Buhari meets Ghana President, discuss attacks on Nigerian traders

President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana on Thursday addressed the attacks on Nigerian traders in Ghana.

Akufo-Addo assured Buhari that Nigerian traders were being taken care of.

He stated this at a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in New York on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly.

Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, made this known in a statement in Abuja.

The Ghanaian leader said there was no intention to deliberately target Nigerians, noting that it was all about complying with the rules that guide trading in the country.

“I have met with the different groups and have been reassured that there was no agenda to send anybody away.

“It is just that they needed to regularize their positions according to the trading laws of the country,” Akufo-Addo said.

He added that Ghana’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Alan Kyerematen, had issued a press statement on the matter.

The statement read: “The Ministry of Trade and Industry wishes to inform the general public that the National Committee on Retail Trade will continue to ensure that all businesses operating in the retail trade sector of Ghana are given the opportunity and support to regularize their operations and comply with the laws and regulations in the country.

“In this regard, all owners of the affected businesses and shops are requested to contact the relevant State Institutions and Agencies to regularize their operations as required by the various bodies under reference.

“The Ministry takes this opportunity to assure the general public, particularly the international community, that there is no orchestrated action by Government or any State Institution targeted at Nigerian nationals or any particular foreign nationals.’’

Buhari in response commended the actions taken so far to address the situation, stressing that Nigeria and Ghana had a relationship that dated back in time.

He, therefore, urged citizens of both countries to comply with the relevant laws.

Source:

http://dailypost.ng/2018/09/28/buhari-meets-ghana-president-discuss-attacks-nigerian-traders/

President Muhammadu Buhari's Wife, Aisha Honoured In The United States

Mrs Aisha Buhari

The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has been conferred with Distinguished Global Award for Excellence in Women Empowerment and Gender Development by Global Empowerment Movement Corporation, U.S.

Buhari was also conferred with the Honorary Citizen of Georgia Award from the State of Georgia.

She received the awards at the Nigeria House in New York for her efforts at fighting gender-based victimisation, human trafficking and for uplifting the women in Nigeria.

Founder and President of the organisation, Dr Blessing Itua, said the organisation particularly commended Mrs Buhari for advancing the causes of women and children in Nigeria through her pet project: ‘Future Assured’.

“Mrs Aisha Buhari, through her various programmes on women, young girls and children support, has assisted, integrated and provided hope to numerous victims of some of the societal ills in Nigeria, including human trafficking.

“Mrs Buhari, through her pet project, ‘Future Assured’, campaigns for women and girl-child education, empowerment and commitment to improving the lives of the people she serves.

“She has also been a strong advocate against victimisation, inhumanity, including the rape of minors.

“Within this context, she has complimented government’s various initiatives by teaming up with relevant stakeholders in Nigeria and beyond to address some feminine challenges in the country,” Itua said.

Receiving the awards, the wife of the president thanked the organisation for considering her worthy of recognition for the award on fighting gender-based victimisation and uplifting womenfolk in Nigeria through the Future Assured programme.

“My driving force has been that of commitment and passion in this regard. Women have been at the receiving end of conflict, instances of abuse and victimisation all over the globe.

“I make it my responsibility to do the very best I can to give hope to those affected and to discourage other cases from happening in Nigeria.

“As you are all aware, my Future Assured initiative executes a number of programmes to uplift the status of women through health advocacy and support economic and educational empowerment, protection against abuse and encouraging political involvement among the women.

“Our hope is that women will become more aware of the opportunities open to them to live better lives while being confident of the society’s protection,”Buhari said.

She dedicated the award to “all struggling women and hope that the award will ginger more action in the area of protection against gender bias and victimisation and uplifting the lives of women all over the world.”

Buhari said that the First Lady of The Gambia had adopted the Future Assured to be replicated in her country.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, testified about the work the Future Assured had been doing, especially in the north east, and congratulated the wife of the president for the recognition.

Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Bande, while commenting on the menace of human trafficking, said “Nigerians are people who admit to our problems and we are starting to address them’’.

“Nigeria has what it takes to do what is right and to take its rightful place among the comity of nations.

“In the U.S., great things are happening though Nigerians; Nigerians are doing great works here. There are things they are not happy about just like those at home in Nigeria.

“But we are doing everything possible to address them. This will involve international cooperation,” the envoy said.

He commended the wife of the president for coming to the Nigeria House, adding “this is Nigeria House and we are very happy to do what is right here”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the occasion was attended by the First Ladies of The Gambia, Niger, wives of governors, heads of agencies and associates of the wife of the president, among others.

-NAN

Source:

https://www.tori.ng/news/107274/president-muhammadu-buharis-wife-aisha-honoured-in.html

2019: APC Holds Presidential Primary Across States

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday commenced its presidential primary across the states in the country, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

In Kaduna State, the party has adopted President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the sole aspirant, as its candidate.

Also in Adamawa, thousands voted for the President through the direct method of voting as stipulated by the party.

