Vote-buying biggest threat to Nigeria’s democracy, says Group

 The Integrity Group (TIG) on Monday said that vote-buying was not only a criminal offence but the biggest threat to Nigeria’s democracy. The founder of the group, Livingstone Wechie, told  Newsmen in Abuja that such act contravened sections 124 and 130 of the Electoral Act. He called for immediate enforcement of the punitive prescription of the law to deter recurrence. “We are calling for the immediate enforcement of the law against perpetrators of such act. “This is the time to save our democracy for posterity sake,” Wechie said. The group’s leader, who called on the Inter-Party

Fraud in NSITF: Why we can’t inaugurate board, Ngige tells Oshiomhole

MINISTER of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has told National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, that the delay in the inauguration of the board of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Funds, NSITF, was as a result of the alleged uncovered fraud of over N40 billion by the previous board. Oshiomhole and Ngige It was gathered that the minister has faced immense pressure to inaugurate the NSITF Governing Board, despite the allegation of fraud allegedly perpetuated by the past board of the Funds. Recall that last week, the

Story of juicy offers, money or oil block not true, says Saraki

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has said that the speculations about juicy offers being made to him and his associates as part of the on-going discussions with the Presidency and leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is untrue. Saraki He said what is at stake is the future of the country and its democracy and that it will be myopic for anybody to be talking about whether certain offers have been made to an individual or if such offers would be accepted or not. In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki stated that he saw some reports talking about promise of money or oil block and nomination tickets but added that those viewing the on-going development in that context are simply reducing a major national issue

NEMA issues flood alert on Anambra – Identifies Zik, Ekwueme, Obiano’s LGs as high risk areas

The Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency has said 14 local governments in Anambra State were at high risk of heavy flooding this year.
They include Onitsha North, where the home of the pioneer President of Nigeria, the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe is located; Orumba North, home of a former vice president, the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme; Anambra East, home of Governor, Chief Willie Obiano; Anaocha, home of former governor Peter Obi and Aguata, home of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
Others among the 14 local governments are Idemili North, Ogbaru, Anambra West, Njikoka, Ayamelum, Dunukofia and Onitsha South.

New Media Bill draconian, unconstitutional, anti-people, anti-free speech

NEWSPAPER publishers in the country, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, BON; Editors and Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, have described the New Media Bill currently before the National Assembly as draconian, unconstitutional, anti-people, anti-business and anti-free speech. New Media Consequently, Nigerian Press Organisation, NPO, and other media stakeholders have asked the National Assembly to drop the bill. They also asked the Senate to borrow from best practices in other jurisdictions that had expressly provided for and guaranteed press freedom without any form of government interference. The NPO and others equally implored the Senate and, indeed, the National Assembly, to enable the media in the exercise of its constitutional obligations, as spelt out in section 22, by passing laws that will promote transparency, accountability and open government such as mandatory delivery of the State of the Nation address by the President and State of the State Address by governors on specified days of the year. According to them, this can also ensure by law,

Apapa traffic: Lagos Govt sets up Mobile Court to try traffic offenders

 FOLLOWING a 72-hour directive issued by the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo last Friday, in Lagos to restore order in Apapa and its environs, the Lagos State Government has resolved to set up a Mobile Court within the axis to summarily deal with recalcitrant drivers of articulated vehicles. Apapa gridlock This came as the Joint Task Force set up by the government has evacuated no fewer than 2000 petroleum tankers and containers to holding bays. Also, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday, extended the operation of the Task Force by another 48 hours, even as he said he will convene a meeting involving all the stakeholders in Alausa, Ikeja, today,  with the aim of finding a lasting solution to the gridlock. Mobile Court The State Government said members of the state

I didn’t discuss NYSC exemption certificate scandal with Adeosun – Pastor Bakare

The Founder and Senior Pastor, Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has given further insight into his encounter with the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, at the Presidential Villa recently.

The vice presidential candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 2011 presidential election, said meeting Adeosun in the Villa was totally unplanned.

Bakare who spoke with Daily Sun in Abuja however said he did not discuss with the London-trained economist the controversy trailing her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.

IPOB faults Malami over comments on FG’s refusal to release, Dasuki, El.Zakzaki

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has condemned the statement credited to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, AGF,  Alhaji Abubakar Mallami, SAN over the refusal of the federal government to obey multiple court orders to release both Sheikh El-Zakzaki and former National Security Adviser, NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki from extra judicial detention. In  a statement signed by spokesman, Emma Powerful, IPOB stated:

I have Solution to End Herdsmen Killings in Nigeria- Moghalu

Presidential aspirant, Professor Kingsley Moghalu, has promised to put an end to attacks by cattle herders and other insecurities in the country if he wins the 2019 presidential election.
The struggle for access and control of lands over which roaming herdsmen graze their cattle has led to conflict with local farmers all over the country, resulting in the death of hundreds just this year alone with herders credited with a majority of unprovoked attacks.

Atiku, Catholic bishops, Afenifere, Ohanaeze fault Buhari’s vow to deal with killer-herdsmen

President Muhammadu Buhari Democracy Day speech has sparked outrage in the polity as Catholic Bishop Council of Nigeria, CBCN; former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, yesterday faulted his vow to deal with herdsmen. The President had in his nationwide broadcast, yesterday, to commemorate Democracy Day and his administration’s third anniversary, said those behind the killings in the country and their sponsors would not be spared in Federal Government’s determination to punish criminals. President Muhammadu Buhari addresses the guests during the Democracy Day Lecture held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja However, while the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, described the President’s statement as vague and evasive, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar,