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Tonto Dikeh says she's never kissing her man again and here's why

Tonto Dikeh is really disgusted after she made a recent discovery and it's led her to decide that she's never kissing her man again.The mother-of-one found fried grasshoppers hanging on a shelf in her man's house and when she asked him about it, the answer she got grossed her out.  Sharing a photo of the grasshopper, she wrote:Found these guys hanging on a shelf and i quickly turned and asked BABY hope you dont eat these...Guess his answer??Now I wanna puke at the sight of his LIPS...He is never getting kissed again..So pissed off ..Like i feel violated OR im LITERALLY A Drama QUEEN #Angryface The post Tonto Dikeh says she's never kissing her man again and here's why appeared first on emiratco Blog.
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Governor Ortom names school after 13-year-old rape victim, Ochanya

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has directed the immediate renaming of the LGEA Primary School, Ogene -Amejo in Edumoga, Okpokwu local government area of the state after 13-year old Miss Ochanya Ogbanje who was reportedly raped to death by her uncle and his son.  The Governor who announced the decision while briefing newsmen at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi, said the action was to immortalize the late Miss Ochanya considering the circumstances that led to her death.    He also directed the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, to carry out massive renovation work on the primary school to accord it a befitting standard. Governor Ortom expressed the hope that when the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, eventually releases its counterpart contribution to march the state government counterpart funding of N3.3 billion already deducted at source from the last tranche of Paris Club refund to the state, it would help to further improve infrastructure at the primary education level.  The post Governor Ortom names school after 13-year-old rape victim, Ochanya appeared first on emiratco Blog.
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Photos: 18-year-old cultist nabbed in Bayelsa for assaulting and attempting to snatch phone from victim

The Bayelsa State Volunteer Security Outfit, at the early hours of Wednesday,  14th November, apprehended18 year old cultist identified as Ebi Odoh from Torugbene in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.  The victim, Marvelous Peter from Imo State while reporting the incident to the media unit of the security outfit, said Eki Odoh and his friend were at the verge of attacking him just to forcefully collect an android phone from his pocket. But he was lucky as some men around the Tombia axis saw what was happening, and immediately rescued him while others apprehended the suspects.  Ebi Odoh has been arrested and is being held in custody by the anti-cultism unit as he confessed to be a member of the Dabam confraternity popularly known as Bobos.  His friend identified as Samuel is at large and investigations are ongoing to also arrest him.  The post Photos: 18-year-old cultist nabbed in Bayelsa for assaulting and attempting to snatch phone from victim appeared first on emiratco Blog.
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Oshiomhole has no moral ground to continue to be in politics, not to talk of being a party chairman - Bukola Saraki

Oshiomhole has nomoral ground to continue to be in politics, not to talk of being a party chairman - Bukola SarakiSenate President, Bukola Saraki on Wednesday hit out at the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, saying that he has lost all moral rights to remain in politics.   Speaking with journalists in Ilorin during the sixth remembrance prayer for his father, Saraki said Oshiomhole has ‘no locus standi to talk about morality in today’s Nigeria’s politics.“That must be a joke coming from Oshiomhole talking about moral ground. I think Oshiomhole has no locus standi to talk about morality today. Oshiomhole is somebody who has been told to have been collecting not even naira but dollars from candidates and he is being accused by his party’s aspirants and governors.I don’t think he has any moral ground, even to continue to be in politics, not to talk about being a chairman of a party. I remember in those days, even Oyegun, they never accused him of something like this.I have left that party. I’m sure the President, based on integrity, knows the right thing to do. So, on moral ground, he cannot speak.”The post Oshiomhole has nomoral ground to continue to be in politics, not to talk of being a party chairman - Bukola Saraki appeared first on emiratco blog
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Lady narrates how she was sexually harassed and extorted by SARS officers and it's really troubling

A lady has narrated a very troubling encounter she had with SARS officers who harassed her in Port Harcourt. Olorogun Mabel Peters said she woke up sick and went to get drugs but by the time she got back to her estate, some armed officer approached her and asked for her papers. When they saw that the papers were complete, they asked for her company ID and she explained she doesn't have it on her at the moment. They immediately accused her of stealing a car and drove her to the station where they then changed their story and claimed that she is one of the criminals they received a call about. They ended up detaining her and seized her phone. She went on to accuse one of the officers of sexual harassment while she was in their custody. She said they eventually asked her to pay N100,00 and drove her to an ATM to withdraw the money.She wrote:@opetodolapo Today is definitely one of my worst days.. I woke up a bit feverish with slight headache so I cancelled my activities for the day, at about 6:30pm I decided to go get drugs,because my condition seemed to be getting serious and also get pizza for my mum just 7mins drive away from my estate..On getting back to my estate, a blue Prado jeep stopped right in front of me and some armed men on uniform came out asking me to park for a search, I obliged, they went through all the vehicle papers and drivers license etc very much complete..The next question I was asked was they needed to see my company Id ,I tried to explain to them I didn't have it on me because I just drove out to get pizza from the next bus stop and they said I was under arrest for stealing a vehicle and I couldn't give them an ID of where I work, I obliged and we drove to their station and the whole story changed..One of the officers made a phone call and he said I was among the criminals they received a call about.. I tried to beg, I even showed proof of the medications I got, they gave me a paper to make a statement,in the process they took my phones from me and started going through my phone, from my chats call logs down to my bank mails etc....After spending 2hrs with them they demanded for a sum of 2million naira as my bail,for a crime I do not know.. This is pure wickedness and evil... I never stole, robbed, violated any rules etc... We finally came to an agreement after keeping me hostage from 6pm till 12am that I should pay them 100,000naira..One of the officers even approached me trying to sexually harass me!! This same men didn't even mind the time they comfortably drove me to an ATM machine so I could make a withdrawal for them... These men are criminals!!I was granted bail by 1:30am after spending 7good hours... Someone's hard earn money This Is totally unacceptable, Are you guys not meant to be protecting lives ? Why will you extort someone of their hard earn sweat!! I thought SARS had ended... (officers names are : officer Matt, Emma, security, Friday) The post Lady narrates how she was sexually harassed and extorted by SARS officers and it's really troubling appeared first on emiratco Blog.
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We will have to sack some of you to implement N30k minimum wage- Governors tells Labour

