The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has approved the enrolment of corps members into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The Director-General of the NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, disclosed the approval of the health services scheme to journalists at the opening ceremony of the 2018 edition of the NYSC Annual Management Conference which coincides with the 45th anniversary of the scheme held in Akure.
The director general also revealed that apart from the approval of enrollment into the NHIS, the orientation camp of the scheme now has a consultant from the Federal Medical Centre on ground as part of the partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health to attend to any critical emergency health issue.
Kazaure used the opportunity to commend the corps members who participated in the Osun State gubernatorial poll, describing them as good ambassadors of NYSC.
The director general noted that the scheme, just as the civil service, would receive adequate attention as soon as the new national minimum wage is approved.
Kazaure said the scheme had cleared the backlog of unpaid staff allowances and also created a robust forum to interface with members of staff and labour unions for industrial harmony.
He said the theme of the conference is very apt in view of the laudable achievements recorded by the scheme in its 45 years of existence and the need to evolve strategies that will enhance operations and open new opportunities.
Also speaking at the conference, the Ondo State Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), said that NYSC has contributed tremendously to the development of the nation's democracy.
Akeredolu, represented by his deputy, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, noted that the sustenance of the scheme will continue to impact on the society and pointed out that NYSC has contributed over 80 per cent to the nation's development and has deepened democracy.
"NYSC has not only harmonised the diverse ethnic groups of Nigeria, but also reduced prejudices and misconceptions thereby promoting mutual trust, understanding and tolerance," he said, adding that the scheme has been an outstanding initiative in the task of nation building with a significant impact on national development.
"As a way of appreciating the contribution of corps members to the development of the state, my administration has also introduced a package of N100,000, N80,000 and N50,000 for the state honour award winners," the governor added.
Akeredolu highlighted some of his administration's achievements since inception, assuring the audience that his government will not relent in its efforts to support the NYSC in order to assist the scheme to achieve its aims and objectives in the development of the state and the entire nation.
In her goodwill message the NYSC National Governing Board Chairperson, Ambassador Fatima Balla Abubakar, stated that the board was attending the AMC in compliance with President Muhammadu Buhari's charge to enhance service delivery by the scheme through improved operational strategies.
Abubakar said the theme of this year's edition is a reminder of the present administration's quest to reposition the economy by opening new opportunities for the youths in the country, adding that the government will continue to make positive contributions that would set the scheme for greater impacts.
Earlier in an introductory address by the NYSC Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mrs Victoria Okakwu, said the choice of Akure as the venue for the conference was informed by the unrelenting support, uncommon hospitality, love and care the scheme enjoys from the government, stakeholders and good people of Ondo State.
She said that the annual management conference is an event where top managers of the scheme, state coordinators, deputy directors and other critical stakeholders across government and non-governmental organisations meet to review the operations of the scheme with a view to formulating policies that would drive it for greater performance.
She added that the focus of the conference is to brainstorm and come up with practicable solutions and strategies that will reposition and promote the ideals of the scheme in both present and future operating environment.
Business activities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) remained sluggish yesterday after the five-day holidays occasioned by Nigerian Labour Congress' (NLC)'s warning strike and the 58th Independence festivities.
On September 25, Nigeria's three labour centres had declared an indefinite warning strike to press the Muhammadu Buhari administration to adopt a new minimum wage for workers.
The strike, which started on Wednesday last week kept most Federal Government workers indoors thus grinding business activities in the FCT to a halt.
But in addition to the strike, the Federal Government had declared October 1, 2018 public holiday in observance of Nigeria's Independence Day.
Although, the strike was called off on Sunday while the Independence Day celebration ended on Monday, business activities remained dull and dreary hours after the two events ended.
At the Federal Secretariat, fewer numbers of staff were seen in the offices while most of the desks were unoccupied.
One of the directors confirmed that some of the workers traveled home and were not yet back. He also explained that some of the workers in his department complained sick and were granted sick leave.
One of the workers corroborated the position of the director, saying that some of his colleagues traveled to their villages because of the strike declared by NLC and the public holiday announced by the Federal Government.
"I came because I did not travel since I did not have any money to travel. The strike came at the wrong time. NLC should have waited until they paid us before embarking on the strike," he lamented.
The hardest hit in the lull were the taxi drivers who traversed the nooks and crannies of the city empty due to the scanty number of people in the city.
A taxi driver regretted coming out for business yesterday because, according to him, he bought N3000 fuel (yesterday morning) and till this afternoon (yesterday), he had not recovered the money.
"If I do not recover the money today, I will not come out tomorrow (today)," he lamented, regretting why he even came out for business in the first place.
