Cynthia Nixon, the US actress who shot to international fame as workaholic lawyer Miranda on Sex and the City, is running for New York governor, unveiling Monday a progressive platform championing greater equality and eschewing big business.

The 51-year-old declared her candidacy with a two-minute campaign video posted on Twitter that showed her at home with her wife and children, riding the subway, taking her young child to school and speaking at liberal political causes.

The move confirmed growing speculation that Nixon intended to challenge incumbent Democratic state governor Andrew Cuomo, which went into overdrive last week when her wife, Christine Marinoni, stepped down from her job at the citys department of education.

I love New York, and today I'm announcing my candidacy for governor. Join us:

Cynthia Nixon (@CynthiaNixon)

The actress and liberal activist, who has campaigned for gay marriage, public schools and access to womens healthcare, threw her hat into the ring saying she was sick of politicians who care more about headlines and power than they do about us.

Our leaders are letting us down. We are now the most unequal state in the entire country with both incredible wealth and extreme poverty. Half the kids in our upstate cities live below the poverty line. How did we let this happen? she said on the video.

I love New York. Ive never wanted to live anywhere else but something has to change. We want our government to work again on health care, ending mass incarceration, fixing our broken subway.

Together we can win this fight, finished the New York born and raised Nixon, who said she grew up with her mother in what she called a one-bedroom, fifth-floor walk-up.

New York, the fourth most populous state in the United States, goes to the polls to elect a governor on November 6. But Nixon remains a left-field candidate with Cuomo very much the favored contender ahead of the Democratic Party primary on September 13.

Despite the stardom brought by her role alongside Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall on the wildly successful television comedy Sex and the City, which aired on HBO from 1998-2004 and spawned two spin-off movies, the actress lags far behind in the polls.

A recent Siena College Research Institute poll found that Cuomo is overwhelmingly favored by Democrats over Nixon by 66 to 19 percent.

It remains unclear how much Cuomo may be damaged by the recent conviction of an aide for bribery. According to The New York Times, his name was mentioned 163 times during the eight-week federal trial.

Nixon worked for years as an actress before hitting the big-time with Sex and the City and won a Tony Award Americas most prestigious stage acting awards for her role last year in play The Little Foxes.

In addition to the video, Nixon has set up a campaign fundraising page that echoes some of the language used by 2016 Democratic Party presidential contender Bernie Sanders who electrified the left before ultimately losing to Hillary Clinton.

The page stipulates that Nixon wont be accepting any corporate contributions and that instead our campaign will be powered by the people.

The mother of three is far from the first US actor to venture into politics. Republican president Ronald Reagan got his political start after the world of entertainment as a two-term governor of California from 1967 to 1975.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Austrian-born body builder is another actor turned two-term California governor, who was in office from 2003-2011.

Former television comic Al Franken for whom Nixon once campaigned also served as Democratic senator of Minnesota from 2009 to 2018, until he was forced to step down over sexual misconduct allegations.

Source: NAN

Unseeded Naomi Osaka has won her first WTA title and simultaneously, she logged the record as the first Japanese player to win the Indian Wells final, routing Russian Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday.

World number 44 Osaka rolled over Kasatkina, breaking her serve four times and winning the battle of the 20-year-old rising stars in just 70 minutes.

I just knew that she was going to fight for every point, too, said Osaka. So I couldnt afford to lose points based on nerves, and I had to keep making the right decisions.

Osaka captured the title on her first match point by blasting a backhand into the open side of the court.

The Japanese dynamo improved to 13-4 on the season two days after her biggest previous win, a dominating semi-final triumph over world number one Simona Halep.

She was only the fourth unseeded player to reach the Indian Wells final, with the most recent before her being Kim Clijsters in 2005.

The loss ends a brilliant run in the California desert by Kasatkina, who was playing in her second final in a row after a runner-up finish in Dubai.

She was much better today than me, so she really deserved to win, Kasatkina said. Of course, we were both nervous at the beginning, because the biggest finals so far.

But during the match, she was able to manage her nerves and stuff, and I was still a little bit tight during the match. So it is what it is.

Kasatkina was two points from defeat against Venus Williams in the semi-finals but rallied for the upset triumph.