The Nigerian Governors Forum last night had a meeting in Abuja to deliberate on the N30, 000 minimum wage being demanded by the Nigeria Labour Congress. After the meeting, the governors stated that the only way they can afford the N30, 000 minimum wage is to downsize the civil service. According to them, they cannot affot to pay that amount with their current meager revenue allocation. Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and  Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, said that a committee will be put together to meet with President Buhari to discuss the need for an increase in state revenue allocations .“Following a meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum where we deliberated on the national minimum wage, governors resolved to re-strategise and put together another committee to meet with the President once again, to work out another formula towards quickly resolving the problem associated with the proposed N30.000 minimum wage which is impracticable unless labour agrees to a downsizing of the workforce all over the country or the Federal Government itself accedes to the review of the national revenue allocation formula. Members of the committee who were nominated to see the President include the governors of Lagos, Kebbi, Plateau, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi. Enugu and Kaduna.” he saidGovernor Yari said that he and his colleagues had seen the report of the Tripartite Committee report presented to President Muhammadu Buhari. The report suggested N30, 000 minimum wage. President Buhari last week received the rpeort and said he will study it and advice the national assembly members accordingly.Yari said that the committee did not consider the submission of the governors who had earlier said they could only afford to pay N22, 500 as minimum wage.“We have seen what has been presented to the President by the (Tripartite) Committee. As a member of the committee, our representative there said the committee did not take our submission of N22,500 because it came late. I am surprised. How can you do this without the input of the states because the states are the key stakeholders in this business. So, a situation whereby our report was not taken or considered by the Tripartite Committee … then I don’t know how the committee wants us to work.” he saidAccording to Governor Yari, the state governors really wnat to pay the N30, 000 but are currently constrained by their meager revenue.''We still say we want to pay,  but the issue is the ability to pay. If we say no, it is not about the ability to pay, just pay, I don’t know how this formulae will work and I don’t know how we can get a solution to the issue.We are paying N18,000 (as minimum wage today), but when the President assumed office, about 27 states were not able to pay, not that they chose not to pay. So, now you say N30,000, how many of them can pay? We will be bankrupt (if we pay). So as Nigerians, we should look at the issues seriously. While other people are saying that governors are riding jets and living in affluence, that one is not luxury but compulsory. Like Lagos that is paying about N7bn as salaries; if you say it should pay N30,000, now it will be N13bn. From our calculation, it is only Lagos State that will be able to pay N30,000. As Nigerians, this is our country; there is no other country we have and we should be fair to this country.”Speaking further, Governor Yari said “As for the way forward, we will continue to talk with Labour. Let them see reasons and difficulties some of us have. For instance, the money Lagos State is using to pay is not coming from Abuja. They have a way of getting their money from the IGR and that is why they can afford to pay. They get money through VAT (as well). Apart from Lagos, even Rivers State cannot afford to pay. So we have been crying out about this since 2011 but no one will listen.“One critical example is that some states ration their salaries while some others put everything they earn on the table and ask labour to come and see  and ask them to suggest how much should go for capital and personnel costs. Some say 70 per cent for personnel cost and 30 per cent for capital projects and yet the states cannot pay and they put the remaining as outstanding.”   The post We will have to sack some of you to implement N30k minimum wage- Governors tells Labour appeared first on emiratco Blog.
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Sylvester Stallone takes his wife Jennifer Flavin and daughter Sophia shopping in NYC (Photos)

On Wednesday, legendary Hollywood actor, Sylvester Stallone was spotted out with his wife Jennifer Flavin, 50, and his eldest daughter Sophia, 22 as he took them shopping in New York City.At one point, the trio who were stylishly dressed for the shopping trip were pictured posing for photos.Sylvester and Jennifer who tied the knot in1997, share three daughters Sophia, 22, Sistine, 20, and 16-year-old Scarlet Rose.See more photos below.The post Sylvester Stallone takes his wife Jennifer Flavin and daughter Sophia shopping in NYC (Photos) appeared first on emiratco Blog.
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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo - A Pastor only by name

Read the article by FFK below...No matter how hard he tries to make it look as if it is no big deal and no matter how much he ignores it and tries to brush it under the carpet, the 5.8 billion naira scandal in which the House of Representatives have indicted Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for theft, larceny, diversion, misapplication and misappropiation will not go away.No matter how much he tries to wash himself with his self-righteous soap and brush, the filthy stench of corruption and abuse of office will never leave him.No matter how many open markets he visits in a blaze of publicity and in a desperate attempt to prove that he is a man of the people, the bloated flies that customarily trail filth, garbage, open sewers and rejected goods will continue to follow him and raise fundamental questions about his infantile claim to holiness, infallibility and sainthood.Some have erroneously argued that Osinbajo could not have stolen the 5.8 billion or indulged in any form of wrongdoing because he is a Pastor.They also claim that the grievous, unproven and outrageous allegations that he has made against President Goodluck Jonathan, President Olusegun Obasanjo, the late President Umaru Yar'adua and indeed every single PDP-controlled Federal Government that was in power over the 16 years before our nation was afflicted with the Buhari plague and APC contagion three years ago must also be true, again because he is a Pastor.On both counts this is not only an intellectually lazy cotention but it is also pure hogwash. I say this because Osinbajo is far from being what many think he is. His conduct over the last three years has proved that conclusively.As far as I am concerned he is a Pastor only in name. In my view he is not a Pastor but an eager accomplice, common sidekick and ever-ready man-Friday to the most hated, despised, compromised, dishonest, brutal, divisive, incompetent, cruel and evil dictator that Nigeria has ever known.I say this because no real Pastor would do what he has done over the last three years and neither would any tolerate or participate in the evil that his boss and their government have unleashed on the Nigerian people since they came to power.Pastors see evil for what it is and fight it openly. Failing that they at least shun and condemn it. They certainly do not espouse it, enjoy it, wallow in it, encourage it, support it and thrive in its commission.They do not point fingers at the innocent and accuse them falsely and neither do they eulogise or deify the corrupt. They are not deceitful cowards who have sold their souls to the devil for cheap political gain, filthy lucre and a morsel at the tyrant's table.The truth is that it irritates me to no end when some refer to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as a Pastor. It is like referring to Judas Iscariot as a disciple of Jesus Christ or Rasputin as the Pope.The Bible says "thou shall know them by their fruits". It says "the devil presents itself as an angel of light". It speaks of "wolves in sheep's clothing". It talks about "shepherds that feed on the carcasses of their own flock".Osinbajo is a fake Pastor in the same way that Judas was a fake disciple and Rasputin was a fake priest. Like Judas and Rasputin he was secretly planted amongst the disciples and in the Church by satan.When you speak of Pastors you are referring to holy and selfless men who lift up, inspire and encourage others, who are filled with compassion and love, who are called to ministry by the Living God and who are deeply courageous and strong.These are tried and tested men and women who are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and the light of God. These are men and women that are driven by the quest for righteousness, justice and equity and who have no fear of tyrants, bullies or the agents of the devil.These are men and women who despise evil, wickedness and injustice and who support and assist the suffering, the deprived, the weak, the vulnerable, the wounded, the afflicted, the persecuted and the poor.These are men and women that speak truth to power and that give wicked rulers and heartless men of wealth and power sleepless nights.These are men and women that have successfully passed through the furnace of affliction, who have mastered their calling, who are clean-spirited, who are committed to spreading the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ fearlessly and who do not steal, kill, lie, bear false witness, falsely accuse, compromise with evil or seek to destroy their fellow human beings.When we talk about Pastors we are talking about a rare and special breed of people who are committed to   humanity, self-discipline and the work of God and who have chosen to answer the highest and most noble calling.When we talk about Pastors we are talking about men and women llik the late  Bishop Ajayi Crowther, the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa, the late Apostle Ayo Babalola, the late Rev. Timothy Obadare, Bishop David Oyedepo, Prophet T.B. Joshua, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, Dr. Paul Enenche, Bishop David Abioye, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Apostle Samson Suleiman, Dr. B.O. Ezekiel, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Archbishop Jasper Akinola, Bishop Emmanuel Gbonigi, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, Prophet Emmanuel Kobe, Pastor Rhoda Awiliki, Pastor Solomon Kayode Anjorin, Pastor Bayo Oladeji, Dr. Israel Akonji, Pastor Emmanuel Omata and so many others.When we talk about Pastors we are not talking about hopelessly compromised and morally challenged charlatans and crooked politicians like Osinbanjo who consistently attempt to defend the indefensible, who thrive on perfidy and falsehood, who  tell one hundred lies a day, who indulge in the most outrageous and brazen acts of corruption, who persecute the innocent, who collude with evil and bloodthirsty men, who encourage the perpetuation and commission of barbarity and wickedness, who turn a blind eye when lives are being destroyed, who refuse to raise their voices when innocent blood is being shed, who speak from both sides of their mouths and who encourage mass murder, genocide and ethnic cleansing.When we talk about Pastors we are talking about those that we revere, love and admire and not those that are only Pastor in name.The post Vice President Yemi Osinbajo - A Pastor only by name - by Femi Fani Kayode appeared first on emiratco Blog.
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Snoop Dogg to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Snoop Dogg is about to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.According to Variety, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced on Tuesday that Snoop would be honored with his star on November 19th. He will be receiving the 2,651st star and is being recognized in the recording category.Ana Martinez, the producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame said:Snoop Dogg is one of those people who can do anything. He raps, he acts, he hosts a television show, he cooks, and helps community kids with his philanthropic work. He is a man of the ages and we welcome him to our Hollywood Walk of Fame.The post Snoop Dogg to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame appeared first on emiratco Blog.
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Woman left in coma after botched nose job in Mexico

A Dallas woman is fighting for her life after she went to Mexico for a nose job which wasn't successful.The botched procedure put real estate agent Laura Avila in a coma and her family is desperately trying to get her better medical care. Avila traveled to Ciudad Juarez last month to save money on the plastic surgery, as it's significantly cheaper there. But, according to her lawyer, the anesthesia used on her was administered incorrectly and way too early.The clinic staff allegedly left Avila under anesthesia for hours because the head doctor was running late. As a result, Laura suffered severe brain swelling and went into a coma. Laura was stuck in Mexico for 8 days before her family could finally transfer her to a hospital in El Paso, Texas, where doctors revealed she'd have to be kept alive with breathing tubes and machines, or be taken off life support. The family now wants a second opinion in Dallas but they're having problems getting her admitted to a hospital in Dallas because she lacks insurance.Her family has now created a GoFundMe account to help pay for her treatment.The post Woman left in coma after botched nose job in Mexico appeared first on emiratco Blog.
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Channing Tatum reportedly dating Jessie J and people say she bears a striking resemblance to his ex-wife Jenna

Actor Channing Tatum and singer Jessie J are officially an item just months after he split from Jenna Dewan after 9 years of marriage.A possible romance between Channing and Jessie J was first reported last month when a source spoke about their relationship with People and said, “It’s very new.” Then, on Tuesday Nov 13th, Channing revealed via Instagram that he was at Jessie J’s show at the Royal Albert Hall in London and he gushed about her performance. He said, “This woman just poured her heart out on stage at the Royal Albert Hall. Whoever was there got to witness something special. Wow.”He also took to his Instagram story to write, “She went off tonight! #RoseTour.” A source reportedly told People, “Channing is her biggest fan. He flies all over the U.S. to attend her concerts.”Earlier this month, Tatum took his 5-year-old daughter to see Jessie J at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angles.Back in April Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan announced their separation after nine years of marriage.  Channing and Jenna Social media users have pointed out that Jessie J and Jenna Dewan share a striking resemblance.The post Channing Tatum reportedly dating Jessie J and people say she bears a striking resemblance to his ex-wife Jenna appeared first on EMIRATCO
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Adorable photos of Helen Paul, her husband and their children

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ASUU STRIKE: STUDENTS HAVE TO STAY LONG AT HOME, AS DSS ARREST STRIKE LEADERS


The government seem not to be ready to negotiate with ASUU and they have even decided to take hard measures against the lecturers.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has detained the Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) chapters of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) and Bauchi State University, Gadau, Dr Adamu Babayo.
The Vice Chairman of the association, Dr Ibrahim Maina, condemned the action at a joint press conference on Sunday in Bauchi.
Maina alleged that Babayo was detained by the DSS operatives on Sunday, when he was invited to the department’s headquarters in Bauchi.
He said: “the ASUU Chairman, Adamu Babayo was invited through a Short Service Message (SMS) which is not a formal way of invitation.
“On Friday he received a text message requesting him to report to the DSS office in Bauchi on Sunday. He went to the office together with some of the executives of the association.
“The DSS operatives requested other members of his entourage to leave and detained him in their office,” he said.
Maina said that the action was a violation of fundamental human rights and queried the DSS to explain the reasons behind the arrest.
“Let them explain to us why he was detained. That will give us the idea of what needs to be done.
“If the detention is in connection with the ongoing strike; it is a nationwide strike embarked on by the universities in the country and not a peculiar or personal problem.
What wrong have we done by pressing for our rights through the strike,” he queried.
Maina maintained that industrial action is the rights of a worker as enshrined in the civil service act, which enable workers to press home their demands.
However, a DSS official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, denied the allegation, insisting that Babayo was not detained but invited to answer some questions.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ASUU had on Nov. 5 embarked on an indefinite strike to press for implementation of the agreement reached with Federal Government in 2017.
It this move a wise one by the government
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2019: Ndigbo happy with Buhari on road construction – Ohanaeze

The apex Igbo organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo on Monday applauded President Muhammadu Buhari on the area of road construction in the region.

The National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro made this known while briefing journalists in Abakaliki.

He, however, stated that the South east region will soon take a stand on who to support in the forthcoming general election.

Isiguzoro noted that Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are good presidential candidates but Igbo will soon decide on who to vote in the 2019 election.

He, however, called on Buhari to fulfill his pledge on reactivation of the famous Enugu Coal Mine, which he made during his campaign tour in 2015.

“In 2015, when President Muhammadu Buhari was seeking our votes, he did promise us that he would reactivate the ‘Enugu Coal Mine’ but till date the place is still moribund.

“And on who to vote as President come 2019, I want to state here categorically that we are yet to take a stand”, he stressed.

Isiguzoro also condemned the slow pace of work by contractors handling the ongoing rehabilitation of some federal roads in the region, noting that the delay had claimed so many lives.

“I must tell you that the people of South east region is happy with President Buhari’s ingenuity particularly in the area of road rehabilitation, like the Enugu-Onitsha, Enugu-Okigwe and Port Harcourt highways.

“So, we are using this opportunity to ask the contractors to hasty up because Christmas season is just around the corner. Another reason is that many lives have been lost on road accidents along those roads”, he added.

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El-Zakzaky: Iranians threaten to overthrow Buhari

Some protesters in Iran have threatened to overthrow the government of President Muhammadfu Buhari in order to secure the release of Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).

Zakyzaky has been in detention since December 2015 when his followers clashed with some soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna state.

The sect leader has been granted bail but the federal government has refused to free him.

In a trending video, the Iranians with different placards chanted “Free free Zakzaky”.

The leader of the protesters criticised the Buhari government over the continued detention of leader.

“The judge of Nigeria ordered that Zakzaky and his members to be freed but the government didn’t listen to that and so we are calling on them to free Zakzaky,” he said.

“The government of Nigeria should know that it cannot keep Zakzaky forever in the detention and in jail, In Sha Allah, by overthrowing the tyrannical government, we will free Zakzaky and teach Nigeria and its people a good lesson.”

Last week, the IMN lambasted the Nigeria Police for describing Shiites as terrorists.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International said its investigation shows that the horrific use of excessive force by soldiers and police led to the killing of at least 45 supporters of the IMN in two days.

