.

In Osogbo, some of the PDP thugs were caught by the police as they attempted to disrupt voting. Police had to fire gunshots in the air to restore some normalcy.

In Olode, Ife, the PDP polling agent failed to turn up for duty. But agents of at least five other political parties reported for the monitoring of the election.

But in a telephone conversation with Punch, Adeleke described the election as a coup.

What is happening in Osun State now is not an election. What we have is a coup.

That is what we are witnessing now. Our supporters are being harassed and are not allowed to vote at all.

Let the whole world know that this is not the democracy, , he told a correspondent of PUNCH.

Is this sour grapes already, even as residents of the state and Nigerians await INEC to deliver the results from the seven polling units where the rerun took place?

The PDP candidate, Adeleke went into the rerun with an advantage of 353 votes, over the APC candidate. Adeleke had 254,698 votes, while Gboyega Oyetola of the APC had 254, 345 votes.

Source: NAN

Armed policemen quickly restored calm on Thursday at one of the polling units, Ward 5 unit 17, Alekuwodo, Osogbo where the re-run governorship election is taking place.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at about 12 noon while voting was still going on some street urchins and political thugs took over the area causing problems for the people in the affected area.

The timely intervention of the security personnel drafted to the area who shot into the air scared away the hoodlums causing problem in the area.

As at the time of filing this report, the Alekuwodo area of Osogbo and all the adjoining streets in the area were tense as residents scampered for safety while shops were hurriedly closed.

Also at the popular Ola-Iya, a few kilometres away from the polling unit, there was heavy security presence with police vehicle stationed at strategic places.

Also, at Biket area, Osogbo where the PDP secretariat is located hundreds of people mostly youth confronted the security operatives.

The situation however led to open confrontation between the two groups disrupting the free flow of human and traffic for several minutes before it was brought under control.

Source: NAN

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested 16 members of the Peoples Democratic Party that it claimed were in possession of customised INEC tags, face cap and jackets with the inscription of INEC Osun 2018 Election Observer during the Osun rerun.

The police also said the suspects, who included Moshood Adejare, the PDP House of Representatives aspirant in Orolu Federal Constituency, were trying to gain access to restricted areas during the rerun election in the state.

Police team on stop and search duties at Orolu; intercepted vehicles with sixteen persons on board in possession of customized INEC tags, face cap and jackets with the inscription of INEC Osun 2018 Election Observer and PDP membership cards, The suspects are using the items to have easy access to restricted areas meant for personnel with due accreditation, said Superintendent Folasade Odoro, the Police Public Relations Officer in the DIG Operations Office.

The Nigeria Police Force wishes to debunk report that some accredited INEC Observers were arrested or denied access to polling units. Therefore, assuring the good people of Osun State and other critical stakeholders of its renewed commitment and resolve to ensure adequate security for a free and fair re-run election while investigation continues, Odoro said.

Apart from Adejare, the other suspects were identified as Olaoye Asimi, Raimi Taofeeq, Gbenga Olapade, Charles Amibiogoiu, Ayomide Ayansola, Kayode Dada and Daramola Segun.
Others were Tunji Akinroyinmi, Kunle ADEDEJI, Habeeb Bahiru, Yisa Sodiq, Adeolu Bamijoko, Oladipo Samson and Adeolu Bamidele. All the suspects were all men.

Source: NAN

The last minute pull out of core investors forced Nigeria to suspend the establishment of a national carrier, Nigeria Air, information and culture minister Lai Mohammed has disclosed.

He said in Lagos that the decision became necessary because the Federal Government resolved not to finance the project alone.

He noted, however, that the project was still on course but that the Federal Government was trying to now get a better funding structure for the project and provide the enabling environment.

A government will take a holistic view of any intended project and if the understanding of government at the beginning that the project will either be self-financing or would be financed by her investors and it turns out that such a project can no longer be financed by investors, either because they are not forthcoming or that such venture can no longer be viable, the government, this administration would do a rethink.

Now, the business of government in business is to provide enabling environment and it is not to become the sole source of finance, the sole source of funding and in addition, it is much more than funding in trying to get our national carrier.

We also need to look at the thinker aspect, overall, the Federal Government believes that this thing should be stepped down now till we get a better funding structure but a situation where this kind of thing would be funded by government, it cant do it.

Muhammed also dismissed insinuations that the Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, did not carry the Federal Executive Council, FEC, along in the entire process, adding that if things did not work out as planned, the minister should not be blamed.