The middle aged man who was rescued by Fishermen after he jumped off 3rd mainland bridge in an apparent suicide attempt has died.
The man identified as Nurudeen, died in the hospital where he was rushed to for medical treatment.
Recall that yesterday morning, LIB reported the story of Nurudeen who called his wife before he jumped off the bridge into the lagoon.
His remains has been deposited in the state morgue. May his soul rest in peace, Amen.
Popular Nigerian lawmaker, Patrick Obahiagbon, pictured above kneeling as he begged Edo state APC members to vote for him so he can be the party's flagbearer in the Edo South Senatorial district election.
Journalist, Ena Ofugara,who shared the photo online, wrote;
''Barrister "Igodomigodo" Obahiagbon, the grandiloquent and highfalutin former legislator finds to his chagrin, discomfiture, mortification, peevishness and spleen that he must put aside his manhood, masculinity, machismo, virility and BROCUS and like a bingo that ate his masters food, he finds he must kowtow, grovel, beseech, wheedle, brown-nose, crawl, creep, cower, snivel and prostrate to be allowed back in the house.
today all he can say is "la wo wo. Please. I beg. Sorry for me"
The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa'ad Abubakar III and President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, on Tuesday in Abuja signed a peace pact to ensure peaceful atmosphere before, during and after 2019 general elections.
The Sultan was represented by the Emir of Keffi, Dr. Shehu Chindo-Yamusa, while the President of CAN was represented by the Prelate of Methodist Church, Rev. Samuel Uche. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that peace accord was signed at a Peace Declaration Summit organised by the Nigerian Interfaith Action Association (NIFAA) in collaboration with local and international partners.
The duo urged Muslims and Christians to continue to work together, shun violence, embrace dialogue and be committed toward building communities that were resilient and free from fear. "We join together to affirm that Nigeria is and shall remain a country committed to peace and harmony among all of its members, Christian or Muslims, from the north or from South. "And that democracy must bring us closer together as a people and not separate us.
"We join together in patriotic love for our country and our fellow Nigerians to declare for peace as key stakeholders representing various religious and ethnic groups in Nigeria." The duo further expressed commitment to embracing a vision of common humanity and speaking publicly of hope for Nigeria's peaceful and bright future.
The Sultan and CAN President also pledged to demand that free and fair democratic elections should be conducted in peace and for the benefit of all Nigerians regardless of ethnicity, religion or geographical zone. Similarly, the two leaders of dominant religious agreed to promote peace and understanding in all communities as the country enters its elections period as well as denounced hate speech and violence.
On Tuesday, the Oyo State Government shut down the business premises of Obasanjo Farms, located at Oluyole Industrial Estate, Ibadan and MRS Oil in Ibadan, the state capital city as part of its continued exercise to get companies and corporate organisations to pay their environmental levies.
According to reports, Obasanjo farm is one of the sixteen business organisations that were sealed for defaulting in the payment of the environmental development levy due to the state government.
The exercise, which began on Monday, was carried out by the combined task force teams of the Oyo State Inter-ministerial Enforcement Unit and coordinated by the Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue which saw branches of some banks also sealed.
Locations visited by the task force team included: Dugbe, Eleyele, Podo, Challenge and Onireke areas of the state capital. Some of the other firms affected in the seal up by the task force team on Tuesday included Black Horse, Heinemann Educational Books, Lister Flour Mills, and University Press Limited.
Others were Evans Brother, Brooking House, Group Medical hospital at Mokola, Butterfield bakery, Chicken Republic and Rasmed publicity.
Chairman, Oyo state Board of Internal Revenue (OYBIR), Bicci Alli, while speaking said the exercise became inevitable due to the failure of the affected firms to comply with the state tax laws after series of formal communication failed. Alli stressed that the enforcement will be continuous, warning that all corporate organizations in the state must do the needful and be corporately responsible in line with the laws of the land.
He said "the exercise was not something new and not outside the law. It is within the law. We went to restrain some corporate organizations that failed to pay what is due to Oyo state government after giving due notices, demand notices and even public notices to that effect and they failed to pay.
Governor Wike, in an interview in Government House, Port Harcourt, stated that the direction of Rivers delegates will not be determined by one person.
He said: "At the end of the day, the leadership of the party will meet at the state level and decide where are we heading to?
"Then, we will all be together. No one individual can do it alone. So, Rivers state will move as a team. I will listen to the leadership of the party, then, we will move forward.
Who are we going to support? Where is the national survey? Who is more popular? This is how politics is played.