Kasatkina, who wasnt even born when Williams first competed at Indian Wells, said she really felt the nerves getting to her on the big stage in the final.

She called her coach to come down from the stands for advice at one point but couldnt remember after the match what he told her.

I mean, I already forgot what he told me. I was so nervous, that I really forgot, she said.

Osaka blasted five aces, made three double faults and won 79 percent of her first-serve points.

I wasnt really trying to hit hard today, said Osaka, who was born in Osaka, Japan, but is a dual citizen after living in America since the age of three.

I felt like it would be better for her to take my pace.

So I wanted her to do whatever she wanted to do and I was going to sit back and see what she does.

Like Osaka, Kasatkina was playing in her first Indian Wells final. This was the first time both Indian Wells finalists were under age 21 since Serena Williams beat Clijsters in 2001.

The opening set was even until Osaka blasted two aces to take a 4-3 lead. She then broke Kasatkina to make it 5-3 and finished it off with another strong service game.

Osaka pounced on Kasatkina from the beginning of the second set, starting with an opening break of serve.

She also broke Kasatkina to go up 4-1 with another precision forehand winner down the line and never looked back.

Kasatkina is now 1-3 in WTA singles finals, winning in Charleston last year and finishing runner-up last year in Moscow and this year at Dubai.

*AFP

Source: NAN

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would soon commence an online registration to capture the old, new and returning members as part of its re-positioning.

The party was being repositioned to provide every member with equal rights, opportunities and privileges.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, said that with the proposed membership drive through the online registration, it is certain that the party was being returned to the people, whose financial contributions would make them the true owners of the PDP.

Ologbondiyan added that the PDP was also receiving new members from other political parties.

Ologbondiyan added that the party had since perfected a level playing ground as no individual or group can claim ownership or control of the party under the present leadership of PDP.

It is also obvious to all, that our great party, under the leadership of
Prince Uche Secondus, has since been thrown open to all Nigerians for equal and unhindered participation.

This is a development that has led to the renewed interest of Nigerians on our platform as the only true vehicle to return the nation to good governance.

Furthermore, we have already moved forward by inviting members, who had left the party and the responses, which we have received so far, have been very encouraging.

He said that the fears expressed by the former Minister of Niger Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe, in his open letter were no longer obtainable in the repositioned PDP.

He described Orubebe fears as misplaced as the issues contemplated in his open letter were no longer obtainable in the repositioned PDP.

Ologbondiyan reassured that repositioned and rebranded PDP platform remains the best political vehicle to return Nigeria to the path of good governance and national unity.

He said that PDP had been aggregating opinions of its members and Nigerians at large on the way forward.

As a political party, with mass support of Nigerians and representing all across the six geo-political zones, the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, our new leadership has succeeded in bringing all our members on board.

He added that PDP leadership were now working together more than ever before, to rescue Nigeria from misrule.

Ologbondiyan urged all members to continue to propagate the ideals of PDP.

He also urged Nigerians to engage only in activities that promote unity and the tenets of democracy in line with the vision of our founding fathers and the overall interest of our dear nation.

Today, Nigerians across board are waiting on the PDP to navigate our
collective quest for a return to good governance, national cohesion and
economic prosperity and we cannot afford to disappoint them.

Orubebe in his open letter to Secondus, has said that the PDP was suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder and would need sustainable ideas to bounce back to reckoning.

He said the party is now under the control of certain individuals, who are exhibiting dangerous levels of undemocratic behaviours.

PDP is still lost in depression and suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),p the platform has crossed the bridge from pride to shame, the letter read.

We have gone from a party of pride to a party of shame and gradually receding into the abyss of political reality.

For the simple reason that the nation is witnessing calls for the rise of a third force, we are fast becoming a shadow of ourselves.

One of the biggest challenges that the PDP faces is balancing its needs for funding with established egalitarian values and internal systems.

If the party continues to be held hostage by few major donors, it will continue to find it difficult to instil the values that will endear us Nigerians, Orubebe said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Mr. Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, second son of ex-Libyan leader late Muammar Gaddafi, is set to launch his election bid for presidency,

Politically fragmented Libya goes to the polls later this year to get a leader that would unify the country.

Local media reports say Saif who had been detained by a militia in Libya until his release last year, will be joining the race to be the strife-torn country,

Saif who is reportedly inside Libya since his release will in a matter of days appear on television to pitch his presidential ambition before voters.

Saifs manifesto is reportedly revolving around a clarion call for administrative reforms, national reconciliation and the building of a modern state.

It is not known what Libyans made of his alleged presidential ambitions

The 45-year-old who was never part of his fathers administration had an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over his head over his alleged role in the bloody persecution of political opponents.

He was widely regarded as a potential successor to his father, a theory which he had severally attempted to debunk.

With Libya still blighted by a deadly civil war shortly after his father was killed, Saif was captured in the south of the country by militiamen originating from Zintan.

While being held in Zintan, he was sentenced to death four years later by a Tripoli court in a trial in absentia.

He was released from custody in June 2017, and continues to live in Libya, although his exact whereabouts remain unknown.

Since the overthrow of his father in an armed uprising in 2011, Libya has been caught up in a struggle for control by two rival governments based in Tripoli and Benghazi.

A UN-funded election is expected to take place toward the end of 2018.

Confirming its involvement in January, the UN said it was encouraged by number of Libyans who had registered to vote in what would be the countrys first Western-style democratic election in decades.

Source:

Source: NAN

By Isaac Ukpoju

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has handed over one of its staff in Nasarawa, to the Department of State Security Services (DSS), for interrogation over alleged sales of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) forms.

INECs administrative secretary in Nasarawa Mr Opaleke Otolorin, said in a statement on Wednesday in Lafia.

Otolorin said the action followed a social media report indicating that one of its staffers in Karu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state was issuing the CVR forms to members of the public at a fee.

He said the case was promptly reported to the DSS for investigation, adding that the suspect was thereafter taken into custody for interrogation.

Otolorin said the suspect had already made statement to the service as investigation was ongoing in the matter to ascertain his level of involvement and possible prosecution.

He therefore advised members of the public to refrain from offering fees, gratification or inducement to INEC staff engaged in the registration.

Otolorin pointed out that inducement of staff of the commission contravenes the electoral laws, the CVR guidelines as well as the commissions ethics.

Source: NAN

The Federal Government said the number of Dapchi schoolgirls released on Wednesday has increased from 76 to 101, following the documentation of more of the freed girls by security agencies.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who gave the update in a statement issued in Abuja, said that the number could still increase as the documentation of the freed girls was ongoing.

Mohammed had in an earlier statement confirmed the release of 76 of the 110 abducted students of Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe on Feb. 19.

The minister said that the release of the schoolgirls was the outcome of the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to all security agencies to do everything possible to secure the release of the schoolgirls.

He said the girls were released around 3 a.m. through backchannel efforts and with the help of some friends of the country, and that it was unconditional.

For the release to work, the government had a clear understanding that violence and confrontation would not be the way out as it could endanger the lives of the girls, hence a non-violent approach was the preferred option.

Within the period when the girls were being brought back, operational pause was observed in certain areas to ensure free passage and also that lives were not lost, he said.

Meanwhile, a Federal Government Delegation comprising Ministers of Information and Culture; Interior as well as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs are on their way to Maiduguri to meet with the freed girls

Source: NAN

Nigeria was obviously absent on Wednesday when African leaders signed the Largest Free Trade Agreement since the creation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Sunday cancelled his trip to Rwanda due to pressure by Labour union not to participate in signing the agreement.

A statement signed by the spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Tope Adeleye Elias-Fatile said the president cancelled his trip to Kigali, Rwanda to allow more inputs from Nigerian Stakeholders.

The trade agreement deal created a continental market of 1.2 billion people, with a combined gross domestic product of more than 3.4 trillion dollars.

A major goal in the agreement is to boost intra-African trade and rely less on the volatility ofthat affect many exports.

The aim is to have agreement, signed by 44 of the African Unions 55 member states, enter into force by the end of this year, said the chair of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat.

He added that states must ratify the deal.