AI disclosed that its researchers visited five different locations in Abuja and Nasarawa state where wounded IMN supporters were receiving treatment, including two locations where bodies were deposited.

“We have seen a shocking and unconscionable use of deadly force by soldiers and police against IMN members”, said Osai Ojigho, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria in a statement on Wednesday.

“Video footage and eyewitness testimonies consistently show that the Nigerian military dispersed peaceful gatherings by firing live ammunition without warning, in clear violation of Nigerian and international law.

“Those injured were shot in different parts of the body – head, neck, back, chest, shoulder, legs, arms – and some of them had multiple gunshot wounds. This pattern clearly shows soldiers and police approached IMN processions not to restore public order, but to kill.”

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Kano Assembly minority leader dumps PDP for PRP

The Minority leader Kano State House of Assembly representing Kura/Garun Malam constituency, Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammad-Chiromawa has defected from the PDP to the PRP.

Chiromawa announced his defection while briefing newsmen on Monday in Kano.

According to him, he defected in order to join his political god father, Alhaji Salihu Sagir-Takai, who recently dumped the PDP for PRP.

“PDP is no longer politically habitable, that is why Iam leaving the party to better my political career and also to avoid being trapped in a political cross-fire looking the party”, NAN quoted him as saying.

He, however, added that his decision was due to the gross impunity and power tussle bedevilling the two major parties in the state.

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2019: Over 1.3million PVCs collected in Ondo – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Ondo State has disclosed that a total of 1,372,158 Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, have been collected by electorates in Ondo State.

According to the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in the state, Dr. Rufus Akeju who addressed newsmen on Monday in Akure, the Ondo State capital, a total of 364,265 PVCs were still uncollected.

The REC noted that as at last registration, a total of 1,736,423 voters had been registered across the 3009 polling units in the state.

According to the REC, the display of preliminary register of voters would commence between November 6th and November 12th 2018 in all the polling units across the state.

Stating that the exercise was in line with the provision of section 19 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, Dr. Akeju emphasized that PVCs will be available at the Registration Area for collection by those who were yet to collect theirs.

“This will be done at all the polling units across the state. Voters are expected to visit the polling units where they registered to check the details of their registration and complain if there is any misrepresentation in the displayed register against their names.

“The Revision Officers (REVO) will be located at the Registration Area Collation Centers to hear complaints from voters on their registration details.

“Members of the public are enjoined to please avail themselves of this opportunity to ensure a very clean register. They are also enjoined to maintain orderliness throughout the exercise,” he said.

He added that the last two days of the exercise would be for the claims and objections which would be handled by the Revision Officers.

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Senate moves to investigate NNPC over alleged diversion of NLNG’s N378b

The Senate has resolved to probe the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Maikanti Baru on resumption.

This is over the alleged diversion of N378 billion dividend from the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, to defray the cost of under-recovery in the importation of fuel.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki disclosed this in a statement signed by his media adviser and publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu.

He said “Senate on resumption of plenary we will further probe the claims made before the Senator Ahmad Lawan’s Adhoc Committee by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), on how and why the corporation was diverting the dividend from the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) to defray the cost of under-recovery in the importation of fuel”.

Saraki who gave this hint while reacting to questions from newsmen at the Ilorin Airport, admitted that he had received series of telephone calls on the issue by many concerned Nigerians and others who wanted to know the position of the Senate on the issues raised by the NNPC’s GMD before the Ahmad Lawan’s Adhoc Committee.

The Senate President averred that the disclosure by the NNPC boss in response to enquiries by the Senate adhoc committee probing the issue of illegal payment of subsidy on fuel, called for further investigation by the Senate and also showed that as alleged in a motion moved earlier by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi, a lot of illegal and unapproved spendings are going on in the petroleum corporation.

In his words, “Let me assure Nigerians that there will be no cover up. We are confident that the adhoc committee will do a thorough job. All the issues will be unearthed. That is why when the Senate set up investigative committees on issues, we want Nigerians to have confidence in us that we do not act because we want to embark on a wild goose chase. There must be some serious issues to be looked into. The revelations by the NNPC’s GMD have justified the need for this investigation and they have shown that we are acting in good faith.

“When in my ruling on the motion raised by Senator Olujimi, I insisted that we want a transparent, honest and non-partisan investigation on the fuel subsidy issue, it was clear to me and my colleagues that there are certain irregularities being perpetrated and we should let Nigerians know the truth. That is why we set up the committee in the first place and to demonstrate the seriousness we attach to the issue, we decided that the adhoc committee should be led by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan.

“We are however shocked that the NNPC’s GMD was claiming that the illegal diversion of dividends from the NLNG which should be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation for the purpose of funding the fuel subsidy was done ‘in compliance with the National Assembly directive that NNPC as the supplier of last resort should, and has, maintained robust petrol supply’.

“So, if the National Assembly called on NNPC to carry out its legitimate duty of ensuring adequate fuel supply to Nigerians, the GMD logically thinks the corporation by that call has the license to perpetrate illegality, spend money without approval and violate appropriation laws. It is my belief that if the National Assembly said the corporation should perform its duty effectively as a supplier of fuel to Nigerians without exposing people to needless suffering, that ought to be done within the ambit of the law.

“This investigation will require the GMD to produce the approval given by the National Assembly and other necessary approving bodies authorizing the NNPC to divert the dividend from the NLNG investment, which ought to be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund belonging to the three tiers of government, for the payment of fuel subsidy.”

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Wike blasts EFCC, insists commission won’t investigate Rivers govt

Governor of Rivers Dtate, Nyesom Wike says he will resist any attempt by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate his officials and adminstration.

Wike said this while accusing the anti-graft agency of engaging in media trial in the prosecution of corruption cases.

The Rivers Governor made the accusation on Monday on Channels Television’s Road Map 2019.

According to him, the masses were tired of the alleged persecution of some individuals.

He further called for collaborative efforts in curbing what he described as impunity in the anti-corruption war.

Wike added: “EFCC are not working, they cannot do it on their own. That is the problem we are having. You cannot just come and say this man is corrupt.

“Then the whole world will come and say that they are doing their work. We are tired of that.

“My administration will resist attempts by the commission to investigate my government or summon its officials.”

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N30,000 Minimum wage: Medical, health workers vow to shutdown hospitals

The Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has said it would join the indefinite strike championed by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, over the controversy trailing the proposed N30,000 new minimum wage.

MHWUN President, Biobelomoye Josiah, made this known on Monday at a news conference in Abuja.

He said members of the union would withdraw their services and consequently shutdown operations in their various places of work by midnight today in compliance with the directives issued to affiliate unions by the NLC.

Josiah also said the government should be held responsible for any hardships that may occur owing to their withdrawal of services in hospitals nationwide.

He explained that the tripartite agreement which arrived at the N30,000.00 minimum wage increment has been jettisoned by the government, adding that the lacked the political will to review and implement the legitimate demands of the Nigerian workers:

His words: “You may recall our National Body, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the organised labour have called on all workers in Nigeria to gear up for an indefinite nationwide strike which will commence Mid-night today.

“This is as a result of the failure to implement the constitutional requiremnt of the upward review of the national minimum wage which is long over due.

“We call on our members to remain resolute and be committed to the effective and orderly implementation of the nationwide strike commencing Tuesday except the government has a change of heart before then. It’s very obvious that the N18,000.00 National Minimum wage is no longer feasible and it is a trivialisation of a living wage.

“The government should be held responsible for the hardship that might occur (in hospitals) during the strike which ab initio should have been avoided, if the right thing had been done.

“Therefore we call on the government to increase the minimum wage to N30,000 which is a compromise figure agreed by the government and labour,” he added

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N30,000 Minimum wage: What NYSC told corps members about labour strike

The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has warned serving corps members against joining the strike declared by organised labour unions over the controversy trailing the proposed N30,000 minimum wage.

Director-General, Brigadier General Suleiman Kazaure gave this warning on Monday while addressing 2018 Batch “C” Stream One Corps Members at Ogun State Orientation Camp in Sagamu.

A statement by NYSC’s Director of Press, Mrs Adenike Aderemi quoted Kazaure as urging corps members nationwide to be law-abiding and respect the constitution of the country as responsible leaders of today and tomorrow.

He said: “there is no provision for strike action in NYSC Act but services that will uphold the corporate entity of the nation. Any Corps Member that violates the rules and regulations of the NYSC Scheme would be sanctioned accordingly.”

Speaking further, General Kazaure promised that NYSC Management would continue to strive for the improved welfare and security of all Corps Members.

He used the forum to appeal to the Corps Members to embrace skill acquisition in order to reduce the increasing rate of unemployment as it would enable the become wealth creators and employers of labour.

Ogun State Coordinator, Mrs Josephine Bakare in her brief remarks, lamented the inadequate accommodation for Corps Members and Camp Officials and the need to expand the lecture hall in order to accommodate more Corps Members during lectures and other social activities.

She also disclosed that the attention of the State Government has been drawn to non-payment of State allowance to Corps Members.

“Corps Members with serious health challenges were given instant relocation. 21 nursing mothers and 4 Corps Members got instant relocation on health grounds”, Bakare added.

A total of 2,464 Corps Members comprising 1,207 males and 1,257 females registered in Ogun Camp.

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Gov Shettima swears in 21 commissioners, appoints new SAs, Health Board CMD [Full list]

Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, has approved the allocation of ministries ‎to 21 new commissioners.

The officials were sworn-in on Monday at the Government House in Maiduguri, the state capital.

Secretary to the State Government, Usman Jidda Shuwa announced the portfolios in a statement obtained by EMIRATCO POST.

Shettima has also approved the appointment of Dr Mohammed Aminu Ghuluze as the new Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Borno State Health Management Board.

Shuwa said the Governor further appointed three Special Advisers, including two former members of house of Representatives, Shettima Shehu and Abba Dawud Lawan as well as Ibrahim Mohammed Askirama.

The SSG explained the new CMD, Dr Ghuluze, is to replace the immediate past CMD, Dr Salisu Kwaya‎bura who has been sworn-in as Commissioner of Health and Human Services, following his appointment by Governor Shettima.

Until his appointment, the new CMD, who is a surgeon, was the director of emergency and humanitarian services at the Borno State Ministry of Health.

The SSG added that the three newly appointed Advisers will be sworn-in on Tuesday at the Government House in Maiduguri while the CMD’s appointment takes immediate effect.

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UPDATED: PHOTOS of WAEC Presenting Cert to President Buhari Today

The West African Examination Council has presented attestation certificate and confirmation of school certificate result to President Muhammadu Buhari.


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ASUU embarks on indefinite strike


  The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced the commencement of an indefinite nationwide strike with immediate effect.

The decision was announced at the end of an emergency meeting on Sunday night.

This came just as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is also preparing to commence a nationwide strike on Tuesday, October 6th, 2018 over a disagreement between the organised labour union and the governments on the N30,000 minimum wage.

Briefing newsmen after the closed-door meeting, ASUU president, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, said the strike will be total and with immediate effect.

He listed the reasons for their action to include: Failure on the side of the government to honour the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed between the union and the federal government in 2017.

He also mentioned that renegotiation with ASUU which the government intentionally ignored with impunity was part of the reasons for the strike.

Professor Ogunyemi, therefore, directed all the state chapters to ensure full compliance until their demands are met.

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BREAKING: Labour shuns meeting with FG over new minimum wage

Members of the Organised Labour, on Sunday, were absent at the reconciliatory meeting with the Federal Government over the non-implementation of the N30, 000 new National Minimum Wage for the workers in the country.

Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) said on Sunday that the meeting was part of the exercise that ought to be undertaken as part of the ongoing negotiation.

He said the meeting was to ensure a complete report to be submitted to the presidency on the issues of the new National Minimum Wage.

Mustapha said that the Tripartite Committee has been working assiduously, but there were outstanding issues that needed to be dealt with, and that was the reason for the rescheduling of the meeting.

“Basically, the only outstanding issue to be dealt with was the harmonisation of the 5th chapter of the report, and thereafter get the figures to be submitted to the government.

“The inaugural speech by Mr President included some very salient points, that caused me to reflect on the work of this committee, and one of it is that there is emphasis that the committee will by consensual agreement arrival at all their decisions and I think that was very important.

“Mr president went further to emphasis that the concern is not only for the welfare of the workers but also every other thing should be taken on board as it affects the county’s economy.

“So, it is a balance of the welfare of the workforce with the effect of the new Minimum Wage on the economy.

“He also underpinned his speech by emphasising the fact we earn to go above basic social protection for Nigerian workers, but also tie to the ability to pay, because I know that a lot of states are even having difficulty meeting the basic minimum wage,” he said.

The SGF also noted that 27 states were faced with the difficulty in the payment of the basic minimum wage that was agreed, saying that he was not making any excuse for them.

He added that the meeting would continue tomorrow (Monday), thereafter members of the tripartite committee would continue with their meeting.

“I want to assure all of you that once the report is concluded and ready, I will personaly ensure that Mr President receives and signs it immediately,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Joe Ajaero, President, United Labour Congress (ULC) told NAN that members of the organised labour got the invitation to the meeting late.

“But hopefully, we will be around for tomorrow’s (Monday) meeting by 11a.m,” he said.

All efforts to get other members of the organised labour proved abortive.

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New minimum wage: What Ngige said after labour leaders boycotted meeting with FG

Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment has said organised labour would attend a meeting with the federal government on the contentious new minimum wage on Monday.

He spoke Sunday night in Abuja after labour leaders failed to show up for the scheduled meeting.

“They are not here today and they gave excuse why they are not here”, Ngige told newsmen.

“We also want to say that we do not support the State governments’ N22,500 proposal and we have also said so.

“We also have our own figure and the Tripartite Committee meeting will look at it and the outcome of the Monday’s meeting will be a consensual, I am sure of that, ” he said.

Mr Joe Ajaero, President, United Labour Congress (ULC) told NAN that members of the organised labour got the invitation to the meeting late.

“But hopefully, we will be around for tomorrow’s (Monday) meeting by 11a.m,” he said.

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2019 election: Cleric raises alarm

The Senior Pastor, Father’s Touch Ministry Church, Nyanya, Abuja, Pastor Evans Idoko, has accused some politicians of using religion and ethnicity to divide Nigerians ahead of the 2019 election.

Idoko made the allegation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Abuja.

“It’s regrettable that the unity of Nigerian is strengthened during sporting activities and otherwise becomes the case during electioneering activities.

“It is an indication that politicians have taken pleasure in using religion to divide Nigerians against themselves for political or selfish reasons. It must stop forthwith! Nigerians must resist it because it will take us nowhere,” he said.