"I challenge any of the presidential aspirants from the North, who have gone to other governors and they have given them campaign coordinators, I challenge them to mention if I have given them one name."
He also said that the decision on the way that Rivers would go will not be determined by sentiments but by the over-riding interest of the state.
"Can anybody say I have met him one day to say support so, so, and so presidential aspirant? People have been coming here and I told them I will not and I will never nominate anybody to be a liaison to any of the presidential aspirants. Not one person, I challenge them.
Atiku (Abubakar) came here, (Sule) Lamido came here, Makarfi came here, Saraki came here, Tambuwal came here, (Ibrahim) Shekarau came here, (Attahiru) Bafarawa came here.
Let one person say I have ever said take Joseph, take John, take JohnBull, take Beatrice as your campaign coordinator like some do.
"I don't deceive people, I will not deceive people, and I will not deceive my people," he stressed.
The governor further stated that nobody will blindfold Rivers people into supporting a presidential aspirant with compromised credentials.
He alleged that some of the aspirants are under the sponsorship of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said: "One thing you must take home is that I cannot be misled, I cannot be blindfolded. I know what's going on.
"I have not even mentioned how a very senior official of a security agency in the country told me which of the candidates to support!
"You can imagine me as a governor and the head of a security agency would tell me to support one or two persons.
Head of security agency, who is in a government controlled by the All Progressives Congress! Come on! You direct me on who to support for president?"
The governor reiterated that the plot by the APC-led Federal Government to deploy security agencies to rig elections in Rivers state in 2019, will fail.
"It won't happen in my state, but, I know they will kill a lot of persons. I can tell you they will kill a lot of us. No problem, this is the sacrifice we have to make for democracy to thrive".
Governor Wike equally stated that he would have nothing to do with godfather politics, and pointed out that when he leaves office in 2023, the people of the state will collectively choose his successor.
Manchester United have reportedly rejected an offer from Barcelona to make a swap move for Paul Pogba with a £45m fee plus Andre Gomes and Yerry Mina. That was a tempting swap deal but Manchester United made their intentions clear enough to reject the offer.
Lyon star Nabil Fekir has been left out of the club's squad to play against Chelsea today amid speculations he will make a move to the Stamford Bridge side before Thursday.
Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic has refused to train or play for the club as he eyes a move to Chelsea.
West Ham target Stefano Sturaro has been made available by his club Juventus for a £18m fee.
Arsenal starlet Reiss Nelson is set to sign a new deal the club as he looks to commit his future to the Emirate Stadium.
Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster is reportedly eyeing a move away from the club amid interests from Besiktas and Fenerbahce.
Leicester City are adamant over retaining defender Harry Maguire and have told Manchester United he is not available at any price.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is interested in signing Atletico Madrid star Jose Gimenez before the end of the transfer window on Thursday.
The Old Trafford side have made their last offer of £40m for Tottenham star Toby Alderweireld and will look elsewhere if their bid is not accepted but a compromise looked to have been accepted.
Everton have reportedly told Yannick Bolasie he can leave the club this summer and the winger is eyeing a move back to Crystal Palace.
West Ham are interested in signing Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater but can only sign him if Luka Modric makes an Inter Milan move and as a result, Matias Vecino makes a Chelsea move.
Lyon are reportedly ready to hijack Everton's move for Yerry Mina from Barcelona.
Leicester City are on the verge of signing Dinamo Zagreb defensive star Filip Benkovic for £13m.
Fulham are ready to sign Celtic defender Dedryck Boyata for a big money move
Chelsea goalkeeper refused to show up for training yesterday as he looks to force a move away from the club. The club meanwhile are eyeing a possible replacement in Kasper Schmeichel, Pepe Reina, Sergio Rico and Jack Butland. They are also reportedly preparing a €100m move for Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak. It remains to be seen what happens before Thursday night.
Chelsea star Willian has revealed he will like to work with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho again in future but he insisted he remains committed to Stamford Bridge.
Everton will most likely complete the signing of Brazilian star Bernard in the next 48 hours.
Inter Milan are interested in signing Keita Balde from Monaco on loan.
Chelsea have sanctioned a loan move for Matt Miazga to Nantes for a whole season.
Nigeria star Moses Simon has joined Levante on a five-year contract from Gent.
Chelsea have also sent youngster Fikayo Tomori to Derby County on a season-long loan.
Bordeaux has announced the signing of Nigeria star Samuel Kalu on a five-year deal from Gent. He will replace the departed Barcelona star Malcom.
Stoke City have reportedly rejected Leicester City's bid for Mame Biram Diouf.