Our peoples, our business community and our youth in particular cannot wait any longer to see the lifting of the barriers that divide our continent, hinder its economic takeoff and perpetuate misery, even though Africa is abundantly endowed with wealth, Mahamat said.

He urged strong follow-up to confound those who, outside Africa, continue to think, with barely concealed condescension, that our decisions will never materialize.

And while Africas largest economies are expected to benefit most from the deal, some of them worry that more people from poorer countries will migrate their way.

But some of the continents strongest and fastest-growing economies, including Ghana and, signed the deal.

The major concerns remained that the president of, one of Africas largest economies, skipped the summit.

Source:

Source: NAN

A Federal Government delegation comprising Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen Abdulrahman Danbazzau and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Khadijat Bukar Ibrahim, are on their way to Dapchi, Yobe State to meet with the freed schoolgirls.

They will arrive Maiduguri first before going to the Yobe town, said Segun Adeyemi, special adviser to Minister of Information.

The ministers had attended a Federal Executive Council meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, before they left for Maiduguri.

Before their departure, Mohammed told media men, that the number of the Dapchi schoolgirls who were released on Wednesday has increased from 76 to 101, with the documentation of more of the freed girls by the security agencies.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister said the number could still increase, as the documentation of the freed girls is ongoing.

He said the release of the schoolgirls is the outcome of the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to all security agencies to do everything possible to secure the release of the 110 Dapchi schoolgirls, who were abducted 19 Feb. 2018.

The Minister said the girls were released around 3 a.m. through back-channel efforts and with the help of some friends of the country, and that it was unconditional.

For the release to work, the government had a clear understanding that violence and confrontation would not be the way out as it could endanger the lives of the girls, hence a non-violent approach was the preferred option.

Within the period when the girls were being brought back, operational pause was observed in certain areas to ensure free passage and also that lives were not lost, he said.

Source: NAN

Yobe governor, Ibrahim Gaidam and several members of his cabinet are away in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as his state erupted in joy over the release of 101 out of 110 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram on 19 February.

Gaidam was in Malaysia to receive a Gold Merit Award conferred on him by the Lincoln University College of Malaysia, based in Petaling Jaya near Kuala Lumpur.

The award was conferred on him today, coinciding with the release of the schoolgirls abducted from Dapchi Government Girls Science and Technical College.

The governors absence may explain why the three ministers sent to Dapchi by President Muhammadu Buhari, are calling in Maiduguri first, instead of going straight to Damaturu, the Yobe capital.

Buhari had visited Damaturu and Dapchi on 14 March and vowed to do everything possible to rescue the Dapchi schoolgirls.

According to the university, Gaidam was recognised for working hard to improve education and security in Yobe State despite the ongoing, nine-year old Boko Haram insurgency.

The award was conferred on him at the Universitys 2018 Convocation Ceremony which took place at the Putra World Trade Centre in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Lincoln Universitys Vice Chancellor Dr. Amiya Bhaumik said the university was impressed that despite the insurgency in Yobe State, Governor Gaidam had forged ahead to rebuild, expand, and equip schools, including some of those earlier destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgents.

Governor Gaidam has lived the philosophy of Abraham Lincoln of working for the good of humanity. He is not only working hard to nip the Boko Haram insurgency in the bud by partnering with the security forces in Nigeria, he is also working to provide education to boys and girls and, in conjunction with the federal authorities, to make sure that those girls that have been kidnapped are returned safely to their parents.

For all the contributions toward the development of mankind in the field of education and the promotion of peace and harmony, Lincoln University College today honours Gov. Gaidam, the Vice Chancellor said.

The Pro-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Datuk Bibi Florina Abdullah also lauded the governor, saying as an institution that is going global, Lincoln University was pleased to honour the governor.

Gaidam said he was humbled to be so recognised with the gold merit award.

I am humbled by the fact that this award is a recognition of my contributions, which you have assessed, to the promotion of security, peace, well-being and educational development of my State, Yobe State of Nigeria I wish to say that this event has no doubt helped to further bring to light what we in Yobe State of Nigeria have been doing for the development of education and security, he said.