It doesnt mean that, you see you could start a project with a lot of assurances from many quarters and then at the critical point in time those assurances might not materialize so, it does not mean that he didnt carry us along, from the beginning, from the start the Federal Executive Council (FEC) was privy to everything, so if anything happened in between, I cannot blame the honourable Minister for aviation for that.

The Minister , however, gave the assurance that other projects on the Aviation Roadmap geared towards repositioning the aviation sector, including airport concession, MRO, aircraft leasing company, among others, would be looked into to see if they could still be executed.

I think what we should do is to look at each of these other projects in their own merits and individually and look at whether they can still be executed, but I dont think the government should be condemned or criticized if it decides to step down a particular project.

I think it is in the overall interest of the country that we dont embark on a project which has not been well thought out or a project that would probably have to been abandoned midway.

I think that four years in the life of any country is a short time, this is a work in progress, it does not mean that we have completely abandoned or ended it, he added.

In the meantime, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Wednesday gave a notification to revoke the operating licences of 182 other financial institutions in the country.

According to the list released by the regulator on Wednesday, 154 of the affected institutions are microfinance banks; six are primary mortgage banks; while the remaining 22 are finance companies.

The CBN said 62 of the microfinance banks had already closed shop; 74 became insolvent; 12 were terminally distressed; while six voluntarily liquidated.

The CBN listed the primary mortgage banks for revocation as Accord Savings and Loans Limited in Lagos that failed to recapitalise; and Ahocol Savings and Loans Limited in Anambra (state government-owned) that closed shop.

Other mortgage banks for revocation are Trans Atlantic Savings and Loans Limited in Bayelsa (state government-owned) that became insolvent; Royal Savings and Loans Limited in Delta State that also closed shop; Amex Savings and Loans Limited in Lagos that failed to recapitalise; and Supreme Savings and Loans Limited also in Lagos that closed shop.

The CBN disclosed that eight finance companies voluntary liquidated; 13 failed to recapitalise; while one became insolvent.

According to the apex bank, the affected institutions are from different states of the federation.

Source:

Source: NAN

In a renewed battle against corruption, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has issued a stern warning that it would sanction any banks handling proceeds of graft.

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Governor Patrick Njoroge said on Thursday that the banks will face stiff sanctions.

He was addressing bankers at the 7th Annual Research Conference organised by the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) in Nairobi.

Dr Njoroge said CBK is ready to crack the whip again on any rogue bank which helps ship out money from public institutions illegally obtained from graft.

Two weeks ago we took action against some of your institutions because of non-compliance with integrity laws. Make no mistake, warned Dr Njoroge.

We will not hesitate to do it again under similar circumstances. Banks must steer away from being used as conduits for ill-gotten funds, he added.

He said bank chiefs owe a duty of care to the public not to abet or aid graft in public institutions.

The Kenyan people demand that, from all of us, and will take us very unkindly if we look the other way, Dr Njoroge said.

Nearly a fortnight ago, the CBK fined five banks $3.1 million for their role in aiding the movement of the stolen funds.

The penalised banks were KCB Group, the regions largest bank by assets which was slapped with a $1.49 million fine, Equity Bank $895,000, Standard Chartered Bank-Kenya $775,000, Diamond Trust Bank $560,000 and Co-operative Bank of Kenya $200,000.

The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said it was also preparing charges against bank executives for their alleged role in helping ship out more than $30 million of money stolen from Kenyas National Youth Service (NYS) two years ago.

The law requires all financial institutions to file daily reports with the Financial Reporting Centre on transactions above $10,000 and those deemed suspect. CBK accused the five banks of failing to comply with the requirements of Kenyas Anti-Money Laundering/Combating Financing of Terrorism laws and regulations.

An individual found guilty of contravening the Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act faces a prison term not exceeding 14 years or a fine of Ksh5 million ($50,000).

Source: East African

http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/Kenya-banks-face-stiff-sanctions-if-found-aiding-graft/2560-4780388-iwwkgkz/index.html

Source: NAN

Apart from the Osun rerun election, the threat by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike that he will do something unpleasant to the #officialPDPNigeria, is the second most trending news in Twitter Nigeria.

The usually blunt Wike on Wednesday said his state will teach the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a lesson if it succumbs to pressures from some presidential aspirants to move the partys National Convention away from the state.

He spoke during a consultative visit the Government House in Port Harcourt by Ibrahim dankwambo, the Gombe State Governor who is also a PDP Presidential Aspirant.