Kovacic to Chelsea will be announced in the coming hours. A loan with option suited all parties best. Chelsea are not done shopping in Spain. [Marca]
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State
The Enugu State Government on Tuesday urged residents not to panic or entertain any fear due to the confirmed case of Lassa fever death.
The state Ministry of Health had on Monday, confirmed t that one patient died in a government hospital in the state.
Dr Ifeanyi Agujiobi, the Permanent Secretary, the state Ministry of Health, in Enugu said that "there is no cause for alarm''.
Agujiobi revealed that the state had no other suspected or confirmed case of Lassa fever presently.
He said that the ministry had identified the high and low-risk individuals, who came in contact with the deceased through contact-tracing, adding that they had been attended to medically on time; "since timely treatment checks the virus''.
He also said that the government had contacted the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Abuja on the latest development and how the center could come in and assist the state.
The permanent secretary noted that the state had already commenced a massive sensitization against the disease in local radio and television houses, using native languages.
The state has already started deploying experts in epidemiology and health professionals to begin contact-tracing of doctors, health workers, family members, friends and food vendors patronized by the deceased.
It was learnt that the victim died in one of the Federal Government health facilities (name withheld) within the Enugu metropolis.
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday, Tuesday, August 7, summoned the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and the Director-General of the Department of State Security, Malam Lawan Daura at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the two security chiefs, who arrived Aso Rock at different times, were to update the acting president on security developments including the blockade of the National Assembly by security officials.
The Inspector-General of Police was the first to arrive at about 12.35 p.m. before the arrival of the DSS Director General at about 1.15 p.m.
The police and operatives of the DSS early on Tuesday, blocked the main gate of the National Assembly, preventing lawmakers and staff from gaining access into the complex.
The security operatives, however, later allowed the lawmakers access into the complex while journalists and other staff were barred.
Daura's termination was announced by Osinbajo's spokesperson, Laolu Akande, on Tuesday, August 7, 2018. The Acting President directed Daura to hand over to the most senior officer of the State Security Service until further notice.
While the reason for his termination has not been made public, early speculations indicate that it might have something to do with DSS operatives taking over the National Assembly complex early on Tuesday.
They prevented the lawmakers and journalist
into the premises in what many believe to be a plot to implement the impeachment of Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
Olalekan Adetayo, Olaleye Aluko and Justin Tyopuusu
The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday, said he was saddened by the drowning of nine National Youth Service Corps members in River Mayo-Selbe in the Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State on Saturday.
The victims were among the 22 youth corps members who had gone on a picnic around the area when the incident happened.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande, the Acting President extended condolences to the families and relations of the nine youth corps members on behalf of himself and the Federal Government.
Osinbajo said with the tragic incident, the nation had lost some of its talented and productive young people in their prime.
He said, "This terrible occurrence has abruptly ended the lives of these young men and women while they were dutifully engaged in national service.
"The Federal Government appreciates their service to the nation and it is my prayer that God will comfort their families and loved ones, and that we would not witness such a calamity again.
"I would like to express my condolences to the families of the late youth corps members, the NYSC management and the people of Taraba State, where the sorrowful incident occurred and Edo, Enugu, Delta and Imo states from where the identified victims hailed."
Meanwhile, the NYSC has declared a three-day national mourning to sympathise with the families of nine corps members who drowned in River Mayo-Selbe, near the Gashaka falls, in the Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State.
Our correspondent learnt from the NYSC authorities that the mourning began on Monday and would end by Wednesday, during which the NYSC flags nationwide would fly at half-mast.
The NYSC Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi, who confirmed the mourning period in a release on Monday, said the authorities were "shocked and saddened by the cruel twist of fate that befell our corps members."
Monday that the deceased corps members were part of 22 NYSC members who went for a picnic at the river.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Taraba State Police Command, ASP David Missal, had said the police were able to recover seven corpses from the total number of the deceased, noting that investigation was ongoing.
The NYSC spokeswoman, Adeyemi, said on Monday that the drowning was caused by the sudden increase and surge of the River Mayo-Selbe.
She added that the two remaining corpses of the corps members had yet to be found.
Adeyemi said, "The NYSC is shocked and saddened by the cruel twist of fate that befell our corps members who drowned as a result of the sudden increase in water volume and surge of the River Mayo-Selbe.
"The serving corps members had last Saturday left their places of primary assignment and embarked on a picnic at the site before the unfortunate incident.
"Seven bodies have so far been recovered from the river by the local divers and security agents while the search for the remaining two missing corps members is ongoing.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that sanctions reimposed on Iran were the "most biting ever" as he warned other countries from doing business with Tehran.
"The Iran sanctions have officially been cast. These are the most biting sanctions ever imposed, and in November they ratchet up to yet another level," he wrote in an early morning tweet.
"Anyone doing business with Iran will NOT be doing business with the United States. I am asking for WORLD PEACE, nothing less."
The sanctions reimposed on Tuesday — targeting access to US banknotes and key industries such as cars and carpets — were unlikely to cause immediate economic turmoil.
Iran's markets were actually relatively buoyant, with the rial strengthening by 20 percent since Sunday after the government relaxed foreign exchange rules and allowed unlimited, tax-free gold and currency imports.
But a second tranche coming into effect on November 5 covering Iran's vital oil sector, could be far more damaging — even if several key customers such as China, India and Turkey have refused to significantly cut their purchases.
Trump's contempt for the nuclear deal dates back to his time as presidential candidate and on May 8, he made good on a pledge to pull America out of the international agreement
The unilateral withdrawal came despite other parties to the agreement — Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the EU — pleading with Trump not to abandon the pact aimed at blocking Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State
The Lagos State Government has in last three months released N2.04 billion to clear the arrears of pensions under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
Mrs Folashade Onanuga, the Director General of Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) made this known in a statement in Lagos on Monday.
Onanuga said that the sum represented money released for the months of May, June and July.
She said that N859.06 million was released for the retirees in May, N716.9 million in June and N466.9 million in July, totalling N2.04 billion.
She, however, emphasised that the total pensions fund released by the state government under Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode's administration as at June had hit N38 billion covering 9,214 retirees.
Onanuga said that insurance benefits of N40.2 million were also paid to 15 beneficiaries of deceased employees.
She said that the state employees were expected to have signed-up a Retirement Saving Account with one of the 13 PFAs approved by the state.
The LASPEC boss said the PFAs were AIICO Pension Managers, ARM Pensions, Crusader Sterling Pension, Fidelity Pension Managers, Leadway Pensure, Nigerian Life and Provident Company, Pension Alliance and Premium Pension.
The others were Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, Trustfund Pensions, Sigma Pensions, FUG Pensions, and Legacy Pension Managers.
Onanuga said that the governor was fully committed to the welfare of retirees and was working toward clearing accrued pension backlogs that the administration inherited under the old pension scheme known as Defined Benefit Scheme.
"Retirees that retired solely under CPS for one reason or the other collected their gratuities upon retirement with steady monthly pension payments because the pension funds under CPS is intact," Onanuga said.
The recent mass defection of some senators from the All Progressives Congress (APC) which saw Senate president Bukola Saraki, Senator Dino Melaye, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and others switch allegiance to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has thrown up a big question: Which party now controls the majority?
After the gale of defections, the Senate leader, Ahmed Lawan, insisted that the ruling APC still has a majority in the Senate with 52 lawmakers.
the APC will be having 53 senators in the upper chamber, according to Senator Lawan's list.
Lawan added that the PDP has 50 seats while ADC has three and APGA has two.
"The essence of this press briefing is to let you know that even though some of our colleagues have left, the APC remains the majority party in the Senate in terms of numbers. Out of the 109 senators, APC has 52, the PDP has 50, ADC has three and APGA has two. And you'll recall that we lost two of our colleagues. So we have two vacant seats and the total gives you 109," the Senate leader said.
Going by Senator Lawan's statement, the total number of occupied seats in the Senate is 107 (not 109 mentioned by Lawan). The remaining two seats, Katsina North and Bauchi South, to make 109 are vacant at the moment.
However, another report by Channels TV claims the PDP is now in the majority, particularly after the defection of Senator Saraki.
According to the report, the PDP now has 54 while the APC has 50. The report added that even if the APC wins the two vacant seats, it will still be in the minority with 52 senators.
National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus (R), Atiku Abubakar and behind him Otunba Gbenga Daniel, DG, Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation, at the declaration rally of Atiku for the 2019 presidential election, at Ribadu Square, Yola, Adamawa State, yesterday.
The People's Democratic Party has said their presidential slot is open for all to contest.
The clarification came following media reports that the party had cleared Senate president Bukola Saraki, Sokoto State governor Aminu Tambuwal and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso to contest for the post while Atiku Abubakar was excluded.
Tambuwal and Saraki, recently defected from the ruling All Progressive Congress to PDP, have not formally stated their intentions to run for presidency. However, sources claim they have plans to contest for the post.
It is unclear if Saraki will contest for the post after he was appointed as the National Leader of the party by the PDP National Executive Council.