The governor, who spoke about specific actions that he took to re-position the education sector, said his administration is willing to establish partnership with Lincoln University, especially given their renowned excellence in the field of medicine.

There is the need for collaboration between this University and the Yobe State University fully established and funded by our administrationThe Lincoln University College can also assist us with expertise in the running of our State University Teaching Hospital, Damaturu and the full take-off of the College of Medical Sciences in the Yobe State University, he said.

Gaidam said following the sad abduction of schoolgirls at GGSTC Dapchi, he was initially disinclined to receive the award.

The sad incident in Dapchi is very devastating. And although the offer letter from Lincoln University came well before the Dapchi incident, I was disinclined to receive the award with what has happened with our girls in Dapchi. But since serious efforts are underway to get the girls back and we are confident they will be released Insha Allah I decided not to be discourteous to the University after having initially accepted the honour, he said.

Providing context to the award conferred on the governor, the Provost of the Atiku Abubakar College of Legal and Islamic Studies, Nguru Dr. Abba Idriss, who was present at the ceremony, said Lincoln University picked Yobe State as an area of research interest following a conference paper he delivered under the title Boko Haram Insurgency and its Effects on Education in Nigeria: The Case of Yobe State in Pahang, Malaysia in April, 2017.

The occasion was the 2nd International Conference on Humanities, Language, Culture and Business. Many Malaysian Universities were represented at the conference, Lincoln University among them. After I delivered my paper, Lincoln University decided to show interest by checking some of the issues I raised.

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the prompt release of the Dapchi schoolgirls as another demonstration of the political will of President Muhammadu Buhari to secure lives of Nigerians.

Malam Bolaji Abudullahi, APC National Publicity Secretary, said this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday while expressing delight over the return of the girl by their abductors.

The APC is extremely delighted with the news of the return of the schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Science Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, by Boko Haram.

With this prompt release of the Dapchi girls, the APC government has demonstrated how government should respond to such situations.

If the immediate past Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration had responded with the similar alacrity, the Chibok schoolgirls would have been released or rescued, he said.

The APC spokesman noted that instead of giving the situation the urgency it deserved, the PDP wasted several weeks wallowing in denial and conspiracy theories.

This, he said, left the APC government with no choice than to rescue many of the girls and rehabilitate them when it came to power in 2015.

Abudullahi assured Nigerians that the APC-led Federal Government was committed to securing the release of the remaining Chibok schoolgirls still held in captivity by Boko Haram.

The spokesman added that government would ultimately rehabilitate and reunite the girls with their families and loved ones when they were eventually rescued.

He expressed confidence that the reforms that the government had embarked on, would improve the capacity and efficiency of security agencies to prevent the kidnap of children by terrorists.

This, he said, would also diminish the ability of terrorist to carry out attacks on soft targets.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Boko Haram today, returned 105 kidnapped Dapchi school girls in nine vehicles same way they took them away on Feb. 19.

Source: NAN

Bayern Munichs goal poacher, Robert Lewandowski is set to force his way out of the club in the summer and join Real Madrid.

The Poland international is desperate for a new challenge and hired super-agent Pini Zahavi who has met with potential clubs in the recent months.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the 29-year-old will sign a two-year contract with Madrid, picking up a healthy wage bump with the option of extending the deal for a further year.

Despite agreeing personal terms with Real Madrid, Bayern Munich are still resisting transfer talk involving their star goal scorer.

The Bayern forward is still under contract at the club until the summer of 2021 and will have to persuade the Bundesliga giants to let him leave in the summer.

Lewandowski who has won five German league title in his eight years in Germany has scored 142 goals in just 184 appearances for Bayern Munich.

The Polish skipper is attracted by the fact that he will be spearheading Real Madrids attack force if he signs since the current striker Karim Benzema is set to be sold by the Spanish giants after awful season.

Reports said Manchester United and Chelsea are also interested in adding the striker in their squads but his agent met with Jose Angel Sanchez and agreed with the Real Madrid terms

Source: NAN

President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe says the country will hold its first presidential and parliamentary elections in July after the long ruler of former president Robert Mugabe.

He made the announcement after meeting with the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday night.

.The polls will be the first major test of the new leader, who took power in November after a de facto military coup forced the 94-year-old Mugabe to resign.