The Secretary General of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, who arrived in the capital, Yola also participated in the process at the Gwadabawa ward.

While addressing supporters, he commended them for the conduct of the primary.

He also stated that President Buhari has done so much and deserves another tenure.

More to follow…

Source:

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/09/28/2019-apc-holds-presidential-primary/

Labour may suspend strike action tomorrow as NASU, medical workers join

Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari(left); NLC President, Ayuba Wabba and First Deputy President Trade Union Congress, Augustine Etafo after a meeting of labour leaders with Kyari over the ongoing warning strike on minimum wage at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. PHOTO:NAN

Isa Aremu Seeks Living Wage For Workers

There are strong indications that the labour movement and its allies will suspend the on-going strike action tomorrow. The Guardian exclusively gathered in Abuja yesterday that this follows an assurance by the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari of direct intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari upon his return from the just-ended 73rdsession of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA73).

It was gathered that the Chief of Staff requested the delegation of the labour movement led by the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba to furnish him with the details of how the negotiation snowballed into a nationwide strike.

After listening to the submission of labour, the Chief of Staff reportedly assured the labour movement that the President would prioritise the issue towards early resolution and requested the movement to suspend the strike. In his response, Wabba said they could not unilaterally declared the strike suspended, but have to report the outcome of the discussion to relevant organs before a final decision is made.

To this end, the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other allies are expected to meet in Abuja tomorrow (Sunday) where the strike would likely be pronounced suspended. A source privy to the negotiations said: “The organised labour has the assurance of the Chief of Staff that Mr. President would prioritise the matter as soon as he comes back from his trip to the United States.

“Though he requested labour to suspend the strike based on that assurance, labour told him that they have to go back to their organs to report what had transpired. It is those organs that would suspend the strike if they are convinced that enough progress has been made in the negotiation. It is only then that the decision to suspend the strike would be taken. “However, from all indications, the strike would be suspended after the meeting of the organs which is slated for Sunday afternoon.”

Meanwhile, more trade unions are declaring their support for the strike action. The latest are the Non-Academic Staff of Universities and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN). The General Secretary of NASU, Peters Adeyemi, who handed down the directive during the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union in Abuja yesterday berated the Federal Government for not providing the figures needed by the tripartite committee on minimum wage negotiation to conclude its work.

Also, the President of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Biobelemoye Josiah said all the members of the union have been directed to comply with the strike action until contrary directive is issued by the NLC. Adeyemi, who is also the Deputy General Secretary of NLC, said all its members have been directed to withdraw their services immediately until the action is suspended by the NLC.

Josiah said in Abuja that minimum wage is a law that does not need rigorous debate as it has an inbuilt standard. “As the organized labour in conjunction with civil society allies commence warning strike to protest the refusal of the Federal Government to order the immediate resumption of the meeting of the Tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee in order for them to conclude their work, we at the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, wish to register our unalloyed support to the Nigeria Labour Congress under the able leadership of Ayuba Wabba.”

He made reference to the clause in the National Minimum Wage Act of 2004, which stipulates that minimum wage should be reviewed after every five years. According to him, the last review in 2011 was done after seven years, while the new review ought to have happened since 2016. Josiah accused government of not being sensitive to the plight of workers as soon as the price of crude oil improved in the international market.

He further argued that the declaration of Nigeria as the capital of the extreme poor people on earth ought to have spurred government into putting more money in the hands of workers towards rejigging the economy rather than stifle the working masses through poor pay. He submitted that the organised labour has indeed exhibited a high sense of patriotism for enduring non-implementation of a new wage for more than two years, saying, “we have watched with keen interest unfolding events leading to this unfortunate situation and are convinced that organized labour has exhibited the highest level of civility, patience and respect for due process in the quest for the legitimate aspirations of the working class.”

We were however shocked to learn that the government had decided to adjourn the meeting of the committee indefinitely with a purported intention to enable consultations. The MHWUN boss argued that with the price of petrol increased from N87 per litre to N145 per litre, devaluation of the Naira, increment of electricity tariffs, punitive exchange rate and hyper inflation have all connived to increase the pressure on the earnings of Nigerian workers.

He lamented that Nigerians are yet to feel the effects of government’s promise to mitigate the hardships even with the setting up of a palliatives committee to fashion out strategies, policies and programmes to cushion the vagaries of its unfriendly policies.The gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party in Kwara State, Isa Aremu said the key to achieving a sustainable development is labour productivity in both public and private sectors, which is only possible with motivated and highly remunerated workers at work and after work through adequate pensions. He stated that the Labour Party remained committed to a decent work agenda that includes payment of a good living wage to all categories of workers in the public and private sectors, adding, “an investment in human capital is an investment in nation-building. Let’s empower the Nigerian worker.”

