The lawmaker representing the Kaduna Central senatorial district, at the National Assembly, Senator Shehu Sani, has unveiled the reason behind the fight between the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos state, Bola Tinubu; Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

According to Sani, the disagreement was all about the leadership of the ninth National Assembly.

Sani also noted that it was a continuation of what transpired at the eight Assembly.
The disagreement also comes after it was reported that Tinubu had accused Saraki and Dogara of having padded the national budget for four years.

While reacting to the allegation levied against them, both Saraki and Dogara fired back and accused the national leader of the APC of attempting to hijack the National Assembly to aide his dream of becoming President in 2023.

However, in a tweet on Sunday, Sani explained as thus; “Tinubu’s Cruise missiles fired from Ships and Submarines and Saraki’s Surface to Surface missiles and Dogara’s Ballistic missiles are continuation of the old war and the beginning of a new one,over the control of the eight and ninth regiment.”

April 29, 2019

Press Statement

PDP Alerts As INEC Replaces Servers Across States To conceal Rigging #RescueNigeria

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alerts Nigerians that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is now replacing all the servers in its Headquarters and offices in all states of the federation and Abuja, in a desperate bid to obliterate the actual Presidential election results transmitted from the polling centers across the nation.

This is completely reprehensible and further exposes the culpability of INEC in the manipulation and rigging of the 2019 Presidential election.

The PDP has been well briefed on how the INEC leadership and officials of the Buhari Presidency became jittery and resorted to the desperate measure, after they realized that the servers have information of Atiku Abubakar’s victory at the election.

Our party also has details of how the INEC leadership and the Presidency agents procured and detailed computer experts to the commission’s offices to switch the servers, mutilate vital information in the system and attempt to erase all trails of transmitted results to the main server.

Moreover, our party has been informed about how the INEC leadership, several weeks after the election, used some compromised officials of the commission to manipulate voter registers in some states by ticking names of individuals who did not participate in the Presidential election, as having voted. This is with the view to using such to cover the fictitious results it wrote for the APC.

What INEC and the Buhari Presidency do not understand is that computer software and applications leave traces, signatures as well as footmark. Forensic investigation of the system will reveal the real votes transmitted from the polling centers, which show Atiku Abubakar as the winner of the election.

The PDP therefore insists on forensic examination of all relevant documents and equipment used for the Presidential election.

Our party will continue to be at alert as we stand with Nigerians to reclaim our stolen mandate at the tribunal and no amount of manipulations by INEC will detract from this national resolve.

Signed:

Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary

By: CrutechPress

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The National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been accused of plotting to take over power from President Muhammadu Buhari before the year 2023.

The allegation was leveled against Tinubu by the Northern Youth Movement (NYM) which also claimed that the APC leader’s desperation to take over the National Assembly by installing Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, his “political boy” as Speaker of the House was part of his moves to pave way for his presidential ambition.
Mallam Ishaya Jato, Chairman of NYM commented that much in a lengthy statement issued in Abuja on Saturday.

The statement by the NYM reads thus; “Tinubu is banking on two scenarios; the President becoming incapacitated before 2022 or his impeachment and he will need the National Assembly for both.
“Having used the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole to take over states in the South from governors like Rochas Okorocha and Ibikunle Amosun that he opined can challenge him in 2023; Tinubu is now after the larger picture of total control of the National Assembly.

“It is, therefore dangerous for the north for the same Southwest, which already has the Vice President to produce the House of Representatives Speaker.

“It’s even more dangerous for the same Tinubu; whose political boy is the Vice President to also have another of his stooge as the House of Representatives Speaker.
“We in the NYM will resist this attempt by one single individual to control the political destiny of our country and we urge our leaders in the north to take note of this.
“This is more so that the in the spirit of federal character formula enshrined in the constitution of Nigeria, the six positions of President, Vice President, Senate President and Deputy as well as Reps Speaker and Deputy available, the six geopolitical zones must get one position each.

