Clear salary arrears before Christmas, Buhari tells govs

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday directed the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma; and the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to work with state governors to ensure the payment of outstanding Paris Club refund before the end of the year.

Atiku’s exit: Accept my sympathy, Buhari tells Odigie-Oyegun

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday sympathised with the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, over the exit of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar from the party.

Buhari chose the venue of the inauguration of the Ama Pepple-led National Minimum Wage Committee to convey his sympathy to the party chairman, who was at the event along with top government officials.

Fayose, Falana trade words over Abuja N1bn property

The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has criticised human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), over the allegation by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), linking the lawyer to a N1bn property on Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja.

 Fayose said it was embarrassing, shameful, disgraceful that a man of Falana’s standing, reputed to be a human rights activist, friend of the masses, crusader of justice and defender of democracy, could be linked to such a scandal.

Anambra 2017: APGA chieftain, Ukachukwu vows to deliver Obiano

                                                                         By Kingsley Ezekwelu 

The game changer and one of the greatest grassroots mobilizer who also boasts of the strongest political structure and block in contemporary Anambra politics under the auspices of Ikukuoma Solidarty Movement, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu(Owelle Osumenyi) has now collapsed all his political structures and rallied support for Gov Willie Obiano's re-election.

The rally which took place at the Unity Park, Osumenyi, Nnewi South local government Area was attended by over three hundred thousand executive members and loyalists of Prince Ukachukwu across the 326 Wards in the state 

Anambra 2017: Obiano's hypes and propaganda won't save him - Obaze

The governorship candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Oseloka H. Obaze, has said Governor Willie Obiano's continued expenditure of the state's resources on media hype and propaganda will not save him from the imminent loss. He said the only thing capable of securing the incumbent another mandate in a state like Anambra is visible dividends of democracy, not hype.

Speaking to Oraezue Non Natives, a group of non-indigenes resident in Nkpor, Idemmili North Local Government Area of the state, Obaze said Obiano's reelection bid has continued to suffer immense deficits, despite the enormous resources expended on media and publicity, because his government performed poorly.

When PDP's Obaze proved his unbending integrity

By Chima George

It was Martin Luther King Jr. who said that “the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversies.” This is not only true but has become a welcome benchmark to examine the integrity of leaders globally. 

Come November 18, Ndi Anambra will go to the polls to make an all important decision. Armed with their Permanent Voters' Card (PVC), they will collectively decide on the future of the state. Several candidates are running to secure the mandate of the people, but one man distinguishes himself from the rest. That man is the candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Oseloka H. Obaze. Having served four Presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and four Secretaries-General of the United Nations, you won't expect less from the astute gentlemen who is currently wooing Anambra electorate on his campaign trail.

FG, Jonathan disagree on proposed S’West, S’South military operations

The Federal Government and former President Goodluck Jonathan have disagreed on the planned military operation in the South-South and the South-West codenamed Operation Crocodile Smile.

Jonathan, who spoke on Tuesday, believed it was an anomaly for soldiers to be deployed for internal security, a responsibility that is meant for the police, saying the deployment of troops internally was to intimidate the citizens.

But the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, countered the former President, arguing that under the past administration, headed by Jonathan, soldiers were deployed in Onitsha, where 16 persons were reportedly killed.

Anambra: INEC drills 120 officers on polls mgt

TO ensure credible polls, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has trained 120 Assistant Electoral Officers, AEOs; Electoral Officers, EOs; and other field staff on Election Management System, EMS. The two-day training, which is part of the Commission’s preparations for the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State ended, yesterday. The INEC National Commissioner in charge of Planning, Monitoring and Strategic Committee, Professor Okechukwu

