Plane Crashes In Texas, US, Kills All Persons On Board

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July 1, 2019

By Akinwale Kasali

Embattled All Progressives Congress, APC, National Party Chairman, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole is at loggerheads with his successor at the Edo State Government House, Governor Godwin Obaseki over the Ministerial list.

The once good relationship that existed between Oshiomhole and Obaseki has hit the rock, with the two political gladiators in the State factionalising the party.

The comments by Senior Special Assistant to the Presidency on Media, Garba Shehu, that President Muhammadu Buhari will announce his ministerial list by July, the battle of supremacy between Oshiomhole and Obaseki, has worsened.

Oshiomhole is bent on presenting the ministerial list for the State to the President, to the disapproval of Obaseki, leading to a fierce battle between the duo.

Since the both started this war of supremacy, the APC chapter in the State has been factionalised, with some APC members loyal to Oshiomhole as the National Party Chairman, while some are loyal to Obaseki, who primarily owns the party’s political structure in the State.

Oshiomhole was said to have boasted that he owns the party structure in the state and he has the right to do the lists.

It will be recalled that the cold war between Oshiomhole and Obaseki started over a year ago, following Obaseki’s refusal to allow Oshiomhole turn him to a puppet.

This did not augur well with Oshiomhole who enthroned Obaseki and gave him all the support during the Edo State Governorship campaign years against all odds and to the dismay of some party faithfuls and stalwart who did not support Oshiomhole’s decision to choose Obaseki as the APC candidate.

The coming days will determine who wins the battle in selecting prospective ministerial candidates for the State between the two top political personalities in the State.

Atiku Drags Lauretta Onochie To court, Slams N2billion Suit On Her

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June 30, 2019

By Uche Mbah

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has slammed a N2.5 billion suit on the Presidential Special Assistant on new Media, Lauretta Onochie, therefore making good his threat to sue her for libel over her statement accusing him of planning terrorism and being wanted in Dubai.

Onochie had on May 7 twitted that Atiku is on the watch list of security operatives in the United Arab Emirate, and that he had travelled to shop for terrorists in the Middle East.

His Counsel, Mike Ozekome, leading other lawyers, said that the public image of his client is battered by the post resulted in his being regarded as a terrorist. According to him, her post was calculated to cause maximum damage to his reputation.

“(The) entire opprobrious and denigrating story was most misleading, baseless, false, malicious and totally bereft of any foundation howsoever. (It was) invented by the defendant and others of her ilk, solely to cause maximum damage to the high reputation of the claimant, who is currently before the Election Petition Tribunal against her employer and boss, President Muhammadu Buhari, challenging the latter’s purported victory in the last presidential election.”

Noting that he was “subjected to the shame and infamy of being viewed by members of the public as not only corrupt, but as a terrorist and sponsor of terrorism,” Ozhekome insisted that “to say that the claimant is shopping for terrorists knowing same to be untrue and without any foundation is not only dishonest and reckless, but is calculated and politically designed to instigate security agents against him not only in the UAE, but across the world”.

He wants the Court to declare that the May 7, and May 20, 2019, publications by Onochie concerning and touching on his reputation, “are utterly false, baseless, unfounded and defamatory of the Claimant, and injurious to his reputation.”

Atiku had earlier demanded for retraction and apology from Onochie and N500 million or else he will go to court.

Madagascar Breaks Jinx, Defeats Nigeria

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June 30, 2019

By Akinwale Kasali

The Super Eagles failed to finish top leaders of Group B at on-going 2019 African Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Debutants, Madagascar defeated the Super Eagles 2-0 at the Alexandria Stadium, to break the jinx of always losing to Nigeria.

After seven attempts of not winning against the Super Eagles and also not scoring, the Coach Le Puit tutored Madagascan team humbled the Eagles by scoring in both halves to register their famous victory in football.

Coach Gernot Rohr of the Super Eagles made five changes in his first eleven that played previously against Guinea.

Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Samuel Kalu, John Mikel, William Troost Ekong and John Of started the match, despite the coach saying after the Guinean match he wasn’t going to change his winning team.