Source:

https://guardian.ng/news/labour-may-suspend-strike-action-tomorrow-as-nasu-medical-workers-join/

Osun re-Run: Voters asked to swear before being paid to vote, TMG alleges

Abiola Afolabi-Akiyode

• Poll Opens Electoral System’s Weakness, Says Adegboruwa

The chairperson of the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, has said that Thursday’s re-run of the Osun State governorship election was rife with irregularities, voter coercion and illegalities. Akiyode-Abiola said the party agents were not deterred in any way by the stern warning of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it would decisively deal with any party or its agents that deal in ‘see and buy’ politics, but managed to devise other means to perpetuate illegalities.

On his part, human rights lawyer, Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa, yesterday, passed a damning verdict on the conduct of the supplementary election, saying it has opened up the weakness of the country’s electoral system. Adegboruwa, in his comment, titled, ‘Osun governorship election: Back to the trenches,’ said it is a signal of what to expect in states like Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Taraba and others regarded as battlegrounds for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Akiyode-Afolabi, whose TMG was one of the independent electoral observers present in Osun during the election, in which INEC has declared APC’s Gboyega Oyetola as winner, said: “The perpetrators and election riggers devised other means to rig the elections. “They paid money to voters before the elections. There were those that were given money right before they went to vote, and then there were the camp voters that collected people’s PVCs just before the elections. We got reports of some voters that were asked to swear or take an oath before they were paid money.

“The methods were very complex and voters must begin to realise that these kinds of inducements will kill the democratic system and should be resisted.” She added that the methods used only sadly exploited the poverty of the people and took advantage of their vulnerability to rob them of their votes, saying: “We must put an end to this, because if this is a sign of things to come, this portends a great danger for next year’s general elections.”

Adegboruwa, who said his comments were based principally on the report of observers of the re-run election, especially the Situation Room of the civil societies, foreign and local observers, who all monitored the exercise and his observation of events on the social and traditional media, added that the election has shown that INEC is not independent.

“The influence of the ruling party on INEC cannot be overemphasised, especially as it has constantly been trumpeted that there are many
loyalists and relatives of the President occupying very high positions in INEC.“It is thus almost certain that in keenly contested elections, such as the Osun governorship, INEC will be reluctant to declare a candidate of the opposition party as the winner.

“Thus, the general view in respect of the Osun election is that it became inconclusive by reason only that the opposition candidate was leading,” he said.He also noted the compromise of the security agencies, who he said all capitulated to the pressure of the ruling APC to betray the people of Nigeria, to whom they owe their primary allegiance.
 
The lawyer stressed that with all the heads of most of the security agencies coming from a particular section of the country and loyal to the
President who appointed them, it was obvious that they would act in deference to the ruling party of their commander-in-chief. Adegboruwa further raised the issues of violence, vote-buying, intimidation and harassment of voters, election observers and party agents as some of the negatives of the election, saying: “With the police and other security agencies under the control of the ruling party, it became easy to unleash thugs on perceived agents of the opposition party.

“Now, the seeming justification for this electoral pattern is that the opposition PDP did worse when it was in power, as we can all readily recall the case of Ekiti, where security agencies swooped upon the opposition, militarised the entire state and virtually emptied the treasury in a single election.“However, the expectation of Nigerians was that with the advent of APC, the country would witness some radical reforms and improvement
in our electoral system.

“In paragraph 2 of the APC Manifesto, the party had promised to ‘Strengthen INEC to reduce/eliminate electoral malpractices,” he added.The lawyer noted that as of the time of the 2015 presidential election, “we were already moving close to eliminating the known electoral malpractices. Indeed, there’s been no known major upset from the Elections Petition Tribunals, in respect of the 2015 elections.

“So, our expectations had been that things would get better, but it has not been so. The sad impression that the APC as a ruling party, and INEC as the electoral body, have both created with the Osun re-run election is that we are back in the trenches of the do-or-die electoral regime
of violence and of denial of the real will of the people in the choice of their leaders. It is most unfortunate, to say the least.”

Source:

https://guardian.ng/news/osun-re-run-voters-asked-to-swear-before-being-paid-to-vote-tmg-alleges/

Buhari congratulates first black man elected senator in Italy

In this picture taken on January 10, 2014, Toni Iwobi, chief immigration spokesman of far-right League party presents the program of a demonstration against immigration in Milan. Iwobi, from Nigerian origin, has been elected as the country’s first black senator on March 4, 2018.Born in Gusau in northern Nigeria but living in Italy since the 1970s, Iwobi has been a supporter of the League for more than two decades and used the campaign slogan #StopInvasion — a reference to the more than 690,000 migrants who have landed on Italian shores from North Africa since 2013. / AFP PHOTO / Gian Mattia D’Alberto / ALTERNATIVE CROP

… Welcomes OIC’S Support In Fight Against Insurgency

Toni Iwobi of Nigerian origin and living in Italy for 41 years has become the first African ever to be elected senator in the country.On the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York, Thursday, he met with President Buhari along with a high-powered team from the Italian Senate.

“My congratulations to you, and to Italy more,” President Buhari told Iwobi, who was elected in March this year, on the platform of the far right League Party. “It shows the advanced respect of Italians for human beings, in spite of colour. It’s very impressive.”

The team from Italy discussed issues like illegal migration and how it can be curbed through investments in Africa, recharge of the Lake Chad via inter-basin water transfer, among others. “Africa doesn’t need charity, but collaboration to develop,” Iwobi said.

Responding, President Buhari noted that what causes irregular migration from developing to developed countries include lack of security, education, health care, among others, stressing, “Climate change has had negative impact on Nigeria.”

President Buhari has welcomed ¬the pledge by the Organization of Islami¬c Cooperation (OIC) to help Nigeria tack¬le the Boko Haram insurgency through sou¬nd education among others. During a bilateral meeting on Thursday, wit¬h OIC Secretary-General, Youssef Ahme¬d Al-Othaimeen, on the margins of the 73rd¬ UN General Assembly in New York, the Pr¬esident also underscored the importance of education in purging the mind of wron¬g indoctrination, particularly on religi¬on.

The OIC scribe had told the Nigerian Pre¬sident that his organisation had passed a resolution committing member states to¬ support Nigeria in combating extremism. He said that the body was ready to use i¬ts facilities and institutions to correc¬t the wrong narrative that the Boko Hara¬m insurgency was about Islam. Al-Othaimeen, who noted that developm¬ent was essential to addressing extremis¬m, also pledged assistance for Nigeria i¬n that respect.

Source:

https://guardian.ng/news/buhari-congratulates-first-black-man-elected-senator-in-italy/

Buhari, Lionel Messi, Linda Ikeji - Check Out The Most Googled People In Nigeria Since 2008

President Muhammadu Buhari, Lionel Messi, and Phyno are among the most searched for people in Nigeria since 2008 — according to Google, the world’s number one search engine.

The technology company said this in a statement marking its 20th anniversary.

Others on the list include Ayo ‘Wizkid’ Balogun, Nigerian Afropop star, Linda Ikeji, celebrity blogger, and American rapper Nicki Minaj.

According to the statement, while technology has changed, “people’s tastes have remained largely consistent over the past decade”.

Google was founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin with the aim of organising the world’s information to make it universally accessible.

“The Search Index now contains hundreds of billions of webpages and is well over 100 000 000 gigabytes in size,” the statement read.

“It is, by some distance, the world’s number one search engine. This is, in no small part, thanks to its efforts to ensure that users can instantly access information that is contextually relevant to them and their surroundings.

“From humble origins in a Stanford University computer lab, Search has evolved to become a vital part of most people’s lives. People use it for everything ‒ from looking at the weather to plan their outfit the next day, to searching for life-saving procedures in the middle of a medical emergency.

“And yet, even though technology has changed, people’s tastes have remained largely consistent over the past decade. Just consider the most searched for people on Google in Nigeria since 2008 with many of them still relevant today.

“Linda Ikeji, Wizkid, Olamide, Muhammadu Buhari, Davido, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Phyno.”

According to the statement, Google has over the years evolved by making new additions to its services for improved search experience.

Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor, Google Nigeria country manager, said the search engine has been relevant across various fields, describing it as a

“crucial social and economic tool”.

“Search is a very different product from what it was in 1998Far from simply being a way to find information, it has become a crucial social and economic tool,”Ehimuan-Chiazor said.

“This is especially true in Africa, where it has proven invaluable in helping people find jobs, start businesses, and even save money.

“Looking forward, there’s little doubt that the evolution of Search over the next 20 years will be as dramatic as the past 20.

“And, with an online population of 103 million, there’s every chance that Nigeria will be at the forefront of that evolution”

Source:

https://www.tori.ng/news/107253/buhari-lionel-messi-linda-ikeji-check-out-the-most.html

APC vs PDP: Idahosa predicts who will win presidential poll, explains why pastors can’t share election money

Mr Charles Idahosa, a former Political Adviser to ex-Edo Gov. Adams Oshiomhole, has said that the 2019 presidential election will be easier for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to win than that of 2015.

Idahosa, who said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Friday, added that the 2015 victory was a hard-fought one for the APC.

He said the 2015 presidential election was particularly a difficult one because, aside from being an opposition party, religion and ethnic sentiments played a major part in the campaign.

“The election of 2015 was based on religion and it was between the North and the South. A lot of us were emotional that Buhari was a northern Muslim. You see Churches carrying propaganda that Buhari will Islamise the country.

“But this election will probably be between two northern Muslims. Our pastors will get no contract of sharing money inside their Churches and the voting system will be different.

“In 2015, we lost almost everything in Edo South. It was difficult to convince people to vote for Buhari in this state. 2019 will be a different scenario. Anybody making permutations based on 2015 will be making a very big mistake.

“Buhari has a cult followership in the north. His 12 million votes are waiting for him intact. He will get the bulk vote but it will not be the same for the PDP in the South and South East,” he said.

Idahosa further stressed that since President Buhari had worked very hard, it would also largely contribute to make his re-election easy.