Customs impounds 13 bullet proof cars, 5 others in Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has seized 18 smuggled exotic cars from an Abuja-based car dealer., 13 of which are bullet-proof. car Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (retd), told journalists in Abuja, yesterday, that the importer did not obtain clearance from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, before the importation. He said:  “On Saturday, September 16, 2017, based on credible information, the detachment of the Compliance Team visited Kefiano Motors Limited in the Central Business Area of Abuja and discovered 18 suspected smuggled exotic vehicles that were displayed for sale.” According to him, the NCS has 265 smuggled cars that have been

Sheriff-led PDP defects to APC in Delta

Members of the Modu Sheriff-led faction of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State have defected to All Progressives Congress, APC. It was gathered the cross-carpeting followed the dumping of PDP by its erstwhile National Vice Chairman, South-South and Deputy Chairman of the Sheriff group, Dr. Cairo Ojougbo. Speaking at Agbor, where the defection ceremony held, Ojougboh said they were suffocated out of PDP, adding that after the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed the Ahmed Markafi national leadership, members of the Sheriff faction were sidelined. According to him, “we asked the national body to open up the party after the unfortunate court judgment. The next thing we heard was that they were going to grant us amnesty as if we were criminals. Their grouse “When Raymond Dokpesi was nominated as member of the committee for the non-elective

EZEEMO: Man who only dreamed of owning a car, comfortable house

THIS is the story of deprivations, resilience, and triumph. It reveals how the innate traits of resourcefulness and desire to finish strong combined to produce one of the successful entrepreneurs in Nigeria, Chief Godwin Ezeemo. To give back to humanity, he currently seeks to serve his state, Anambra at the highest level. WITH a demeanour that could disarm even the most vicious enemy, he approaches life and issues. To complement the harmless looks, are the virtues of focus, hard work, humility, and resilience.  These key values which had taken him places saw him defeating the limitations of his birth in incredible manners. Unlike others, who would capitalise on their poor

Buratai, Kachikwu, others for Peace Achievers Awards

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu have been nominated for the 2017 edition of the Peace Achievers Awards.’ Buratai-Kachikwu Mr Kingsley Amafibe, the Project Director of Peace Ambassadors Agency, organisers of the annual awards, said this in Abuja on Tuesday. The event has been scheduled to hold on Sept. 23. He said that Mike Okiro, former Inspector General (IG) of Police, Raymond Dokpesi of DAAR Communications and Dr Paul Orhi, former Director-General of NAFDAC, were among the nominees too. Other nominees for the award included Amb.Tony Benson, President of Niger Delta Peace Agitators; Dan Nwanyanwu; Alex Okoroji, veteran radio host and Oba Adetola Olaonipekun. According to him, the Chief of Army Staff is to be honoured with the ‘Award for Excellence in Peacekeeping’ for his efforts at maintaining peace across Nigeria. He noted that since the inception of Buratai as the Army Chief, peace has returned to hitherto troubled areas, especially in the North East, Niger Delta and other regions. “Gen. Buratai has proven that he is committed to Nigeria’s Peace and Unity, by leading his men to fight and curb the activities of insurgents in the North and other forms of criminalities across the country.” Amafibe explained that Kachikwu was listed in the 2017 ‘peace honour roll’ because of his “unrelenting commitment to restoring peace in the oil-rich communities of Niger Delta.’’He added that South Africa High Commissioner to Nigeria, Amb. Louis LuLu

Obaze lacks followership, can’t go far —PDP councillors, chairmanship candidates

The last may not have been heard on the Anambra governorship primaries of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, as many continue to challenge the candidature of Mr Oseloka Obaze in the November 18 Anambra State governorship election. Four of the candidates, according to a source, Stella Oduah, Alex Obiogbolu, Emeka John, Ifeanyi Uba, have all complained about alleged irregularities that the election panel overlooked and the unacceptability of the candidature of Obaze as he failed to meet the provisions of the party constitution and guidelines on eligibility to contest. Oseloka Obaze This is even as a group of councillors and chairmanship candidates who ran for 2014 Anambra State local government election said that Obaze didn’t satisfy the mandatory years he should spend in the party as a member before coming up with his aspiration. In a press briefing in Awka, the group headed by Onuchukwu said the person who is being paraded as the flag bearer of PDP in Anambra State