Meanwhile, Senator Kwankwaso, who also recently returned to the PDP, has begun his bid for the presidency under PDP. He unsuccessfully contested for the presidency primaries under APC in 2015.
Former Vice president, Atiku formally declared his intention to run for the 2019 presidential elections in March, months after he defected from APC.
Atiku said he wanted to run because the nation has been regressing since the APC government took over.
"We all know what we have gone through in this country in the last three years.
"I can tell you throughout the whole of today that where the PDP left us in the last three years whether in the education sector, in the health sector, or in the economy, we have been going down in every statistics.
"That is why I have offered myself to run for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2019," he said.
Atiku openly celebrated the return of Saraki and Tambuwal to the party.
He contested for the PDP presidential primaries in 2011 but he lost to Goodluck Jonathan. He also lost in the primaries to Mohammadu Buhari in 2015 under APC.
The recent defection of Governor Aminu Tambuwal from the APC to PDP has been made with mixed reactions from some of his political contemporaries in the Northern region
- One of those who decried the governor's move was Senator Aliyu Wamakko, representing Sokoto APC North, who described Tambuwal's defection as his worst decision ever
- While Wamakko hopes that Tambuwal would change his decision and return to the APC, he described the recent defections from the party as an opportunity for stocktaking
Senator Aliyu Wamakko, representing Sokoto APC North, has referred to Governor Aminu Tambuwal's recent defection from the ruling party to the People's Democratic Party (PDP), as the worst decision of his life.
The Nation reported that Wamakko made the statement during an interview with BBC Hausa Service on Thursday, August 2.
The Nation reported that Wamakko made the statement during an interview with BBC Hausa Service on Thursday, August 2.
Wamakko, a former Sokoto governor, reportedly said Sokoto state will remain President Muhammadu Buhari's domain, adding that Tambuwal's defection is inconsequential.
Governor Tambuwal defected on Wednesday, August 1, to the PDP, his former party. Tambuwal, who is said to be nursing a presidential ambition, called on Nigerians to vote out the APC-led government come 2019 presidential election, alleging that the present administration has failed the nation.
Wamakko further said that although politics is always full of surprises, it was "pitiable" for Tambuwal to make such a decision.
Wamakko said: "He is a very promising young politician, with full potentials. But, may be something else is guiding his decision. This is the worst decision he has taken in his life.
"At his age, he should not be in a hurry. He is a fine young politician. I have a lot of respect for him. If he had taken the consideration of the people he is representing and the people of Sokoto State, he should not have gone into the PDP."
Wamakko said if he had any issues with the APC, defection from it would not be the solution. He, however, maintained that the APC would remain in government in Sokoto and that the president would the state in the 2019 general polls.
He also said that it was wrong to conclude that the crowd that supported Tambuwal's defection indicated evidence of his popularity.
Wamakko stated: "Whatever crowd you might have seen or told, just take it as a mere story. As a matter of principle, it is not in my character to abuse people, but, what I am assuring is that Sokoto State is an APC state."
Although Wamakko hopes that Tambuwal would change his decision and return to the APC, he described the recent defections from the party as an opportunity for stocktaking.
He remarked: "Hence, it is coming out stronger. In the next few days or months, Nigerians would be surprised how the APC is going to fare."
Yunus Ahmed, 45, has been admitted to a hospital in Uttar Pradesh state's Muzaffarnagar district and the woman has been arrested, Area Police Chief, Anil Kaparwan said.
Ahmed married the second time with the consent of his wife in 2017 since they did not have a son.
Police said the two often had quarrels over his staying at the second wife's residence.
"On Wednesday, their fight flared up and the woman, who repeatedly accused him of not spending time with her and ignoring her, cut his genitals using a knife," Kaparwan said.
"He was rushed to the hospital in a serious condition and is receiving medical treatment," Kaparwan said adding the woman was detained after the victim's relatives filed a complaint with police.
The woman faces charges of causing grievous hurt and bodily harm and could face a maximum of 10 years in jail, police said.
Lai Mohammed
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has attributed the slow pace of development in the country on the National Assembly led by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
The Minister made this known when he addressed State House correspondents on the defection of the Senate President and Gov, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara from All Progressives Congress (APC) to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mohammed, who spoke at the end of Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said that the Senate president had operated as being part of the opposition party right from day one as Senate President.
According to him, APC stands to lose nothing with the defection of the Senate President and his loyalists as he has been in the opposition in the past three years.
"If Senate President Bukola Saraki were not a member of the APC, the party and the government it leads could not have suffered more than they had already done, with regards to the delay in passing the budget, approving key appointments and so on.
"In other words, Saraki has behaved all along as a member of the opposition, deliberately slowing down the progress of the APC-led federal government.
"It is therefore neither a surprise nor a blow that he has defected.
"Perhaps the only surprise is that when he eventually defected, it was a mere whimper. If we didn't gain by having our member as Senate President, we stand to lose nothing by losing him,'' he said.
The minister further noted that the series of Federal budget passage delays, as well as, delays in confirming appointments sent to the National Assembly, had worked against development in the country.
He said that Saraki's defection along with his loyalists from the APC was a welcome development and a great relief to the party.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned in unambiguous terms the burning of some classroom projects executed by Senator Dino Melaye by suspected political detractors, describing such action as crude politics.
The PDP in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, said that all fingers point to hoodlums sponsored by the sinking All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi state, which has been threatening the lawmaker since his failed recall bid in April, as well as his declared return to the PDP.
It is indeed reprehensible that the APC, which cannot boast of any development project in the state, could be so vicious to sponsor the destruction of education facilities meant for the benefit of Kogi children, just for political reasons.
The people of Kogi state are not in any way fooled by the statement from the APC-led Kogi state government, wherein it merely condemned the arson without taking any concrete step to produce those behind the dastardly act.
The PDP challenges the Kogi state government and the APC to come clear and tell Nigerians those behind the use of earth moving machines to block the way for Senator Melaye's convoy on his way to commission the projects on Wednesday.
Furthermore, the fact that the state government did nothing after Senator Melaye reported of threats to him, by unknown persons, ahead of the commissioning ceremony, thoroughly indicts the government and raises very strong issues of official conspiracy.
Moreover, the attack has further confirmed that Senator Melaye has not been shouting wolf in his reports of series of threats against his person by suspected agents of the APC.
Consequently, the PDP calls on the Inspector General of Police to immediately commence a full-scale investigation into the incident and all reported threats against Senator Dino Melaye.
Finally, the PDP calls on Nigerians and the people of Kogi state to hold the APC responsible should any further harm befall Senator Melaye or any of his family members.
Lagos residents are calling on the state and Federal Government to beef up measures in solving the problem of constant gridlock on the entire stretch of the Apapa Oshodi Expressway.
Motorists and commuters who ply Apapa-Oshodi Expressway are lamenting, blaming the gridlock on trucks which have taken over the entire six lanes of the highway; stretching beyond the Isolo area.
The gridlock increased in the last 48 hours when trucks parked on the main expressway, leaving commuters to struggle through the service lane. The situation has led to the breakdown of law and order as commercial bus drivers have resorted to facing oncoming traffic on other lanes.
"The vehicles formed long queues that extended from Mile 2 down to Toyota Bus Stop. I left my office, 6:45 pm and didn't get home until 2:00am," a resident of Festac Town, who plies the road daily said, yesterday.
Other residents have since taken to social media to express their disapproval as they are stuck in traffic for hours, while business owners say their businesses are affected by the gridlock and workers are left stranded in the traffic.
"Our businesses are at risk! Apapa-Oshodi Expressway has been blocked by trailers for days! Clear the trailers!" while Emmanuel Oluwasegu, with the Twitter handle: @evolslove said: "The Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, from Mile 2 to Ilasa (maja) is on gridlock! Trailers and tankers everywhere…the risks on our roads are too much.
"Every route that connects Apapa are filled with trailers. Must people die before we do the right thing?"
A former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr. Kabiru Tanimu-Turaki, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of deceiving Nigerians and lacking the quality of a good leader.
Turaki, who spoke at a meeting with members of the Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday in Lafia, Nasarawa State, stated that the Buhari-led administration had lied to Nigerians and failed to deliver on its campaign promises.
The former minister said the PDP had qualified candidates that could rescue Nigeria from hardship
He said, "In 2015, President Buhari made three campaign promises bordering on the economy, insecurity in the North-East and the fight against corruption. But he has totally failed in all these areas
The issue of Boko Haram was the only trouble Nigeria had in 2015, and we all saw that former President Goodluck Jonathan was able to push these insurgents out of Nigeria and that was why the Independent National Electoral Commission was able to conduct elections in all the 774 local government areas of this country.
"Our expectation was that Buhari would end killings because he said within three months into his administration, anything that concerned Boko Haram would end
"Nigeria under former President Jonathan had the fastest growing economy in Africa, but today, the reverse is the case as our economy has become a shadow of itself."
Turaki also stated that the APC-led government, while claiming to fight corruption, was only persecuting PDP members.