According to Wike, during the PDPs National Meeting, no Presidential Aspirant opposed Port Harcourt as a venue.

He, therefore, threatened that if they went against the decision that had been agreed upon by leaders of the party, the people of Rivers will teach the party a lesson.

He also said that the state will not support any desperate PDP Presidential Aspirant who is sabotaging the economy of the state, adding that such persons should forget about its support during and after the National Convention.

Let me warn the party, if they dare, Rivers State will teach the party a lesson. Those days have passed when they took Rivers State for granted. Nobody can use and dump Rivers State. No Presidential Aspirant can use and dump Rivers State. We never lobbied for it, we never asked for it, but it will boost the economy of the state. People will make money.

Let me warn the party, if they dare, Rivers State will teach the party a lesson. Those days have passed when they took Rivers State for granted. Nobody can use and dump Rivers State. No Presidential Aspirant can use and dump Rivers State. We never lobbied for it, we never asked for it, but it will boost the economy of the state. People will make money.

Those who are against Rivers people from making money to improve their businesses, will not get our support.

The governor, however, stressed that whether or not the National Convention takes place in Rivers, the winner preferred by the delegates will emerge.

He added that at the appropriate time, he will reveal the names of Presidential Aspirants allegedly working with the APC to scuttle the Presidential Primary.

I dont know why anyone who wants to be President, will be afraid of a venue. Then you are not prepared for the election.

Nobody should dare Rivers State any longer. Enough is enough. PDP should know that we are not a punching bag. We are not people you can use and push. We are not harlots. Whenever you want, you come. When you finish, you push us aside.

We will retaliate at the appropriate time. When you go, tell your colleagues, the Presidential Aspirants. We were not interested, but having given it to us, you cannot insult us, Wike said.

Meanwhile, he described Governor Dankwambo as eminently qualified to contest the position of President, stating that he will be considered when Rivers delegates meet to decide on who to support.

*Reported by Channels TV

Source: NAN

Saraki’s former aide backs Buhari
Alhaji Moshood Mustapha, a former Special Adviser on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, Protocol and Special Duties to President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, says his decision to stay in the All Progressives Congress (APC) is informed by his belief in the ability of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mustapha stated this on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin.

He explained that as the coordinator for Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organisation in Kwara in 2015, he was not ready to “dump the ship in the middle of the sea and look for a way to sail out”.

“There are ways we can manage our mistakes. It is not about abandoning. “If you say that your wife offends you, she will always offend you and you will also offend her. But you have to manage your mistakes, otherwise you will keep marrying everyday.

“A lot of things come around, that is why you should always embrace perseverance. That is what politics should be all about. Mustapha, who also served as a commissioner under Saraki, said his decision to stay with President Buhari was based on personal conviction, feeling and principle. “I must feel comfortable and I must be able to take decision on my own. “So either any leader or no leader, I choose to work with him when I was with him. I was not coerced to work with him when I was with him. “It was based on my own personal conviction, it was about my personal feeling and when I feel otherwise, I decided to take the next step. “I am on my own. I take decision and I face the consequences of my actions. It is based on my personal volition that I decided to venture into politics in the first instance,” he said.

The former member of the Federal House of Representatives stated that he decided to move with the progressives because of some of the things that were happening at the state level.

“And I decided on my own that aside this Buhari, I have not seen any other candidates like him.

“If anybody wants to come out, let me see what he has for the goodness of our people”, said the former to Saraki aide.

Mustapha, who is aspiring for governorship seat in state on the platform of the APC explained that he could not, because of his former principal, turn to a nomadic politician, who jumps from one party to another.

“As far as I am concerned, I have every right as a citizen of Nigeria to pitch my tent with someone that can help me to actualise my dream.

“And my dream is service to the people and where I realise that I am not able to achieve my dream, it is expected of me to take myself out of that place; that is why there are so many options,” he said.

Source: NAN

The Deputy Chief of Mission, United States Embassy in Nigeria, Mr David Young on Wednesday commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the decision to conduct rerun election in Osun, saying it would enhance democracy.

Young made the remarks at an interactive session with newsmen after he inaugurated Magvoile Vocational Centre in Kaduna.

The deputy chief stated that the rerun would ensure that voters at the remaining seven polling units who were not able to vote on Saturday cast their votes.

Certainly the decision of INEC to go ahead and have a rerun in seven polling unit is one that we respect given the fact that there was only 355 vote margin between the two candidates.

Certainly this is a decision that make sense; we want to say that its important for democracy that every person vote is secret and counted as we go forward with the vote tomorrow, he stressed.