He recalled with nostalgia how Muslims and Christians lived together peacefully some years back irrespective of religious or ethnic differences.

He said such divisions have been responsible for the obvious hatred among Nigerians, which, he said, has slowed down socio-economic and political development in the country.

“As 2019 political activities gather momentum, we appeal to politicians seeking elective offices to eschew hatred and bitterness, and promote courses that will promote peace and unity among Nigerians,” he said.

Idoko advised that the church should take the front row in moblising Nigerians to participate in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

“It doesn’t come by words alone. We have to take a step further to empower people educationally, financially and otherwise so they could have voice and knowledge to take their rightful place in Nigerian political and economic discussions,” he said.

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The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Paul Arkwright, announced in Abuja on Sunday that Prince Charles would engage in peace-building activities, including addressing the persistent attacks of herdsmen on farming communities in Nigeria. The Prince of Wales and his wife, Princess Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall are expected in Nigeria from Nov. 6 to Nov. 8 in a high profile visit during which the royals would also have audience with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa. Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) ahead of the visit, Arkwright said that one of the events on the agenda was for Prince Charles to discuss practical solutions to alleviating the tensions, arising from the activities of herdsmen. “People do want to come together and if we can provide that kind of environment then hopefully, we can come up with some ideas and solutions to resolving some of these conflicts”, he said. “Some of the issues like the farmers/herders crisis are deep-rooted and are about the economy, land resource, climate change and cultural issues. “The Prince of Wales will be looking at the causes, talking to people who are working in this area and together, seeing if we can find solutions and move on.” Arkwright said that addressing the root causes of conflicts would lead to a peaceful and more prosperous Nigeria and also become beneficial to the relations between Nigeria and Britain. He noted that the visit was also aimed at strengthening the existing ties between Nigeria and Britain as members of the Commonwealth. Prince Charles, who took over as the Head of the 53-member Commonwealth of Nations last April, succeeding his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, has already visited 44 African nations. “Prince Charles has not been here since the past 12 years. 2006 was the last time he was here and the Duchess of Cornwall, has never been to Nigeria. So it is about strengthening ties, particularly people-to-people ties. “We want to ensure that through the Commonwealth, which is another theme of the prince’s visit, we develop links to develop relationships whether in trade, environment or in education, all of which are important to the future of the Commonwealth and to the future of Nigeria.” The top diplomat said that other events lined up on the agenda of the visit would focus on culture, music, fashion, among others. “Prince Charles will be talking about rural livelihoods, agriculture, the environment, some of the passions that he has which is so relevant to Nigeria today and to young people and the importance of getting young people into jobs. “One of his passions as well is how do we build the skills of young people so that they will be equipped for the world. “There is a whole range of interests that he has and I think Nigeria is a wonderful place to come to because it brings together all of these interests.” The duchess is also to engage in literary activities with children and some Nigerian authors, while the prince would meet with traditional rulers and hold peace-building meeting with Nigerian youth ambassadors.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Lagos State chapter has vowed to expose Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as not fit and proper to govern the state.

The leading opposition party in the country said this in a statement issued on Sunday by its Lagos state Publicity Secretary, Barrister Taofik Gani in Lagos.

The party also said Sanwo-Olu will lose the 2019 governorship election irrespective of the endorsements he received from political parties in the state.

The statement reads: “At the appropriate time, we shall expose Sanwo-Olu as truly not fit and proper to be elected governor of Lagos State.

“Sanwoolu is a ‘bad market’ that cannot appeal to Lagosians even if he buys political parties beyond the registered ones in the country.

“Indeed the emergence is tainted with desperation to have someone as governor who will rather fund the APC leaders. Lagosians will not forget that this is the Lagos APC reason for dropping Governor Ambode.

“To us, the consequence of the Sanwo-Olu imposition is the terminal acrimony, defections and anti-party in the Lagos APC, which we shall duly capitalise on to end the reign of APC in Lagos state,” he said.

The PDP further described Sanwo-Olu as an emergency candidate who is unprepared for the job compared to the PDP candidate, Jimi Agbaje whose blueprint to free Lagos had been on since 2006.

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What Prince Charles will do in Nigeria during visit

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Paul Arkwright, announced in Abuja on Sunday that Prince Charles would engage in peace-building activities, including addressing the persistent attacks of herdsmen on farming communities in Nigeria.

The Prince of Wales and his wife, Princess Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall are expected in Nigeria from Nov. 6 to Nov. 8 in a high profile visit during which the royals would also have audience with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) ahead of the visit, Arkwright said that one of the events on the agenda was for Prince Charles to discuss practical solutions to alleviating the tensions, arising from the activities of herdsmen.

“People do want to come together and if we can provide that kind of environment then hopefully, we can come up with some ideas and solutions to resolving some of these conflicts”, he said.

“Some of the issues like the farmers/herders crisis are deep-rooted and are about the economy, land resource, climate change and cultural issues.

“The Prince of Wales will be looking at the causes, talking to people who are working in this area and together, seeing if we can find solutions and move on.”

Arkwright said that addressing the root causes of conflicts would lead to a peaceful and more prosperous Nigeria and also become beneficial to the relations between Nigeria and Britain.

He noted that the visit was also aimed at strengthening the existing ties between Nigeria and Britain as members of the Commonwealth.

Prince Charles, who took over as the Head of the 53-member Commonwealth of Nations last April, succeeding his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, has already visited 44 African nations.

“Prince Charles has not been here since the past 12 years. 2006 was the last time he was here and the Duchess of Cornwall, has never been to Nigeria. So it is about strengthening ties, particularly people-to-people ties.

“We want to ensure that through the Commonwealth, which is another theme of the prince’s visit, we develop links to develop relationships whether in trade, environment or in education, all of which are important to the future of the Commonwealth and to the future of Nigeria.”

The top diplomat said that other events lined up on the agenda of the visit would focus on culture, music, fashion, among others.

“Prince Charles will be talking about rural livelihoods, agriculture, the environment, some of the passions that he has which is so relevant to Nigeria today and to young people and the importance of getting young people into jobs.

“One of his passions as well is how do we build the skills of young people so that they will be equipped for the world.

“There is a whole range of interests that he has and I think Nigeria is a wonderful place to come to because it brings together all of these interests.”

The duchess is also to engage in literary activities with children and some Nigerian authors, while the prince would meet with traditional rulers and hold peace-building meeting with Nigerian youth ambassadors.

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2019: We are done with Omisore – SDP

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Atakunmosa West Local Government Council of Osun State has dumped the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the just concluded governorship election, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

It also endorsed the Osun East senatorial candidature of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Chief Francis Fadahunsi in the forthcoming general election.

The party chairman in the area, Chief Joshua Ogunleye, made this known to newsmen on Sunday when Adenigba Fadahunsi and his team visited his home in Osun.

Ogunleye said the party was done with Senator Iyiola Omisore in the area.

“The deal that SDP in the local government had with Omisore was terminated with the last gubernatorial election,” he said.

He stressed that the SDP was ready to work with the PDP candidate to ensure victory at the poll.

The SDP leader then solicited for the support of his followers for the PDP candidate, noting he was capable of transforming the zone.

In his response, Prince Fadahunsi recalled past dealings with Ogunleye and commended his host for his commitment to the welfare of his people.

Fadahunshi assured him that his place in PDP was always secured, and that the party would continue to accord him respect.

The former customs boss who also pleaded with SDP leaders to return to PDP, said: “Please, let’s return home and together, we shall rescue our land from the invaders.”

The event was witnessed by the local and ward Executive of the SDP in Atakumosa East local government.

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Amaechi’s convoy runs into kidnap scene in Rivers

Former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has rescued a kidnapped victim along the Omoku-Egbeda road in Rivers State.

Reports say Amaechi was on his way for an All Progressives Congress, APC, function in Ubimini Community, Emohua when he saw a Lexus SUV abandoned in the bush.

Emiratco reports that Amaechi who was leading his convoy consequently stopped by and ordered his security team to comb the forest in search of the occupants of the vehicle.

It was disclosed that the security personnel in the Minister’s convoy rescued one of the occupants of the abandoned Lexus Jeep.

The victims, it was gathered, turned out to be members of APC, who were attending the PVC sensitisation rally in Ubimini where the Minister was to address party supporters.

One of the rescued victims, Edi Chinda Edi said, “We were on our way to Ubimini for the APC programme when the kidnappers armed with AK-47 riffles barricaded the road and attacked us.’

A statement from the Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi Media Office obtained by DAILY POST said, “worried about the safety of other victims who were yet to be found, Amaechi directed some of his security personnel to continue the search and ensure that the remaining victims were rescued and their abductors arrested and prosecuted according to law.”

The Rivers State Police command is yet to confirm the incident.

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WAEC certificate: Oby Ezekwesili attacks Buhari, Atiku

The presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN, Oby Ezekwesili, has lambasted President Muhammadu Buhari and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for wasting time on WAEC certificate when Nigeria is facing a fiscal emergency.

She was reacting to the news that two top financial institutions, HSBC and UBS, have left Nigeria.

Ezekwesili stated that Nigerians should be alarmed by the CBN-acknowledged drop in foreign direct investments, FDI, and closure of the two global bank offices.

In a statement the former minister of Education sent to DAILY POST on Saturday, she said the decline in FDI was a pointer to the weakening investor confidence in Nigeria’s macro-economic policies and commitment to key structural reforms.

“The latest decline in the on FDI numbers ($1.7billion in the first half of 2017 compared to $1.2billion in 2018) signifies the weak confidence of foreign investors in the macroeconomic policies and commitment to key structural reforms in power, oil, gas and minerals sector of the administration.

“The country faces a fiscal crisis. It scarcely has the capacity to fund Capex out of revenues other than through borrowing. Problem is that debts (local and foreign) have risen, taking up with it, debt servicing which is now 69 per cent of revenue,” Ezekwesili stated.

“And yet the #APCPDP is having a debate over WAEC certificate. WAEC certificate? Do these people understand how serious and urgent Nigeria’s crisis is now?”

According to the former vice president of the World Bank, “Our campaign has outlined critical steps as part of our State of Emergency on the Economy within our first 100 days in office, ensuring confidence-boosting economic policy reforms in key sectors that signal positively to the private sector.”

While noting that the nation’s economic growth at 2 per cent is both too fragile and weak, mostly dependent on oil price recovery, she said, “We can no longer afford to be led by those who have no understanding of building economies, creating wealth for the majority and stimulating productivity, competitiveness and opportunity.

“Nigerians should wake up and see what we are facing. These men running for office don’t get it, and this is an emergency.“ .

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New minimum wage: Falana reveals why it’s illegal for Governors to determine amount

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has stated that it will be illegal for states to determine what they can pay as minimum wage.

According to him, the minimum wage was deliberately placed in the exclusive legislative list, to ensure uniformity in application.

Falana stated this at a tweet conference/roundtable to mark the International Day to end Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI) 2018.

“I have heard arguments that every state should be allowed to determine what they can pay. But all the governors earn the same salary apart from allowances and security vote.

“All legislators earn the same no matter where they come from. Every Senator earns about N15million per month. So on the ground of equality, that argument cannot be sustained.

“Secondly, labour and industrial matters are in the exclusive legislative list, deliberately so. Otherwise, you’ll have starvation wages and state government that will not pay salaries at all,” he said.

Falana also stated that it was only when it involved addressing the terrible living conditions of the poor, that the government talks about inflation.

“You must also understand that this is a class matter. The members of the ruling class, regardless of political parties, are one and the same when it comes to addressing the problems of the poor.

“So the legislators who earn N15million believe that if you increase minimum wage from N18,000 to N30,000, there will be inflation. So, the government can pay if it wants to pay,” Falana said.

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FRSC recruitment: JAMB conducts examination for 15,000 candidates

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Saturday said it has conducted recruitment examination for about 15,000 candidates of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) across the country.

The Registrar of the board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed this to newsmen during the conduct of the exercise in Abuja.

The exercise, he said, was being conducted at the board’s Computer Based Test (CBT) centres across the country and has so far been reported successful, except for a centre in Taraba.

“There has been no problem; all centres are doing well but at a centre in Taraba, some of their computers malfunctioned but we have ordered an immediate relocation of the candidates to another centre,” he said.

Oloyede reiterated the board’s readiness to deliver a transparent system for all forms of examinations conducted through the CBT system of the board.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, FRSC Corps Marshal, in July said that the corps would recruit additional 4,650 officers and procure new operational vehicles to improve road safety management in the country.

According to him, the corps will employ the best in road safety management in the second part of the year.

A NAN correspondent who visited one of the centres at Bwari Abuja, reports that two alleged imposters were apprehended by security agents at the centre while trying to access the examination with same printout which had the same seat number.

One of them, Apeh Baba, who spoke to newsmen after being apprehended, said he mistakenly picked his friend’s photocopy of the examination printout from home and decided to attempt to use it.

He however begged to be forgiven for the illicit act, while awaiting to be handed over to the police for further action.

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Ekiti PDP stakeholders sack Fayose as leader, install Senator Olujimi

In what may be seen as a coup, some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Saturday appointed the Senator representing Ekiti South, Mrs Biodun Olujimi, as the leader of the party in Ekiti State and the South-West.

In the same manner, the stakeholders passed a vote of no-confidence on the Chief Gboyega Oguntuase-led State Working Committee of the party in Ekiti, calling on the National Chairman of the party, Chief Uche Secondus, to dissolve the executive and set up a caretaker committee to pilot the party’s affairs.

There was ominous sign of crisis in the PDP on Thursday, when some party members stormed the party secretariat in Ado Ekiti and locked it up, which signaled that they no longer had confidence in the party leadership in the state.

The stakeholders said they decided to call for the disbandment of the State executive due to alleged financial recklessness being exhibited by the SWC.

In a communiqué signed at the end of the stakeholders’ meeting held in Ado Ekiti on Saturday, the party said it took the decision to install Olujimi as leader since she is the most top-ranking elected official in the state and the Southwest.

The resolution, signed and read by the Protem Secretary of the PDP Stakeholders and former Assembly member, Hon Bunmi Olugbade, also overruled the SWC on the suspension of former State Secretary of the party, Dr. Tope Aluko , saying he remains a bonafide member of the party.

The leaders also resolved to back the candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other candidates in Ekiti to win the 2019 elections.

It said: “We are poised to reposition and return the PDP back to the people and therefore call on the party leadership to constitute an independent committee to look into the affairs of the party in Ekiti state with a view to repositioning the party for the 2019 elections.

