A former governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke, on Tuesday said he would still take a shot at the presidency, if the opportunity presented itself. Duke spoke at a programme, “The Nigerian Symposium for Emerging Leaders ‘’, held in Lagos. He said though he once aspired to the position but did not emerge the candidate of the (PDP), he would still contest for the highest office in the country at the appropriate time. Duke explained that it was because of his preference for the presidential seat that he did not vie for any federal legislative seat after serving…
Author: David Folami
Kolawole Babatunde, the lawmaker representing Atakumosa East and West Constituency of Ondo State in the House of Representatives has urged Nigerian youths to equip themselves with the necessary leadership skills. Babatunde gave the advice in Abuja at a colloquium on youths and the future of democracy in Nigeria on Friday, 26 May 2017. Organised by the Forum for Young Parliamentarians (YPF), Youth Initiative for Advocay, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA), the event created an avenue for youths to discuss the state of Nigeria’s democracy, democratic patterns priorities, problems and prospects for the future. Speaking on the place of money in Nigerian…
The Lagos State Chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on Thursday condemned cases of violence during primaries conducted by some political parties ahead of the July 22 council polls in the state. The Chairman, Mr Kola Ajayi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the recorded violence was an embarrassment to IPAC and a threat to grassroots democracy. Ajayi said the deaths and destruction that characterised some of the primaries meant that some politicians still believe in do-or-die politics. “We are worried about cases of violence which resulted to deaths and destruction in the primaries of…
The Governor of Akwa-Ibom state, Udom Emmanuel has asked the opposition parties to sheath their swords and work for the development of the state. According to Punch, the Governor said this on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, while celebrating the second anniversary of his administration. Emmanuel also said the false reports that are being spread by the opposition against him will not help the state grow. According to him, “Instead of being professionals in the profitless business of pulling others down, let us all be experts in the lucrative business of forgiveness. “This is not the time for anger, resentment, bitterness…
The Plateau chapter of the PDP on Tuesday accused the APC-led state government of “reckless spending”. The Plateau PDP Chairman, Damishi Sango, at a press briefing on Tuesday in Jos, alleged that the government was “plunging the state into indebtedness, severe hardship, hunger and penury by deploying limited resources into fictitious projects”. “Instead of rescuing Plateau as it promised, state actors are busy rescuing their personal pockets and those of their friends and families by pushing outrageous sums into non-existent contracts,” he said. Sango alleged that government had spent N216 million to remodel an already well-constructed and furnished Governor’s lodge…
The Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO) says President Muhammadu Buhari will seek for a second term in office in 2019. The BCO stated this on Monday, May 29, 2017 when it assembled 14 Imams and six pastors to offer prayers for Buhari’s quick recovery. Acting national coordinator of the organisation, Danladi Pasali expressed optimism that the remaining two years in the first phase of the administration would be better. The BCO said the Buhari-led government had impacted positively on Nigerians than the 16-years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Pasali said Buhari had within the last two years laid the foundation…
The President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Malam Abubakar Mahmud, on Thursday called on the Military and Nigerians to protect the nation’s democracy by resisting calls to lure them into playing unconstitutional roles. Mahmud made the appeal during the opening ceremony of the NBA National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lokoja. The NBA president noted the unfortunate suggestions in sections of the media of possible instigation for military intervention in governance of the country following statements credited to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai. “The NBA wishes to express its concern and condemn in strong terms, any of…
The Nigerian Navy on Thursday said it had arrested five suspected oil thieves in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom. The Commander, NNS Jubilee, Commodore Saidu Garba, disclosed this to newsmen while handing over the suspects to the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Garba said that men of the command, during a routine patrol in its area of operation, intercepted two canoes and arrested the suspects with 11, 250 litres of Automobile Gas Oil (AGO). He said the arrest followed intensive patrol of the maritime environment, following intelligence information on the activities of…
The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Thursday said the corporation would collaborate with the Bayelsa government to build a power plant in the state. Dr Maikanti Baru said this while receiving the Gov Seriake Dickson, at the NNPC Towers in Abuja. According to Baru, the power plant will be built at the state’s proposed industrial park while the collaboration will afford the state and the NNPC the opportunity to share technical knowledge that will attract investors to the Niger Delta region. He said, ”We have a lot of areas of collaboration. The NNPC will…
The Executive Council of the Nasarawa State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has impeached its embattled Chairman, Abdullahi Adeka. A statement signed by Ahmed Naibi, the Secretary, said that Adeka was removed for announcing the suspension of the strike, immediately after his reinstatement. It said that the “surprising” action violated the resolutions reached at the NLC headquarters as a condition for his reinstatement. “In the meeting held at our national secretariat in Abuja on May 23, we all agreed that Adeka must sustain the strike. That was a condition for his reinstatement. “We also agreed that his mother…