“Already, Northwest and Southwest have taken President and Vice President respectively; the remaining four positions must therefore be shared among the South-South, South East, North Central and North East zones.
“Particularly, the North Central, which gave massive votes to President Buhari must produce the Speaker.”

Four months later, the Kogi State branch of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), has suspended a strike it embarked on in December 2018.

The judicial workers went on the industrial action following a disagreement with the executive arm of the Kogi State Government on proposed screening to audit its workforce.

JUSUN announced the strike suspension, which will take effect from Monday 29th April, in a statement issued after an emergency meeting on Sunday, in Lokoja, the state capital.
The statement titled: “Suspension of Strike” was signed by Comrades Emmanuel Waniko and Sule Suberu, Chairman and Assistant Secretary respectively.

It read: “The union wishes to sincerely appreciate the members for their patriotism, resilience and their absolute support to the course of this struggle for the past four months in the face of untold hardship.

“Fellow members, as you all know, various mediators, including the Kogi State Elders Forum (KSEF), traditional rulers, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasir Islam (JNI) and other government representative agents, waded into, but could not resolve, as the union and the government could not reach consensus.
“However, as you must have heard, the National Judicial Council (NJC), in their quest to resolve the impasse, sent a sub-committee to the state, and among other things, was able to wade into the matter with the view for amicable resolution.
“Among other things arrived at are as follows: That the strike embarked upon on the 11th December, 2018 by Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Kogi State branch, be suspended to give room for further deliberation.
“That a committee be set up between the executive and the judiciary to work out the modalities for the payment of salary arrears.

“JUSUN has considered the NJC as the apex body that regulates the conduct and administration of the judiciary in Nigeria, and therefore has confidence in the council, that the matter has finally been put to rest.
“Also, in consultation with other sister associations in the Kogi State j udiciary, i.e the Magistrates’ Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Association of Inspectors and Area Court Judges (IAJA), are also in agreement with JUSUN.

Elders within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi sate have kicked against the second term bid of the state governor, Yahaya Bello.

Among other allegations, the elders said the governor had nothing to account for the N344billion allegedly received as allocation in the last 38 months of his administration.
In a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari signed by the Convener of Kogi APC Stakeholders Forum, Sen. Alex Kadiri described the governor as non- performing and violent.

The elders described the emergence of Bello as an accident which came to manifestation after the death of the elected governor of the state, Abubakar Audu.
The petition reads, “Governor Yahaya Bello was never elected by the good people of Kogi State. The death of Abubakar Audu made it possible for Bello to be Kogi State Governor. He has shown everyone that he lacks leadership abilities. He can’t fight for the rights and privileges of Kogi people.
“We request you to step down your support for the candidature of Governor Yahaya Bello for the forthcoming election in Kogi State.

“If the party fields him as a candidate, we are sure of losing the state to the opposition.”
The stakeholders further gave an analysis of how the governor had mismanaged state resources.

They said: “For the past 38 months including February 2019 Governor Yahaya Bello has not paid full salaries to the workers of Kogi State, despite the fact that the state received full allocation from the Federation Account as detailed below: Statutory allocation, Excess Crude and Value Added Tax (VAT) (N132b); Internally Generated Revenue by the state(N51b); total allocations to local governments(N111b).
“Total funds received by the state and local governments: N294 billion. The other funds received by the state are as below: Bail Out (N20b); Paris Club refunds 1, 2, and 3 (N19b); and refunds for road construction by previous governments (N11b).

“The governor had conducted multiple staff screening for both the state and the local governments. And from the report of the screening, the monthly wage bill (state, local governments and pensions) at the inception of the administration stood at N5.8 billion. After screening, this figure reduced to N4.4 billion.

“From the table above it is evidently clear that the total revenue received by the state government was more than enough to settle all salaries, pensions and gratuities with huge balance remaining for overheads and capital projects.

“It is very instructive to note that even without bailout and other funds received outside statutory allocation, Governor Yahaya Bello could have still paid all salaries including pensions without conducting multiple screening and inflicting pains on Kogi State and local government workers. This must hurt APC at the polls.

“Even after the screening, all salaries and pensions payments were paid using arbitrary percentages, thereby still owing workers huge outstanding salaries,’’ the elders said.

The Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammad Barkindo has given reasons God allowed President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election.

…dares President to speak up on N14 trillion looted funds, unwholesome borrowing

ABUJA- The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Presidency and the All Progressives Congress, APC, of desperation to remain in power at all costs, so as to continue to exploit Nigerians, protect corrupt leaders in its fold, cover their incompetence and conceal the humongous sleazes in the administration.

This is the reason, the party said “the APC and the cabal at the Buhari- led Presidency resorted to violence, intimidation as well as manipulations and alteration of results at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to rig the February 23, Presidential election.”

In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party maintained that the desperation informed the reason “APC agents and certain Presidential aides have been making desperate efforts to distract the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal and derail the course of justice by making and promoting baseless judicial interpretations and externalizing the proceedings of the court.

“The President Buhari-led APC administration wants to remain in power to prevent investigation into the N14 trillion allegedly stolen under its watch; including the N9 trillion stolen from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, as detailed in the leaked NNPC memo; the over N1.4 trillion alleged oil subsidy sleaze and the N1.1 trillion worth of crude diverted using 18 unregistered companies linked to APC interests.

“This is in addition to the N33billion National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) fund, and the over N18 billion stolen out of the N48 billion approved by the National Assembly in the 2017 budget for the rehabilitation of IDPs in the Northeast, among others.”
The statement further stressed that “the Buhari-led APC administration is desperate to avoid an investigation into its unwholesome borrowings that led to the escalation of our nation’s debt stock from N12.12 trillion in 2015 to an overburdening N24.39 trillion in 2018.
“Within a space of three years, this administration has borrowed a total of N12.27 trillion, yet it cannot point to any significant development project into which the money was invested. This includes the N2.66 trillion borrowed in 2018, ahead of the 2019 general elections.
“These and many more are funds meant for infrastructural development and welfare of Nigerians but have been cornered by APC leaders.
“That the Buhari Presidency lacks the competence and integrity to run a creative, transparent and credible administration that can guarantee economic growth, wealth creation and a dependable system has become a globally accepted fact.
“The negative effect is the further dipping of our economy, as investor’s confidence, which shored up at the expressed resolve by Nigerians to elect Atiku Abubakar as their next President, slumped with the rigging of the Presidential election.”
It urged Nigerians not to despair but continue to be steadfast in the aspiration for the recovery of the stolen Presidential mandate at the tribunal, “as this is the only way to return our nation to the path of peace, national unity and a vibrant economy.”

Oil rig in Lagos, Nigeria. (Source: iStock)
YENAGOA, Nigeria (NEWS 1130) — Global Affairs has confirmed a Canadian is among three oil workers who were kidnapped in Nigeria on Saturday.
Three workers from Canada, Scotland and Nigeria were abducted during an early-morning raid on a rig owned by Niger Delta Petroleum Resources in Ogbele, Rivers State, Reuters reports. The abduction is the second in the Delta region within the last week.

According to Global Affairs Canada, officials from the consulate are supporting the family of the kidnapped Canadian. It says its working to get more information from Nigerian authorities.
The agency won’t be releasing any more information for now, citing privacy concerns.

A military spokesperson in Nigeria says troops are searching the swamps, and police have upped security in that area where civilians were recently attacked.
Last year, two Canadians and two Americans were kidnapped after they were ambushed by gunmen travelling through Nigeria’s northern Kaduna state.