Anambra: Obaze in trouble over running mate, as group alleges she’s not party member

THE PDP was, yesterday, heading towards controversy as a group in the party, the Fresh Congress Group, called for the replacement of the yet to be unveiled running mate to the candidate, Mr. Oseloka Obaze. Obaze The group said the designated running mate expected to be unveiled today was not a card-carrying member of the party. Coordinator of the group, Pastor Emma Obiorah, who argued that the choice might affect the chances of PDP in the November 18 poll, urged the National Working Committee (NWC), the National Executive Council (NEC) and the state caretaker committee of the party to reverse the alleged imposition or be prepared to face the wrath of the

Queues at filling stations, DISCOs shut as ULC strike enters Day 3 FG meets ULC leaders, to address joint briefing today

THE Federal Government, yesterday, met with leaders of the striking leaders of United Labour Congress of Nigeria, ULC, even as queues resurfaced at filling stations in Lagos. Also, offices of Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, were shut as the strike by  ULC entered day three today. Though the meeting held behind closed doors at the conference room of Ministry of Labour and Employment and presided over by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, the outcome of the meeting was not known at press time. However, it was revealed that there would be a joint briefing today by the Minster and ULC leaders. Queues resurface at filling stations Meanwhile, investigations revealed that most filling stations across the Lagos metropolis witnessed upsurge of motorists and others queuing to buy premium motor spirit, PMS, also known as petrol. In places like Festac Town, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Ikorodu Road, Abeokuta expressway, Badagry expressway,  and Agege Motor Road, most filling stations had queues of anxious motorists and other consumers filling their tanks and buying in jerry cans. A motorist who spoke on condition of

Southern leaders invite North to re-negotiate Nigeria

SOUTHERN leaders yesterday invited their colleagues from the North to renegotiate Nigeria, saying the country was approaching a terminal crisis from which it cannot recover unless it is restructured along the paths of the 1963 Constitution. Noting that the National Assembly’s rejection of the proposal for devolution was against popular demand, the southern leaders vowed to press on with their demand until the issue was brought to a conclusion. Arewa youths, Ndigbo currently in meeting In Kano over quit notice The leaders, drawn from the three geopolitical zones of the South, also berated  security agencies for threatening to deal with agitators of the country’s restructuring

Ozozbulu/s killing: Police confirms killings of worshippers during Sunday mass in Anambra

The police in Anambra on Sunday confirmed that a gunman killed eight worshippers and injured 18 others in an early morning attack on St. Philip Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Garba Umar, in Awka said that the remains of the dead had been deposited at Nnamdi Azikwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi. Umar also said that the injured were taken to the hospital. He said that preliminary investigations by the police

 

revealed that the attack was carried out by a native of the area. “From our findings, it is very clear that the person who carried the attack must be an indigene of the area. “We gathered that worshippers for 6 o’clock Sunday mass at St. Philip Ozobulu were in the service when a gunman dressed in black attire covering his face with a cap entered the church and moved straight to a particular direction and opened fire. “The man after shooting at his targeted victims still went on a shooting spree, killing and wounding other worshippers,’’ he said. The commissioner said information available to police

Anambra 2017 Poll: Anambra 2017: Plot to neutralise Obiano thickens, as APGA crisis festers

As political parties gear up for governorship primaries in preparation for the November 18 poll in Anambra State, candidates may have to contend with the factor of incumbency and zoning. This is because traditional rulers in the state under the aegis of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council (ASTRC) have thrown their weight behind zoning, insisting that zoning remains the only way to stem the bitter acrimony, stiff competition, violent confusion and waste of funds that trail governorship polls in the state.
Prior to the renewed emphasis on zoning, some political heavyweights in the state had deployed clever electoral maneouvres and strategic plots to defray the power of incumbency, which Governor Willie Obiano enjoys. The single item plot revolves around the machinations within the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which include dislodging the governor from the party and creating internal fissures to whittle down the cohesion in the party and therefore make it so feeble that it cannot withstand electoral competition from other big contenders, notably All Progressives Congress (APC).