“that there is an urgent need for reconciliation and the panacea for true reconciliation is the immediate dissolution of the present state working committee of the PDP and a constitution of caretaker committee.

“that we appreciate the efforts of Dr. Aluko in discovering and detecting the illegal and suspicious withdrawals from by members of the SWC and hereby urge Senator Olujimi to liaise with the national working committee to freeze the party’s account in Ekiti with immediate effect.

“That Senator Olujimi should constitute Advisory committee in all the 16 local governments to midwife reconciliation and also Finance to strategise and mobilise funds for the party.

“That we appeal to our members who are aggrieved or sitting on the fence to come back to the party. Again, we stand by our party national exco , our presidential candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku , the various candidates in Ekiti State and promise to vote for them substantially,” it concluded.

Senator Olujimi said ex-Governor Ayo Fayose was excluded from the meeting because he had just been released from detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged financial fraud.

“We knew what he might have passed through by staying in detention and we know it might not be easy for him to attend this meeting, so there is no faction at all in our party. My being appointed the Leader does not mean there is crisis.

“The very day he left office was the day he was summoned by EFCC and we knew the rigour he had passed through”, she added.

She added further: “We are going to work together, I mean with former governor Fayose. What we are doing is that, we don’t want to allow his exit from office to mean the end of PDP in Ekiti.

“So, let me assure our supporters that we are on the same page with former Governor Fayose and other stakeholders. We are not factionalised and we shall work hard and ensure will win in next year’s election,” she said.

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Buhari orders arrest of elites making inciting utterances

President Muhammadu Buhari has warned Nigerian elites to stop misleading the people through their unguarded utterances. Buhari, who is the visitor to University of Uyo, gave this warning at the 24th convocation ceremony of the institution on Saturday. The President, who was represented by Mr Ibrahim Yakasai, Director of Corporate Communications, National University Commission (NUC), said that development and progress could not thrive in a hate-filled and divisive society.

He said universities as home of great thinkers, should give guidance to the communities to enable the people to make informed decisions as the country approaches the 2019 general elections. He said that the Federal Government would not condone or tolerate incendiary remarks from any person or group of persons which were meant to cause fear and spread hate in the country.

Buhari said that the federal government would continue to do its best to ensure the maintenance of peace and security of lives and property in the country.

“At this point, I want to be very clear and equivocal, that the Federal Government will never condone or tolerate incendiary remarks from any person or group of persons, which are meant to harass, intimidate, cause fear and spread hate, no matter how highly placed such a person is. “Law enforcement agencies should fish out people who make inciting statements, instigate civil disobedience, broadcast hate speeches or stir strife, riot and rebellion and bring them to book. “We should continue to live together as brothers and sisters,” Buhari said. The president called on the fresh graduates to look beyond leaders who have failed themselves and the nation but choose their heroes from among those who believe in the progress of Nigeria and emulate those who are honest and work hard in their profession. Buhari said there was need for the curriculum of Nigerian universities to be diversified to include entrepreneurial skills to help graduates employ themselves and others after graduation.

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Previous governments were corrupt – Osinbajo

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Saturday restated that the Federal Government had achieved a lot in all sectors of human development and democratic process.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osinbajo spoke at the 2017/2018 Barewa Old Boys Association annual lecture in Sokoto.

“There is a lot of impunity that have been defined to public office in Nigeria, especially grand corruption which had been sanctioned under the present administration. “I said grand corruption because our society had a problem of extended corruption affecting all government institutions and today has never been the case.

“Nigeria had in the past faced so much challenges of corruption in public offices with a lot of government money being stolen by individuals which the present administration blocked such instances,” he said. Osinbajo added that the present administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari had recorded tremendous success in the areas of security, agriculture, judiciary, legislature, among others.

“There is not a single state in Nigeria that is not undergoing a measure of FG project under the ministry of power, works and Housing. “More so, clearly we have not done all we want to see, but if we are to ask our brothers and sisters from the North-East of what Boko-Haram seize 14 local government in their state, you will agree with me that they have seen some change.

“If we are to ask the farmers enjoying the credit and support by the FG programmes and getting a more suitable supply of fertilizer, perhaps they may say that they have seen some change. “The over 500,000 graduates which have been employed under N-power programme, which is direct government employment, have been training in various fields to be useful for themselves.

“Also traders who are getting direct credit from the government to support their small scale businesses, they may say that we have seen some change,” he said.

The vice president further restated that the relationship between the executive and the National Assembly remained cordial, as the executive had never stepped into the affairs of legislative conduct.

“There had never been any attempt under the present administration to stamp the legislature as was experienced in the past administration. “Moreover, Nigeria had five Senate Presidents between 1999 and 2007, which is very easy to forget. All of this and many more took place in very recent history.

“So, you will agree with me that a lot had changed at least with regard to political understanding,” Osinbajo added.

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FG Places 1.6m Nigerians with HIV/AIDS on Treatment

Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole

Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has disclosed that the Federal Government has enrolled one million, sixty-six thousand, two hundred and twenty-three (1,066,223) people living with human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS)  for treatment.

Prof. Adewole, maintained that 54,167 of the said figures are children adding that about 60,000 of the said people are domiciled in Abia and Taraba states.

Three million and two hundred people are estimated to be living with HIV/ AIDS in the country.

The minister spoke yesterday in Abuja at the national stakeholders’ consensus meeting on the implementation of the one year roadmap of the National Treatment PMTCT Programme (NTPP).

He said: “I inform you that since the beginning of the National HIV response about 1,066,223 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIVs), including 54,167 children (FMOH Dec 2017) have been placed on treatment with support from donors, development partners and Nigeria. Nigeria, through NACA, is currently providing treatment services to about 60,000 PLHIV in Abia and Taraba states.”

Adewole, therefore, challenged the private sector, corporate organisations, multinational organisations and independent bodies to invest in HIV management and contribute toward a sustainable healthcare delivery.

“As you all know, HIV is a condition that challenges us all. The cost of HIV management, including procurement of commodities, training programmes and strengthening of infrastructure is enormous, especially now that donor support is dwindling globally.

“The ability to provide cost-effective and performance-based intervention is a key strategy for a more efficient HIV/AIDS service delivery at all levels in the country,” he stated.

Adewole harped on the need for the country to take more responsibility in HIV response programme, if the citizens are to actualise the global year 2020 target of reaching 90% of people living with the disease.

“As the global community moves towards year 2020 end game for reaching the 90-90-90 targets, it has become imperative that Nigeria takes on more responsibilities in its HIV response, particularly in her efforts to increase ownership, ensure sustainability of the HIV response and consolidate the gains of all her previous initiatives.”

He explained that based on this,  Nigeria “with support from her partners developed a one year roadmap to galvanise the country’s HIV treatment efforts towards achieving the 90-90-90 targets by 2020 with clear government leadership and ownership as well as a focus on increasing the number of PLHIV on treatment”.

“The programme is already up and running in 7+1 states which is termed the high burden states. The states are Abia, Taraba, Benue, Cross River, Nasarawa, Lagos, Kaduna and FCT.

Presently, almost all the states mentioned above are implementing Fast-track Initiative, which covers the TEST and TREAT strategy.

In order for us to achieve the mandate of NTPP programme, additional 50,000 new patients must to be placed on treatment yearly in line with the 90-90-90 Global Target,” he added.

The minister also announced that the Federal Government is determined to ensure that the programme is successfully implemented.

 

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