MIMIKO, CHAIRMAN, SPLITS PDP GOVS FORUM

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is set for another round of crisis as the emergence of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State as Chairman of the its governors forum (PDPGF) is being contested by some members of the forum.
Mimiko emerged as Chairman of the Forum at a meeting held last Tuesday night and attended by only six of the party’s 12 governors, while only two deputies represented their principals.
A dependable source within the party told Daily Independent that a particular governor from the South (name withheld) is leading the revolt against the emergence of Mimiko as Chairman of the PDPGF. The aggrieved governor has petitioned the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) over the issue.
The same governor, our source noted, has not attended any of the two meetings of the PDPGF held this year just as he was also absent at the meeting where Mimiko emerged as Chairman of the forum. He was also not represented by at the parley.
The meeting of the PDPGF has been slated for today to address some pressing issues, and it was gathered that the NWC might use the opportunity of the meeting to hold a reconciliatory meeting with the governors, if only to quell the budding crisis.
However, some of the governors in attendance at last week’s meeting insist that the emergence of Mimiko as chairman of the group followed a proper process as the notice of the meeting at which he emerged, was properly circulated.

Buhari Orders Removal Of Military Checkpoints Nationwide

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the removal of all military check points nationwide and has  directed that police should take control of internal security.
Addressing State House correspondents after‎ a meeting between the president and service chiefs, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of defence, Alhaji Ismail Aliyu said the president directed the security chiefs to liaise with the Police on taking over internal security.
According to the Permanent Secretary, the meeting with the security chiefs was to give them the opportunity to brief the president on the implementations of recent decisions reached on the fight against insurgency.
He also said that the military high command briefed the president on the relocation of the command centre to ‎Maiduguri as directed by the president on the day of his inauguration.

TAMBUWAL PAYS LATE NIGHT VISIT TO HOSPITAL, LAMENTS PATIENTS’ CONDITIONS

The Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, early Sunday morning, paid an unscheduled visit to the Murtala Muhammed state Specialist hospital, Sokoto, where he lamented the condition of patients and warned that government will not tolerate laxity from any of its workers.
The visit, which occurred at 2.00 a.m. On Sunday, caught the few workers on duty unaware.
A statement by Mr. Tambuwal’s spokesperson, Imam Imam, said upon entering the hospital, the governor observed that there was no electricity supply while many patients, who could not withstand the heat in their wards, lied down outside the designated wards.
“After going round the dark complex for 30 minutes to assess things for himself, Tambuwal was then recognized by a few of the staff on duty. Upon noticing his presence, the generator set was quickly powered on while the staff made attempts to hurry the patients into the rooms,” the statement added.
After speaking to the patients and wishing them quick recovery, Governor Tambuwal assured them that their health needs would not be toyed with by the government.

AMBODE DECLARES SECOND LEKKI-EPE EXPRESSWAY TOLL-FREE

The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, has assured residents that tolls will not be collected at the second toll point on the Lekki- Epe Expressway.
Ambode made the remark at an interactive session with journalists at the Banquet Hall of the Lagos House, Ikeja, a statement said on Sunday.
The governor, in the statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, said his concern was ensuring the completion of the road.
He said, “We must start thinking of the future concerning that road. We said we will have an International Airport in Epe, and an Export Processing Zone in Lekki and a Deep Seaport also in Lekki.
“Should we not start thinking about how we will improve and create a 10-lane road between Ikorodu, Itoikin, Epe and Ijebu Ode so that people can go out from there? There is no point constructing the road, paying tolls and in five years’ time, the road is gone.”
The governor said once the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, which was being expanded into 10-lane, was completed, the community would be opened up for business activities.
He added that his administration would make careful efforts to grow the tourism potential of the state.
He said, “As more means of transportation come on board, the more than 600,000 private car owners and 120,000 motorcycles that are being put on the road in the state on a daily basis will reduce in number.”

OBIANO PLANS TO BUILD MILLIONAIRES CITY

The governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano has ambition for his state and given a clue to his ambition.
He said he plans to build an ultramodern millionaire’s city that will reflect the proud heritage of Ndi Anambra as the home of the greatest number of billionaires in Nigeria.
Speaking while inspecting three flyovers that are rising simultaneously in the emerging city of Awka at the weekend Obiano said, “We have a vision of building a Millionaire’s City. Most of the millionaires in Nigeria are from Anambra.
“I also understand that most of the people who own private jets in Nigeria are from Anambra. So, we want to set up a place for them where they can come home and build befitting estates with helicopter landing pads,” he stated.
Obiano restated his commitment to ensure that Anambra remains crime-free as it was crucial to all development efforts.
“We still maintain zero-tolerance for criminals in Anambra State. We have enough work for everybody.”
Obiano assured pointing out that the three flyovers that are under construction in Awka had created over 1200 jobs while Coched Farms Limited, an Agro-allied firm operated by the Coscharis Group in partnership with the state government had so far employed over 700 people in its first phase of operation.