South East Governors' Forum Election: Ubah salutes South East Governors, congratulates Gov. Umahi on his emergence.

I wish to appreciate our governors, South East Governors' Forum for their successful meeting yesterday which ended with the election of His Excellency Engr. David Umahi, the executive governor of Ebonyi State, as the new Chairman, South East Governors' Forum.

Gov Obiano Continues To Inspect Road Projects Across The State

Governor Willie Obiano has inspected ongoing construction work on the five kilometer Achina -Oneh-Agbudu-Ogboji road being executed by his administration.
Government House Correspondent, reports that the road which was awarded by the previous administration in 2014, was adopted by the Obiano administration in keeping with its continuity stance.
Speaking after he inspected the project, Governor Obiano noted that despite the present economic recession, his administration is undertaking the project, adding that resources will be committed to the project as they come.
He also noted that when completed, the road will open up the agrarian communities in the area and give impetus to the realization of the state's agricultural development agenda and appealed to farmers in the area to organize themselves in cooperatives to be able to benefit from government's agric largesse. The Member representing Aguata One Constituency in the State Assembly, Dr Ikechukwu Umeh noted that aside the prospects it holds for the state agric sector, the road also leads to the Peter University of Awka Catholic Diocese which has potential to open up the host communities through the numerous activities it brings.
On his part, the Auxiliary Bishop of Awka Catholic Diocese, Most Reverend Jonas Benson Okoye expressed gratitude to the governor for embarking on the road and promised that the Church will continue to support his administration.
The governor also inspected the eleven point five kilometer Oluoha Road in Ihiala where he assured that asphalting will commence on the road in the next two weeks. He thanked people of Ihiala for their support to his administration and promised to do more for them as the state's resources improve. In his remarks, the traditional ruler of Ihiala, Igwe Cosmos Okechukwu, said Ndi Ihiala have resolved to give him their support because of their belief in the transformation he is bringing to the state, saying that the completion of the road will strengthen their resolve to continue to support him.Governor Willie Obiano has inspected ongoing construction work on the five kilometer Achina -Oneh-Agbudu-Ogboji road being executed by his administration.
Government House Correspondent, reports that the road which was awarded by the previous administration in 2014, was adopted by the Obiano administration in keeping with its continuity stance.
Speaking after he inspected the project, Governor Obiano noted that despite the present economic recession, his administration is undertaking the project, adding that resources will be committed to the project as they come.
He also noted that when completed, the road will open up the agrarian communities in the area and give impetus to the realization of the state's agricultural development agenda and appealed to farmers in the area to organize themselves in cooperatives to be able to benefit from government's agric largesse. The Member representing Aguata One Constituency in the State Assembly, Dr Ikechukwu Umeh noted that aside the prospects it holds for the state agric sector, the road also leads to the Peter University of Awka Catholic Diocese which has potential to open up the host communities through the numerous activities it brings.
On his part, the Auxiliary Bishop of Awka Catholic Diocese, Most Reverend Jonas Benson Okoye expressed gratitude to the governor for embarking on the road and promised that the Church will continue to support his administration.
The governor also inspected the eleven point five kilometer Oluoha Road in Ihiala where he assured that asphalting will commence on the road in the next two weeks. He thanked people of Ihiala for their support to his administration and promised to do more for them as the state's resources improve. In his remarks, the traditional ruler of Ihiala, Igwe Cosmos Okechukwu, said Ndi Ihiala have resolved to give him their support because of their belief in the transformation he is bringing to the state, saying that the completion of the road will strengthen their resolve to continue to support him.