According to him, “Buhari’s presidency has been very eventful for the development of this country. He has by no small means, improved on the infrastructure development of the country.

” The rail is not only receiving priority attention; roads, agriculture and many other sectors have seen more support in this government than in any other in the history of the country.”

Source:

http://dailypost.ng/2018/09/28/apc-vs-pdp-idahosa-predicts-will-win-presidential-poll-explains-pastors-cant-share-election-money/

Osun election: Group urges labour to protest election rigging, lambasts union over alleged ‘selfish’ interest

A rights group, International Society of Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) has urged the organised labour in Nigeria not to only use industrial action such as strike to protest non-increment of salaries, but also to protest when it suspects rigging in an election.

The group in a press statement made available to DAILY POST in Awka and signed by Mr Emeka Umeagbalasi, chairman of board of trustees of the group said, strike was a very powerful protest tool available to workers to protest anomalies in the society, naming election rigging as one of it.

It urged members of the organised labour, including Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) and the Trade Union Congress(TUC) not to wait until an unpopular government foisted on them through election rigging refuses to pay salaries before going on strike.

“A clear case in point was the broad-day manipulation by the INEC and security goons, of the last Saturday’s staggered governorship poll in Osun State, where the candidate of the PDP popularly returned by the people of the State had his thousands of valid votes deducted and deleted.

“A conscionable and public interest-oriented Labour Movement and their Civil Society Organisation, CSO counterparts should have down-tooled until INEC reverses itself and returns the rightful winner.”

The group further accused organised labour of not always declaring strike action in the interest of workers, but the selfish end of its leaders.

“We, therefore, call on the leaders of the labour and their CSO counterparts to be fair and sincere to the people of Nigeria and consider general welfare of all the citizens before ordering industrial action.

“Industrial actions in Nigeria must be detached from clannishness and pursuit of primordial interests and made all-encompassing by being extended to critical and important issues of good governance and fiscal responsibility.

“In other words, such industrial actions must start from the root. Any industrial action anchored on “loot-mania” and “squander-mania” is collectively harmful, short-sighted and counter-productive.”

Intersociety seized the opportunity to announce the renaming of its headquarters in Onitsha as; Chima Ubani Centre. Ubani was a well-known rights activist and a member of NLC who died in 2005 while travelling by road to Maiduguri, Borno State for negotiations with the government over a planned strike.

Source:

http://dailypost.ng/2018/09/28/osun-election-group-urges-labour-protest-election-rigging-lambasts-union-alleged-selfish-interest/

Osun Streets Devoid Of Celebration Despite Oyetola’s Victory

Osun Streets Devoid Of Celebration Despite Oyetola’s Victory by BestDude: 2:07pm

September 28, 2018
Femi Makinde, Osogbo

The streets of Osogbo and other major towns in Osun State have remained calm, devoid of jubilation by supporters of the All Progressives Congress despite the declaration of the candidate of the party, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, as the winner of the governorship election.

Our correspondent observed that the kind of wild jubilation that usually follows such electoral victory is lacking in the state.

As of 10:45 am, Olaiya Junction, which is usually the meeting point for protest and jubilation was clam but security men were stationed there to prevent the breakdown of the law and order especially from residents who believed that the election was openly rigged in favour of Oyetola.

Army patrol vans are stationed at Okefia Motor park and other volatile areas in a bid to prevent protest which some people believe may trail the announcement of the poll results.

The candidate of the Propels Democratic Party, Senator Ademola Adeleke, led in the first ballot by 353 votes but the APC candidate came from behind to win the poll amidst allegations of intimidation of voters and brazen rigging with the cooperation of security agents.

Local and foreign observers and many residents of the state have criticised the APC led Federal Government over the election.

Source: https://punchng.com/osun-streets-devoid-of-celebration-despite-oyetolas-victory/amp/

Osun Election: ‘The People Have Chosen Continuity Over Uncertainty’, Ambode Congratulates Oyetola

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (file)

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Friday congratulated Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Osun State governorship election for emerging the winner of the keenly contested election.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna, on Friday, governor Ambode said it was a well-deserved victory.

According to him, the people of Osun had made a choice to vote for continuity and experience, which he believes Oyetola represents.

He congratulated the APC for yet another victory, saying it was a confirmation that the people still have confidence in the programme and policies of the party not only in Osun but also across the country.

Furthermore, he commended the people of Osun State for comporting themselves during the exercise, noting that despite the inconclusive election on September 22, voters defied the heavy downpour to come out en masse to exercise their franchise during the supplementary election.

“The election has been deservedly won. The good people of Osun have chosen quality continuity over uncertainty.

“I have no doubt in my mind that the Governor-elect will bring his wealth of experience to bear and continue with the good works of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, call for unity and take Osun to greater heights,” Governor Ambode said.

He also urged those aggrieved by the result to channel their grievances to the appropriate quarters rather than resort to self-help.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Oyetola the winner after Thursday’s supplementary election which took place in seven wards.