Former president Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday in Ibadan charged Nigerian women to fight for their political and economic relevance instead of accepting to be confined to the other room.
Obasanjo spoke on the topic, 'My understanding of women aspiration in business and politics' at an event organised by Initiative for Information, Arts and Culture Development in Nigeria and The American Corner, Ibadan.
At the programme, which was held in support of women's participation in government, political processes and the work place, Obasanjo said it was a huge shame that no woman was among the 50 people that drew the Nigerian constitution. He said he encouraged women to join politics by ensuring that nine women were chosen to serve in his cabinet when he was the president.
He pointed out that Nigeria was ranked far below South Africa, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia and Mauritania among countries that encouraged women in politics.
He said, "No longer should our women allow themselves to be consigned only to the 'other room' and the kitchen. In 2017, according to the United Nations, gender inequality cost Africa $95bn. That is tremendous waste. We cannot continue heaping up waste and expect that we will not maintain our poor record of being the world's poverty headquarters. The starting point is girl child education. Child marriage must be made unlawful."
He said women should make definite efforts to fight for their place in politics and economy, as women and children are usually the direct and indirect victims of poor leadership. He said men would not relinquish their position willingly
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday, July 18, announced the inclusion of weekends and public holidays as word days of its personnel in ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).
It, however, stated that the extension to those days would commence on Aug. 1 and end on August 17 when the exercise would be suspended until after the 2019 general elections.
This commission disclosed this in statement by its national commissioner and member, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, in Abuja.
The statement said that decision to extend the registration period was reached at commission's meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from all the states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which reviewed the nationwide exercise.
It added that the exercise would also be extended from 9 am to 5 pm daily, instead of the current daily duration of 9 am to 3 pm.
"Against the backdrop of the decision to suspend the exercise from August 17 until after the 2019 general elections, it was resolved that starting from August 1, the CVR exercise will take place between 9 am and 5 pm instead of 9 am - 3 pm as obtains presently.
"It was also resolved that there will also be registration on Saturdays and Sundays as well as public holidays (if any) within the period."
The commission assured Nigerians of its commitment to ensuring free, fair and credible elections in 2019, and said that it had reviewed the conduct of Saturday's governorship election in Ekiti.
It also said that it had started preparations for the governorship election Osun scheduled for September 22.
A fake medical practitioner, Salisu Usman, yesterday, confessed at an Ikeja Magistrate's Court in Lagos that he had been treating patients, posing as a qualified medical doctor.
"I am guilty as charged," Usman, 28, told court.
Consequently, Magistrate B. O. Osunsanmi ordered his remand at the Kirikiri Prisons until July 20 for a review of facts and sentencing.
The defendant, who pleaded for mercy, was found to be a security guard. He resides at Oluwalogbon, Isefun community in Ayobo, near Lagos.
According to the prosecutor, ASP Ezekiel Ayorinde, Usman committed the offence on July 6 at Baden Junction in Ayobo
He said Usman was found with a bag containing medical and surgical equipment without being a qualified medical practitioner.
He said: "The defendant, who parades himself as a medical doctor treats, dispenses, supplies, administers and sells poisonous and dangerous drugs to patients.
"He was found with different types of tablets, syringes, needles, injections and other medical items. But when he was asked to present his certificate or identity card, he could not.
"He confessed that he was not a genuine doctor and was then taken to the police station."
Ayorinde said the offence contravened Section 251(e) (f) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday, July 17, declared seats of deceased lawmakers vacant.
The senators - Mustapha Bukar of Katsina North senatorial district and Ali Wakili of Bauchi South senatorial district - died on April 4, 2018 and March 17, 2018, respectively.
The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Yakubu Mahmood, said the House of Representatives also declared the seat of late Umar Jibril of Lokoja/Kogi federal constituency vacant.
Speaking at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners in Abuja, Mahmood added that the Obudu 1 state constituency of Cross River state had also been declared vacant.
He said the by-elections for the vacant seats will be conducted in the next 30 days.
Mahmood said: "In the last few days the commission has received an official declaration of vacancies from the National Assembly in respect of Bauchi south senatorial district, Katsina north senatorial district and the Lokoja federal constituency in Kogi state.
"A similar declaration was made by the Cross River state House of Assembly in respect of Obudu 1 state constituency. Consequently, the commission is set to conduct by-elections to fill the vacancies in the four constituencies which have a total of over two million registered voters spread across 3,355 polling units in 234 wards and 22 local government areas.
"Considering the requirement of the law that such an election should be conducted by the commission within 30 days following the declaration of vacancy, we are planning to conduct all the four elections on the same date in all the four states," he said.