An anti-corruption advocacy group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, has urged Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, not to give assent to a bill proposing life pensions for the principal officers of the state House of Assembly.
In an open letter on Sunday by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oludare, SERAP said it was aware that Bayelsa lawmakers last week passed a bill that would grant life pensions to the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and other members of the state House of Assembly.

The bill, the group noted, proposed N500,000 monthly pay for the Speaker; N200,000 for the Deputy Speaker, and N100,000 for each of the 24 other members of the House.
But SERAP, which described the proposed life pensions for the lawmakers as abuse of office, warned Dickson against giving his assent to the bill.
It warned that it would take the governor to court should he give assent to the bill.
It said, “The bill amounts to an incorrect and improper performance of public functions. It’s clearly an abuse of legislative functions by the lawmakers. Rather than sponsoring bills that would improve access of children in Bayelsa to quality education, the lawmakers are taking advantage of their entrusted public positions to propose a bill to collect large severance benefits.

“The lawmakers are clearly the major beneficiaries under the proposed legislation. Therefore, by passing the life pension bill, the lawmakers of Bayelsa State House of Assembly have violated the constitutional and international prohibitions on conflicts of interest.
“The people of Bayelsa would expect you, as their governor, to use your entrusted public office to act in the public interest, including by rejecting the life pension bill and prevailing upon the House of Assembly to immediately drop the bill.
“It is forbidden for any public official, including lawmakers, to engage in self-dealing, and place him/herself in a position of conflicting interests and to hold incompatible functions or illicitly engage in providing to him/herself emoluments deemed unacceptable, unconstitutional and illegal.”
Also, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Preye Aganaba, has joined other Bayelsans in condemning the life pension bill proposed for Bayelsa State House of Assembly members.
Aganaba described the bill as self-centered, insensitive, preposterous and a sad reflection of the inordinate desire of the lawmakers for self-enrichment.

This is coming as Bayelsans, including civil society organisations, political parties and other well meaning individuals are preparing to hit the streets in protest over the bill on Monday (today).
He said the inconsiderate nature of the bill was a direct assault on the sensibilities of majority of Bayelsans who live below poverty line.
Aganaba said the outrage shown by the people of the state against the ‘rapacious bill is an indication of the total rejection of a bill that serves no purpose than enrich the pockets of a select few but impoverish the lives of thousands of Bayelsans.’
A statement by his media aide, Kariebi Prekebena, on Sunday, called for a complete reversal of the life pension bill.
He said, “Passing of the bill last Wednesday by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly unfolds a new chapter on the insatiable greed of the Bayelsa State legislative arm and of all the laws passed by the House since the inception of the current Assembly, the preferential Life Pension Bill, is the most controversial and insensitive.

“It is sad that at a time the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is putting in place palliatives to improve the standard of living for citizens of the country, the Bayelsa State House of Assembly is still in the business of passing retrogressive bills with no incentive for the people they claim to represent.
“It is outrageous that a state government which found the payment of workers’ salaries a major challenge, a situation which led to the now famous “half of half” salary, is planning on giving assent to a bill to pay a whopping sum of N.5m and N.1m to the lawmakers as pension.
“This is nothing more than an exploitative, mercenary plot to further plunge Bayelsans into bottom line poverty.”

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says 140 shelters were destroyed by fire in two Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps at Monguno Local Government Area of Borno.


NEMA Northeast Information Officer, Malam Abdulkadir Ibrahim, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Maiduguri.


Ibrahim said the fire incidents were recorded at Flatari and Nguro camps in Monguno on Saturday.

He disclosed that 28 shelters were destroyed at Flatari camp, affecting 20 households while 120 shelters were  razed and 77 households displaced at Nguro in the fire disaster.


He added that about 371 persons were displaced in the fire outbreaks recorded in the two camps.


Ibrahim said  that the agency was conducting investigation to identifying  the cause of the fire and appraise the needs of the victims.

According to him, the agency in collaboration with the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) had scaled up activities to support the victims.