They will also be the first without Mugabes name on the ballot since independence from Britain in 1980.

As a nation, party and government, we are looking forward to very peaceful, transparent and harmonised elections in July this year, Mnangagwa sid

Mnangagwa, 75, said the elections would be free of the violence that gripped previous polls and which was one of the reasons for strained relations between Zimbabwe and the West.

I have already invited all political parties in Zimbabwe to a roundtable where we all commit ourselves to non-violence, he added.

Mnanaggwa will have to announce a date in an official notice. He has said he would invite Western observers, who had been banned under Mugabes rule.

The state-owned weekly Sunday Mail said a European Union pre-election team was expected in Harare on Monday.

The EU head of mission in Zimbabwe, Phillipe Van Damme, told the paper it would meet the president, political party leaders, and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

Mugabe, in his first comments since he stepped down, said last week that Mnangagwas rule was illegitimate and a disgrace.

source/uk.reuters.com/article/uk-zimbabwe-politics/president-says-zimbabwe-to-hold-elections-in-july-idUKKBN1GU0GM?rpc=401

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun, on Monday declared that the forthcoming July 14, 2018 Ekiti governorship election is a litmus test for the party, ahead of the general election in 2019.

He said the party must therefore work very hard to win the state.

Oyegun made the remark in Ado-Ekiti during the kick-off of fresh membership registration drive of the APC in Ekiti.

According to him, the party will deploy every available resources to win the election and promised all the 33 APC governorship aspirants that the party would conduct a free, fair and credible primary in the state.

He debunked the possibility of delegates list padding and other fraudulent practices that could vitiate the outcome of the May 5 primary.

He also assured that the national secretariat of the party did not have any favourite among the aspirants as being insinuated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State Chairman of APC, Chief Jide Awe, reportedly in hiding over an alleged murder case, made a surprise appearance at the event.

NAN reports that the Ekiti State Government had been after Awe, over his alleged complicity in the murder of Juliana Adewunmi and Ayo Jeje, who were killed in Erinjiyan Ekiti on May 30, 2014 during the administration of Dr Kayode Fayemi.

Oyegun hinted that the delegates list to conduct the primary had been compiled and would be made available to aspirants with good financial standing for verification.

We will work hard to ensure that Ekiti returns to the progressives fold after the July 14 election.

Though, we are in power at the centre, that doesnt mean we should not work hard.

President Muhammadu Buhari, as you know, will not rig or compromise or subvert the will of the electorate, so we must work hard to deserve the victory that will come to us, he said.

NAN reports that Oyegun had earlier on arrival made a stop-over at the party secretariat where he flagged-off the new membership registration exercise.

Oyegun was received by party chieftains, including the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Segun Oni and members of the State Working Committee.

Other aspirants at the event included Sen. Gbenga Aluko, Sen. Ayo Arise, Wole Oluyede, Wole Oluleye, Capt. Sunday Adebomi, Bimbo Daramola, Dr Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, Victor Kolade, Mr Kola Alabi, Mr Diran Adesua, Dr Bayo Oriire and Femi Bamisile.

Others like Mr Opeyemi Bamidele, Sen. Babafemi Ojudu and Mr.Bamidele Faparusi sent representatives.

We have got your demands and we are giving you assurances that there will be no imposition and that the primary shall be free, fair and credible

To all the aspirants, you must not campaign as if there wont be tomorrow. Dont campaign in a way that breeds enmity. I learnt that you are above 30, but the large number shouldnt be a source of problem.

Let me say this clearly, anybody who wants to fly the flag of our party must maintain decorum. We shall be fair to you as much as possible because there cant be peace when justice is denied

We must not also have bad losers, you must work with whomever the electors pick as their candidate during the primary.

All aspirants must ensure that there is no division before and after the primary. We are also barring members of SWC from joining the bandwagon of campaign for any of the aspirants, because this can cause further division, he stated.

Oyegun said the choice of Ekiti to flag off the programme was strategic, saying this conveyed a vivid and strong message of love for the people of the state, especially with regards to the July poll.