He polled a total of 255,505 votes to defeat his closest rival and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke, who scored 255,023 votes.

Source:

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/09/28/osundecides-the-people-have-chosen-continuity-over-uncertainty-ambode-congratulates-oyetola/

PDP insists on Rivers State as convention venue

Bring the National Convention to Asaba - Delta PDP Youths

After the emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee at the national headquarters in Abuja on Friday, the People’s Democratic Party has insisted on Port Harcout, Rivers State, as the venue for its National Convention.

The convention which will produce PDP’s presidential candidate for the 2019 elections is scheduled for October 5-6, 2018. The party had earlier announced Port Harcout as the venue for the convention but the choice of the venue was protested by some members of the party with claims that the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, is supporting one of the presidential aspirants.

After the 82nd NEC meeting, the Party spokesman, Kola Ologbodiyan confirmed that the committee came to a unanimous decision that the convention will hold in Port Harcout. He assured the Presidential aspirants of a transparent process at the national convention. He said the party has promised that the outcome of the national convention will be ‘free, fair, clean clear and acceptable to majority of Nigerians’ and all their aspirants.

Ologbodiyan noted that the aspirants have collectively assured the party that their fears over the Port Harcout convention has been allayed by the party.

The PDP spokesman said the NEC has resolved that they will be committing all the presidential aspirants to a bond on the outcome of the convention. HE explained that all the aspirants will sign an agreement with the party in order to ensure that the outcome of the national convention will be accepted by them.

Source:

https://guardian.ng/news/pdp-insists-on-rivers-state-as-convention-venue/

I Can Beat Buhari, I’m Lucky To Be From Kano – Presidential Aspirant, Senator Kwankwaso

While speaking during an interview on Channels Television, 2019 presidential aspirant, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said he has the capacity to defeat incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari. According to PREMIUM Times,...

The post I Can Beat Buhari, I’m Lucky To Be From Kano – Presidential Aspirant, Senator Kwankwaso appeared first on Naijaloaded | Nigeria's Most Visited Music & Entertainment Website.

FIFA The Best Award: Salah battles Modric, Ronaldo

By John Egbokhan

The Best FIFA Football Awards holds in London tonight, with Croatian captain Luka Modric, Portuguese maestro Cristiano Ronaldo and Egyptian skipper, Mohamed Salah contesting for the prized player of the year award,

Egypt’s forward Mohamed Salah 

It promises to be a night of colour, pomp, glitz and hours of intrigue  as football’s finest acts and the biggest names in world football  administration descend on the Royal Festival hall in the capital city of the United Kingdom’s for the award ceremony.

From 18:00 local time, the cameras will be clicking to capturing all the buzz from the green carpet, where hosts and presenters , Alex Thomas, Reshmin Chowdhury and Layla Anna Lee will chat with some of the most celebrated names in world football, as the likes of Ronaldo, Modric and Salah make their entrances!

The eagerly awaited ceremony finally gets underway at 19:30 local time, which will be hosted by British actor, for the second year in succession – assisted by co-host Anne-Laure Bonnet, while British rock and roll behemoth Noel Gallagher will also be performing on the night.

A host of other prizes will be  handed out to  deserving recipients .

The live show ends at 9pm, with all winners having been announced.  Real Madrid midfielder, Luka Modric is tipped to beat Ronaldo and Salah to the FiFA Best Award after claiming the Best Player honour at the last FIFA World Cup in Russia, all thanks to a superb season with Los Blancos and Croatia, losing finalists at the World Cup in Moscow.

Source:

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/fifa-the-best-award-salah-battles-modric-ronaldo/

‘APC’ll rescue C-River from bad leadership in 2019‘

By Emma Una

CALABAR— Nigeria’s Ambassador to Uganda, Etubom  Nya Asuquo,  has said All Progressives Congress, APC, was on a rescue mission in Cross River State and would  in 2019 set the state free from the bad leadership it was currently experiencing in the administration of Senator Ben Ayade of Peoples  Democratic Party, PDP.

Asuquo,  who stated this in Calabar, weekend,  while addressing his supporters said Ayade had plunged the state  and its people into depths of despair and only a purposeful leader can redress the devastation the state was going  through in the hands of Ayade.

APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole

“The bad roads are not only in Calabar but in Ogoja where Ayade comes from and also in the Central. So, what the state needs at his point in time is someone who has the passion for the welfare of the  people and the capacity to turn things around and not the zone the governor should come from.”

The ambassador, who said he had abandoned his  ambition to govern the state,  told his supporters that he had chosen to remain on his post as an ambassador  to serve and make impact at the national level and called on them to support Senator Owan Enoh for the post of governor during the APC  gubernatorial primary election

Source:

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/apcll-rescue-c-river-from-bad-leadership-in-2019/

Osun Election: Saraki Faults INEC, Asks PDP To Seek Legal Redress

(File) Senate President Bukola Saraki speaks during a plenary at the Senate Chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja.

Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki has faulted the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the result of the Osun State governorship election was inconclusive.