Young who commended the people of Osun over last Saturdays peaceful election, urged them to ensure same in the upcoming re-run.

He also urged contestants to accept the outcome of the election without rancour, in accordance with democratic norms.

We want to urge the victor to be magnanimous in victory and whoever loses to be gracious in defeat, this is part of democracy, he said.

Source: NAN

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved 64.2 million dollars for power supply project to communities within Escravos area of Delta State.

Dr Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after FEC meeting presided over by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in the Presidential Villa.

Escravos, which hosts two major transnational oil companies Shell and Chevron is located in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State; communities therein include Ugborodu, Ogidigben, Jala, Madagho and Ajidubu.

Kachikwu said that previously, the Escravos Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) was stopped because communities raised concerns over moving 50 per cent of gas required when the immediate community did not have power supply.

The minister said that the project was consequently, stalled for a very long time.

Today, we approached the council to approve 64,235,644 million dollars to fund two lots.

One is for the supply of power itself which is building the plant; all the engineering services required to do that and also distributing the power within the series of communities affected.

The council was gracious enough to approve that to two specific companies;FEC approved it in two different lots; one for 51 million dollars and the other one for 13 million dollars.

We believe that with this power will be provided to the immediate communities for a period of four-five years and it will become a permanent structure.

Because in the absence of that, we are going to use generators which will cost over N18 million every month to manage just to provide light in those areas, so as to enable the more important contract of the ELPS to take place, he said.

Earlier, Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, said that FEC had given three approvals to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to him, the first is a N500 million contract awarded to Julius Berger for the provision of facilities and maintenance services for the new 10-storey building.

They also got approval for the procurement of 700 computers; 100 laptops and 25 laser printers at about N449 million.

The third one to EFCC is the purchase of 15 utility vehicles; they are expanding and they need a lot more vehicular support for their operations.

The vehicles are being bought from local assemblies in line with the policy of the administration, he said.

Shehu said that the council also approved the construction of five security water front patrol boats for the Nigerian Ports Authority in Marina, Lagos, for coastline security.

Source: NAN

Ahead of the Osun rerun governorship election, a confident Senator Iyiola Omisore said his Social Democratic Party and the ruling All Progressives Congress will form a coalition to govern the state after the election.

Omisore announced this in Ile-Ife today, in an interview with journalists.

It was the first time he was giving a hint into the electoral arrangement with the APC.

We have accepted to support the APC for victory in the rerun election tomorrow and thereafter form a coalition government, he said.

The announcement formally shut the doors of collaboration with the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Ademola Adeleke.

Omisore dumped the PDP after high level talks with the leaders of the APC in Ile-Ife. The APC delegation, which comprised the party chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and four governors, Ajimobi, Ganduje, Amosun and Badaru, including governor-elect Kayode Fayemi and minister of information and culture Lai Mohammed.

The Social Democratic Party governorship candidate in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has said that what is paramount to him is the practice of true democracy, good governance and accountability in Osun State.

This is coming after over 72 hours of being pressurised by the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress ahead of the rerun election in the state.

He said he would never renege on his promise of good governance, accountability and human dignity in the state.

In a statement earlier released before meeting APC leaders on Wednesday, Omisore said, Osun state has always been a stellar example of democracy where the people have consistently and freely expressed their franchise to determine who governs them.

This should remain so. Osun people have shown that it is not business as usual. It is a positive deviation from what was hitherto the norm. I am telling my people that they should go with any political party that believes in what we in the SDP stand for; good governance, social justice, and accountability.

I have already detailed how we planned to restore Osun to the path of good governance through the five thematic pillars in my manifesto I shared during the electioneering. I will not negotiate for personal gains and abandon my people.

My alliance is with the people of Osun state irrespective of the political party they belong. I want my people to be treated with the dignity they deserve. I desire that they have a government that will be accountable to them. I want them to experience the good governance the founding fathers of this state envisaged.

I have told the parties that have solicited for my support to approach the electorate and ask for their mandate as I have assured them that I will not coerce them for political or social power. It is because I have kept my promise that has made me enjoy their unalloyed support all these years.

The fulcrum of my campaign was and is still the restoration of good governance and accountability to our dear state. I have consistently preached against voters coercion, I have voiced my stand against votes buying, voters intimidation, and politicisation.

Senator Omisore assured his followers and admirers that he will not abandon his campaign promises even as he engaged all stakeholders on the way forward to ensure the progress of Osun state.

Source: NAN