I am happy with APC in Ekiti with the level of mobilisation from our aspirants. You have shown that you are desirous to join the progressives fold. We didnt choose Ekiti for the flag off of this programme by accident

We have decided that this election is one that we will particularly work hard and leave no stone unturned, because to us it is a must-win election, he said

Source: NAN

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

The Senate on Tuesday adjourned its plenary in honour of late in Abuja.

The resolution of the Senate to adjourn its plenary followed a motion moved by the Leader of the Senate Ahmed Lawan.

Presenting the motion, Lawan said that the nation had indeed lost a lawmaker who fought for the development of democracy in the country.

On the 17th of this month, Saturday we woke up to a very sad news of the death of our friend, our brother and our colleague, very distinguished senator Ali Wakili, Lawan said.

Mr president this is sad for not only this senate. Not only his senatorial district that he represented but for his entire country and the development of democracy in Nigeria

It is tradition that when this kind of divine incident happens and we lose a colleague in the senate or house of representatives we normally observe one-minute silence in the honour of the departed but also adjourn plenary and suspend activities in the national assembly in honour of the deceased. May his soul rest in peace.

On his part, Senate President Bukola Saraki said a special valedictory session would be held in Wakilis honour on Wednesday.

Thereafter senate was adjourned to Wednesday when a valedictory session will be held in honour of Wakili.

It is the tradition of both houses to adjourn its next day of plenary following the death of any serving member of the National Assembly.

Source: NAN

There are indications that a device that exploded early Tuesday at a FedEx ground distribution facility in Texas, injuring one person, is linked to a string of bombings that have rocked the states capital this month, federal officials said.

Schertz Police Lt. Manny Casastold Fox News thata medium-sized box was on the conveyor belt when the explosion occurred.

Casas said a woman was treated for a possible sound injury and was released. He said the blast happened shortly after midnight.

Schertz police couldnt immediately confirm what was in the package, but law enforcement officialssaidthe medium-sized package contained metal shrapnel and nails and was headed to Austin when it exploded on a conveyor track.

The blast drew a large response from state, local and federal law enforcement agencies. Federal agents told the Associated Press the package is likely linked to attacks in Austin.

The ATFs Houston office said it responded to the scene in Schertz.

Schertz is located 22 miles east of San Antonio and 73 miles south of Austin.

The blast comes a day after authorities in Austin said a serial bomber is likely responsible for four explosions in Austin this month, the latest of which injured two people Sunday night after they crossed a trip wire possibly made with fishing line.

Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said at a news conference Monday that although the Sunday night bomb was linked to the three previous blasts, the latest bomb showed more sophistication as opposed to the previous three incidents, which involved package bombs left on peoples doorsteps.

Read more:

Source: NAN

Pope Francis will wash the feet of 12 inmates at Romes central prison during a Holy Week ritual meant to show his willingness to serve others.

The Vatican said Tuesday that Francis will meet March 29 with inmates at the Regina Coeli prison, including those in the special protected wing where sexual predators are housed.

Francis has made the Holy Thursday ritual a hallmark of his papacy, part of his insistence that the Catholic Church must go to the margins of society to serve.

His decision five years ago to celebrate his first foot-washing ceremony at a Rome youth detention center raised eyebrows among conservatives after he washed the feet of women and Muslims as well.

source:https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/pope-to-perform-holy-thursday-foot-wash-rite-at-rome-prison/

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Russias President Vladimir Putin to use his re-election to promote international peace and stability.

Putin, whose country is having some sour relations with the West over the invasion of Crimea and the poisoning of a former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, with a nerve agent, won a resounding re-election for a fourth term on Sunday.

President Buhari in a letter extended sincere congratulations to him.

Buhari said Putins success for the fourth time in the election is a clear testimony of the confidence Russians have in his leadership.

He also urged his Russian counterpart to see this victory as a base to continue to promote international peace and stability.

President Buhari assured President Putin of Nigerias commitment to a stronger and mutually beneficial relations with the Russian Federation under your watch.

He said he looked forward to continue working with the Russian leader to strengthen our defence, trade and technical partnerships as well as promotion of private sector participation in all sectors of our economies.