In a statement issued by him on Sunday, he said INEC’s decision was wrong because the votes in certain polling units were cancelled.

The electoral body had earlier explained that the reason for the decision was because the number of cancelled votes were higher than the margin between the two top candidates.

Read Also: INEC Declares Osun Governorship Election Inconclusive

The Peoples Democratic Party candidate Ademola Adeleke led the race with 254,698 votes, 353 votes more than his closest rival, Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress.

The margin was, however, less than the 3,498 votes in the polling units where voting was cancelled and consequently INEC declared the result inconclusive – a development which Saraki was displeased with.

He said, “In my lay man’s opinion, the INEC was wrong in declaring the election as inconclusive because the votes in certain polling units were cancelled.

“The decision of INEC to cancel the election in those areas after voting had taken place means INEC had already excluded the votes in these areas from the election process and therefore those units should have no place in the overall results.

“My opinion would have been different if the election in the affected units did not take place at all, may be as a result of malfunctioning of the card reader machine or unavailability of the electoral materials.

“Since the voting took place and was cancelled, only the courts could reverse the initial decision by INEC to cancel the votes in these areas”.

He, therefore, called on the PDP to seek legal redress, saying that he wondered if INEC would have taken such a decision if the APC had been the one taking the lead.

The Senate President also asked INEC to “display courage, boldness, independence, neutrality and patriotism so as to send signals to the world at large that the Nigerian electoral system has come of age and that our democracy has matured”.

According to him, the way INEC conclusively handles the Osun election will determine global expectations from the nation’s political process.

He, therefore, asked the electoral body to ensure that the wishes of the electorate eventually prevail.

He also praised supporters of the PDP, as well as Senator Adeleke, urging them to remain focused and determined.

“I praise the dedication and hard work of PDP supporters and the candidate of the party, Senator Ademola Adeleke. They have remained steadfast, resilient, focused and determined.

“Our party is ahead, despite the irregularities. Our people must remain resilient to see this through to the finish. Now is the time to re-strategize, reach out to all the other candidates and their supporters, build on our lead, and bring this election home.

“Our supporters and the entire people of Osun State should remain calm and maintain peace as we move forward to see the successful completion of the electoral process.

“Once again, I thank all supporters of the PDP and the people of Osun State who stayed up all night, both physically and on social media to monitor the numbers and protect our votes. We remain undeterred, and we all remain determined to ensure that Senator Ademola Adeleke becomes the next Governor of Osun State”, Saraki stated.

Source:

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/09/23/osun-election-saraki-faults-inec-asks-pdp-to-seek-legal-redress/

Osun decides: Davido reacts as INEC declares governorship election inconclusive

Popular singer, David Adeleke, also known as Davido, has reacted to the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declaring the just-concluded governorship election in Osun State inconclusive.

Davido’s uncle, Ademola Adeleke is the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the election.

INEC said Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, polled about 254,698 ahead of Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who garnered 254,345 votes.

This decision followed cancellation of votes in Orolu Local Government, Ife South LG, Ife North LG and Osogbo LG resulting.

However, reacting, Davido who had earlier raised the alarm that INEC planned to declare the election as inconclusive because there were cancellations and violence in some polling units, assured that there would be victory at last.

He wrote, ”Desperate for Democracy, Victory is certain which ever way ..God’s plan 🙏🏽 issokay.”

Source:

http://dailypost.ng/2018/09/23/osun-decides-davido-reacts-inec-declares-governorship-election-inconclusive/

FG collects N13bn from billionaire tax defaulters in less than a month

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

The Federal Government has collected about N12.66 billion  in less than a month after it commenced its substitution of accounts of billionaire tax defaulters in the country.

Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Mr Tunde Fowler, disclosed this while receiving Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, at the.organisation’s headquarters in Abuja, weekend.

About a month ago, the FIRS  commenced substitution of the bank accounts of high networth billionaire tax defaulters.

Fowler told the minister that the initiative had pooled about N12.66 billion into the government coffers, adding that his team was confident of greater results in the months ahead.

He said:  “FIRS wrote to all commercial banks in May 2018, requesting for a list of Companies, Partnerships, and Enterprises with a banking turnover of N1 billion and above.

‘’This activity is aimed at ascertaining those companies that are compliant with the Tax Laws and those that are not compliant. So far, non-compliant organization have paid about N12.66 billion.

In her remarks, the minister said:  “The Ministry of Finance will continue to work in collaboration with FIRS to support all the efforts that you are doing.

“As much as possible, we should interface frequently. For us, the directive I have is to increase the tax revenue and that is the most important task ahead of all of us. You have done well. And the reward for good work is more work”.

Hajia Ahmed urged the FIRS to “maintain the tempo” because the country depended very on the work of the FIRS for its revenue.

She encouraged government agencies to work together to fish out all corrupt persons in the country, noting this was in consonance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive.

“The FIRS is a very important agency of government. I wanted to underscore this importance. FIRS is one of the first agencies in the Ministry of Finance that I am meeting.