Man Assaults Girlfriend For Adultery

A 34-year-old man, Solomon Ajisafe, has been arrested by the police for allegedly torturing his girlfriend, Tope Amuda, in the Igbo Olomu, Ikorodu West area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Solomon, together with his mother, a leader in the Oodua People’s Congress, and some hoodlums flogged Amuda with canes for alleged adultery.
Our correspondents were told that afterwards, she was taken round the community, before ground pepper was allegedly inserted in her private parts.
The incident happened last Sunday at about 7pm on Aminu Toyin Street.
A resident, who identified herself only as Adunni, told PUNCH Metro that attempts made by neighbours to stop the torture was rebuffed by the OPC.
Adunni said Amuda, a 25-year-old Osun State indigene, lost her mind due to the trauma she suffered.
She said, “They did not allow anybody to rescue her. They made jest of her for hours as they took her round the community. I saw her; she was speaking to herself and was incoherent. That was when I discovered that she had lost her mind.”

BUHARI PROBES EX-MINISTERS

A COVERT probe of 22 former ministers and top officials of the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan has been initiated by the current government to recover alleged looted funds which the Muhammadu Buhari administration aides say “run into billions of naira.” A very reliable Presidency sources who opened up to Nigerian Pilot at the weekend on the issue, hinted that no fewer than 22 ministers in the immediate past government were being investigated for finance-related offences. One of the sources said: “The new Federal Government is bent on doing things the right way without heating up the polity. So far, the people being investigated are cooperating with the government by making appreciable refunds of stolen funds back to government coffers.” Another source who corroborated the development, disclosed that following a directive by President Buhari to the Directorate of State Security, DSS and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, soon after his inauguration on May 29, no fewer than 22 ministers and other appointees in the immediate past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan had their passports and other transport documents seized pending satisfactory explanation about their stupendous financial status “just within a period of service to the nation that was less than four years.” He added: “Can you imagine, within this short period of the investigations, we are getting refunds? Last week, I can tell you that not less than

Siasia ejects 7, recalls Musa

                                         Siasia
Head Coach of the U-23 Team, Dream Team, Samson Siasia has wielded the big stick by dropping seven of the players in the team’s camp after the 3-3 draw with Wikki Tourists of Bauchi.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the performance of the team in the friendly against the Premier League side in Bauchi, Siasia said since the boys have not added any value to the team,
they should give way for others who can contribute their quota to the success of the team as they prepare for the crucial Africa U-23 Championship qualifier against Congo next month.
“I have given all these players enough time to showcase what they can bring on the table, but I am so disappointed that till this minute they still have not been able to convince me, so they have to give way for others to come and show me and my technical crew what they can offer. I thank them for their contribution to the success of the team in the past, but we have to move on, if they show signs of improvement in their clubs they can be recalled back to the team.”
The dropped players are Sani Faisal, Lukmon Gilmore, Emmanuel Ammana, Tonbara Tiongoli, Freedom Omofonma, Uche Okeke and Gabriel Sunday.

Keshi happy to be shortlisted for the Elephants job

Stephen Keshi 

Super Eagles boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, has said contrary to news making the rounds that he has applied for the job of Manager of the Elephants of Cote ‘D Ivoire, he is rather very happy with managing the Nigerian national team; Super Eagles who defeated the Ivorien national side on the way to the SA 2013 triumph.

Gov. Willie Obiano, Uncommon thinker--- Hon. Chinedu Nkwonta

                                           
                                                         Chief Willie Obiano
By
Hon. Chinedu Nkwonta
It is becoming a tradition that some disgruntled individuals  must find a way, hook or crook to distort the truth. This distortion of the truth is done with utmost disregard to the collective interest of Ndi Anambra.
The human consciousness is such that if a certain impression is created, whether we believe or not, our unconsciousness somehow calls such impressions to question. Such can be very dangerous especially for the vulnerable that depend on hearsay and beer parlour information merchants for their
information update.
Some people, clearly for their selfish and wicked interests have been very reckless and callous in their attempts to malign the working government of Chief Willie Obiano. They are working on the premix that by continually bombarding the people with trash about the government, that the wall will cave in and subsequently fall. Such trash throwing maybe possible with an average performing government but not a government like we have in Anambra State today where the people are all witnesses to the massive transformation that is going on in the State, thanks to the working Willie himself,
Chief Dr. Willie Obiano.The reason I find it very easy to talk about this government is  simple, the government gives one enough reasons to talk, fantastic product.