Source: NAN

By Anita Eboigbe

In a bid to curb the rising wave of scam on the social networking platform Instagram, users who usually shop on the platform have taken to an anonymously run account Scamburst to review pages of vendors and verify their authenticity.

The account @scamburstng has been trending on various social media platforms for helping shoppers check scam pages to discover those that would likely be scam pages.

Instagram, which is regarded by communication experts as one of the biggest online shopping platforms because of its picture and video content sharing nature, have faced threats from scam pages recently.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a business motivation group, @abujabusiness, comprising mostly female entrepreneurs in Abuja, recently raised concerns over influx of scam pages on the social media.

It stated, there has been several complaints of an influx of scam pages on the social media platform, which has reduced customer trust on the platform.

Some of the Instagram shoppers who spoke to NAN said that Scamburst, has helped them distinguish between scam vendors and real ones using subtle pointers.

Other respondents praised the initiative, adding that has rejuvenated the flair for online shopping by assisting shoppers to identify scam pages.

A shopper, Zainab Abimbola told NAN that `Scamburst would further help in reassuring buyers especially those who have been swindled in the past.

It was becoming really hard to trust Instagram vendors, but with Scamburst, I send several pages to be checked and authentic pages are selected for me, she said.

Another shopper, Andrew Goke said that the page has saved him a lot of money as he had been scam severally by vendors on Instagram.

I had given up on Instagram vendors, they have duped me severally. At least with a page that detects scam, it is easy to go to them for referral, he said.

According to the handlers of Scamburst, it has put up fresh and notorious scam pages on its Instagram handle so that shoppers can be on the lookout.

They said, Sometimes what the shoppers see on the Instagram page of the seller is not what he or she gets at the end of the day.

So there is already an issue of trust and people are scared of Instagram shopping; vendors have been trying to combat the problem on their own but it is limited.

By popular demand, we help shoppers review pages and certify that the vendor is sincere; this way, the Instagram shopping space is becoming safe again, Scamburst said.

The page handlers listed several factors to look out for when identifying scam pages including request for too much information from the customer.

They include use of too many hashtags, too-good-to-be-true deals, frequent discount offers and over flooding of stock pictures as red flags to spot in Instagram scam pages.

Source: NAN

By Okeoghene Akubuike

As the world marks the 2018 World Oral Health Day, Dr Seye Logede,Vice-Chairman, Dental Association of Nigeria, Abuja Chapter,says the general attitude of Nigerians to oral health has significantly improved unlike in times past.

Logede who is a Principal Dental Officer in theOral Diagnosis Unit of the National Hospital, Abuja, told our correspondent on Tuesday in Abuja that the use of social media contributed to the success recorded.

He said that poor dental health could affect a persons general health and well-being as the mouth is the gateway to the body.

According to him, contrary to what people think, there is nothing happening in the body that does not have symptoms or indications in the mouth.

The dentist explained that poor oral hygiene could also affect the psychological well-being of a person and make one lose self-confidence.

Your total psychological well-being is affected when you have bad oral hygiene; you would not be able to speak or smile in public and people will find it unpleasant talking with you.

He also said that a person with poor oral health would find eating food and taking cold or hot drinks unpleasant.
When your teeth and gum are in poor condition, you can no longer enjoy your food; if you take cold or hot drinks, your teeth will scream aloud.

Logede advised that every human being should see a dentist every six months at most while for, children as soon as they start to have teeth.

He, however, said children born with any congenital malformation affecting the mouth should see the dentist from birth.

On the theme of the celebration which is Say Ahh: Think Mouth, Think Health, he said, To be candid, the attitude of Nigerians to oral health is improving unlike a few years ago that people did not bother with their oral health.

If you are anaemic or have some underlying health conditions, there is a way it shows in the mouth.

The dentist, therefore, advised members of the public to also brush twice a day, first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

He also said that people should try to avoid eating between meals.

People should try to reduce their snacking habit, take a lot of fluids and see their dentists every six months.

NAN reports that the World Dental Foundation launched the World Oral Health Day in 2002 and it is being celebrated on March 20 yearly.

The celebration is aimed at creating awareness on the prevention and control of oral disease.

Source: NAN