‘’ The Federal Government Medium Term Plan is hinged on diversifying the economy away from the oil revenues to non-oil sector. And the report that the executive chairman of FIRS has presented indicates that the diversification effort is working. This is reflected in the turn of the contribution of non-oil revenues over the last three years.

“I am happy that we have a team in FIRS that is not only expanding the revenue base but also significantly improving tax collection and taking tax offices closer to the people and making it easier for the people to pay their taxes by online and e-tax payment procedures that you have undertaken. And I am sure that from what I have heard today, that you would continue with all these processes.

“I am also glad that you are increasing cooperation with several agencies such as the EFCC, ICPC and Nigeria Customs Service. This is important because the directive from the President for anti-corruption involves cooperation within yourselves as well as with anti-corruption agencies.

‘’It makes a lot of sense to priotise tax collection to larger categories: from the big ones to other ones. The effort you are making in Abuja, Lagos and Osun (on payment of taxes on property using their turnover as basis for assessment) is a commendable one and I encourage you to maintain the tempo in generating tax revenues,” she said.

Source:

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/fg-collects-n13bn-from-billionaire-tax-defaulters-in-less-than-a-month/

Osun election: US govt speaks on governorship poll

The United States Government has called for a peaceful conclusion of the Osun State governorship election.

Speaking in an interview with Channels TV on Sunday, the Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in Nigeria, David Young, appealed to candidates of political parties and their supporters to be peaceful and respect the final results of the Osun State governorship elections that will be announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the coming days.

He said: “We request and urge all supporters to be peaceful as this process moves forward. This is part of democracy.

“We at the United States have had very close elections too. I urge people to be peaceful and respect the result that comes out in the time ahead.”

The US envoy also commended INEC for the conduct of the election.

He urged all political parties and agents to allow the electoral body to do its job.

He added, “The most important thing is that we let INEC do its work. They are moving forward and in a positive way. I think this is going to be a very close election. It is going to come down to a very small margin.

“I think one of the things we need to do is let the process go forward. Let the democratic process go forward with parties and their candidates raising any concerns they have through the legal process and for the results to be peaceful.”

Source:

http://dailypost.ng/2018/09/23/osun-election-us-govt-speaks-governorship-poll/

‘INEC erred, Ademola Adeleke ought to be returned’

[FILE PHOTO] Ademola Adeleke

A legal practitioner, Boye Williams, has averred that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) erred by not declaring Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner.

Williams of Divine Chambers argued that having polled 254, 698 of the lawful votes against his closest rival, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the PDP’s Adeleke ought to be returned as winner.

He cited section 69 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended to buttress his assertion, saying the Act stipulates that “In an election to the office of the President or Governor whether or not contested and in any contested election to the other elective office, the result shall be ascertained by counting the votes cast by each candidate and subject to the provisions of sections 133, 134 and 179 of the Constitution, the candidate that receives the highest number of votes shall be declared elected by the appropriate Returning Officer.”

The legal practitioner dismissed INEC’s contention that the cancelled votes, which is 3,498, is more than the difference between the candidate that polled the highest number of votes and the closest rival, which is 353, arguing that Section 179 of the 1999 Constitution is applicable to the Osun poll.

He argued that the PDP candidate satisfied the provision of 25 per cent of all votes cast in each of at least 2/3 of all the local government councils of the state, stressing that INEC’s decision to declare the election inconclusive is not grounded in law.

Source:

https://guardian.ng/news/inec-erred-ademola-adeleke-ought-to-be-returned/

Nigeria rebounds as D’Tigress beat Turkey 74 to 68

Nigeria’s D’Tigres at FIBA Women World Cup in Tenerife

After the disappointing loss to Australia in their opening game of the on-going FIBA Women World Cup in Tenerife, Spain, Nigeria’s national women basketball team, D’Tigress yesterday defeated Turkey 74 to 68 points to resuscitate their hope of a second round ticket.

Nobody gave the Nigerian girls any chance of beating the Turkish team based on their FIBA rankings and the recent results of games involving the two teams.

Turkey is ranked seventh in the world while Nigeria occupies the 34th position.

Just last week, Turkey thrashed Nigeria in a pre-tournament friendly game before yesterday’s match.

However, the Nigerians showed they deserved better than their position on the books with the manner they dragged the more renowned Turks across the court, with Serah Ogoke the tormentor in chief.

Turkey led in the first quarter by 8-4 points, but once the D’Tigress got into their strides in the second quarter, they didn’t look back.

The Europeans didn’t go without a fight though, as they rallied towards the end of the last quarter, reduced the gap to as low as five points.
But the Nigerian girls upped the ante to record the win that now puts them within another win of a second round ticket.

Nigeria will meet Argentina in their next match on Tuesday, while Turkey will face Australia.

Today is rest day for the teams.

Source:

https://guardian.ng/sport/nigeria-rebounds-as-dtigress-beat-turkey-74-to-68/