Kogi lawmaker representing Kogi-West senatorial district, Dino Melaye, has denied bribing Justice (Mrs.) Akoh. In a tweet, the lawmaker noted that the voice recording which was published by SaharaReporters is not only fake but a mere voice over. Senator Melaye said Sahara Reporters was fabricating lies against him because he had sued the medium and the case was about to come up for mention in court. His tweet reads: “Sahara Reporters and ‘awada kerikeri’; using voice-over to malign me because my case with them comes up in few days’ time, June 5, 2017.” Melaye had reportedly sued the online publishing…
The British High Commission has announced that email enquiries by visa customers applying from outside the UK would attract a fee as from June 1. The high commission made this known in a brief report on changes to UK Visas & Immigration customer care operations made available by the Media Officer, Mr Joseph Abuku, in Abuja on Monday. According to the report, the changes would help the government reduce costs and ensure those who benefit directly from the UK immigration system make an appropriate contribution. “Effective today (June 1), email enquiries by visa customers from overseas will attract a fee.…
This week, online news platform Sahara Reporters, went to town with a very grave allegation against Senator Dino Melaye. According to Sahara Reporters, Melaye who represents Kogi West in the Senate, did bribe the judge who ruled an election case before her, in his favour. Sahara Reporters gave the name of the judge as Justice Akon Ikpeme. In 2015, Ikpeme was the tribunal judge who handled the election case between Melaye and his challenger Smart Adeyemi. Ikpeme ruled in Melaye’s favour in 2016. To back up its story, the news site put up a purported phone conversation between Melaye and…
Governor Godwin Obaseki has reportedly said killer herdsmen, reportedly raping and killing women and farmers in Edo State are fleeing terrorists. In a report by Punch, Obaseki, who spoke on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 after he visited to the families of victims, described the incident as a threat to national security. The governor maintained that the killers were not ordinary herdsmen but Boko Haram fighters who fled from the war in the north-eastern states. “These are not just herdsmen; they are Boko Haram terrorists, but we are working hard to put an end to this,” the governor stated. There had…
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said the reason for President Muhammadu Buhari’s treatment in London is that he deserves the best treatment. Mohammed explained in a radio interview on Thursday, June 1, 2017 that London medical practitioners and hospitals can offer Buhari the best treatment which he deserves as the President of Nigeria. “My answer is very simple. Mr President is our father, he is the leader of the nation and I think he deserves the best in terms of medical treatment,” the minister said while responding to a caller that criticised the President for getting medical…
Monaco’s Colombian international Radamel Falcao has extended his contract with the newly-crowned Ligue 1 champions until 2020, the club announced on Thursday. The 31-year-old club skipper — who scored 30 goals this season with six decisive passes in all competitions — said he was “happy to continue the adventure with Monaco”. “After this incredible season during which I experienced every emotion, I wanted to continue this beautiful story.” According to reports, Falcao, under contract until 2018 with an annual salary of 14 million euros ($15.7m), accepted a considerable salary reduction to stay with the Principality outfit. “I’m very happy with…
Argentina superstar Lionel Messi is to branch out into the leisure industry and launch an amusement park in China in 2019, his partners in the venture said on Thursday. The “Messi Experience Park” will have more than 20 attractions spread out on a site covering more than 80,000m2 in Nankin, south east China. The park will “immerse visitors in Messi’s universe, combining the latest attractions with spaces to take part in the top sport”, said audiovisual group Mediapro, who will run the venture alongside Chinese television group Phoenix Group and the Barcelona forward’s Leo Messi Management. Five-time winner Ballon d’Or…
Manchester City are determined to make history under Pep Guardiola and win an unprecedented Quadruple, chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak has said. Guardiola failed to win a trophy for the first time in his managerial career last season as City failed to maintain a significant Premier League title challenge. But they are determined to put that right, with a squad overhaul already under way following the £43 million arrival of Bernardo Silva from Monaco and Benfica goalkeeper Ederson Moraes set to follow shortly. With other major names set to be added over the summer, Al-Mubarak said there are no limits to what…
Real Madrid are playing in the Champions League final in Cardiff on Saturday – but Gareth Bale looks set to miss out against Juventus in his home city. Wales forward Bale has been out with a calf injury for the past six weeks and, although he has now returned to full training, the former Tottenham player admitted he has not fully recovered from an ankle operation earlier in the season – and he also believes that caused the latest problem. With the team’s other 10 places more or less set in stone, the debate about whether Bale or Isco should…
With Atletico Madrid’s transfer ban upheld, the club will not be able to bring in any reinforcements this summer and must wait until January 2018 before they can sign again. Moreover, they must fight tooth and nail to keep the current squad intact as they head into their new Wanda Metropolitano stadium. 1) Keep hold of Griezmann at any cost Contracts do not mean a great deal in modern football, but the club now need to take an aggressive stance over Antoine Griezmann. No player is more important for them and getting him to put pen to paper would be…