The last time Nigeria failed to win its last match at the African showpiece was in 1994 when the Super Eagles played a goalless draw against Cote d’ Ivoire.

Bookmakers had predicted that Nigeria will win against the Madagascan to record a- 100 per cent record at the group stage.

With this defeat, Nigeria is second behind eventual group winners, Madagascar, with the Syli Nationale of Guinea finishing third with four points having defeated Burundi 2-0, with hope of qualifying for the Round of 16 as best placed in their group.

Soccer enthusists have blamed the coach of the Nigerian side for rotating his team, putting Nigeria in a tight position.

The Super Eagles will now play the team that comes second in Group F consisting of Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau and Benin Republic.

Super Eagles will play their next match, the Round of 16 knock- out stage on Saturday, 6th July, 2019.

PAMO, At Its Second Matriculation Ceremony, Rated First Choice for Medical Students

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June 29, 2019

When the PAMO University of Medical Sciences, PUMS, was given its operational licence, nobody was in doubt that it would, with time, become the first choice for students filling their JAMB forms.

An inkling of what to expect was, however, given during its first matriculation in 2018.

Ecstatic parents and their children were overwhelmed with joy at what they saw.

Serene environment. Good accommodation. Well equipped laboratories. Comfortable classrooms. World class academics.

The quality of guests.

They didn’t need to be surprised. The reputation of the promoter of PUMS, Dr Peter Odili, MD, CON, two time governor of Rivers State, did it. A man of character, with an eye for details, he assembled as Council members, men and women of integrity, with the most respected former Nigerian Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, as the Chancellor.

This other day at the Second Matriculation Ceremony, therefore, it was joy unlimited for high profile guests, including the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Barr. Nyesom Wike, when Odili, the Chancellor of the University, declared that, PUMS has become the prefered choice of students filling JAMB forms for medical courses. A defeaning applause followed.

PUMS is the first privately owned University of Medical Sciences in Nigeria.

Following, photographs from the second matriculation ceremony.

Honouring the Fatherland The National Anthem

VIP Guests, including Hon Justice Odili, JSC, Hon Justice Chioma Iheme- Nwosu, JCA, in a photograph with an Academic

His Excellency, former Head of State, & Chancellor of PUMS, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, GCFR, with, His Excellency, & Pro- Chancellor, Dr Peter Odili, CON

Governor of Rivers State, HE Nyesom Wike, CON, flanked by Abdulsalami & Odili.

Dr Peter Odili, CON, & Hon Justice Mary Peter-Odili, JSC, CFR, welcoming guests

Development of Rivers state, PUMS, on thier mind Wike & Odili — Development of Rivers state, PUMS, on their mind Wike & Odili

A cross section of the Matriculants, proudly marching into the hall to take their oaths

Osinbajo Denies Supervision Of Ruga Settlements

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June 29, 2019

By Uche Mbah

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has denied that his office is the one supervising the Ruga settlements as planned by the federal government.

Recall that a member of Miyetti Allah was on national television where he said that the Ruga settlement is being supervised by the office of the Vice President. Ruga has been under serious controversy, with Nigerians fearing it is a ploy for Fulania expansionism. Presidency and Miyeti Allah, however, claim that it will help to end what they called herders-farmers crisis.

But Laolu Akande, Osinbajo’s spokesperson,denied it in a release yesterday.

According to him, the project is different from the National Livestock Transformation Plan approved by State governors under the National Economic Council.

NEC, Chaired by Osinbajo, on January 17, 2019, approved the plan based on the recommendations of a Technical Committee of the Council presided over by Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, with State Governors of Adamawa, Kaduna, Benue, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Oyo & Zamfara as members

“The National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) 2019-2028 is a program to be implemented in 7 pilot states of Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, Taraba and Zamfara (as decided by NEC in January), being States in the front-lines of the Farmer-Herder crises. Afterwards, six other States have indicated readiness to also implement the plan. They are Katsina, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Ondo, and Edo states,” Akande said.

“The plan has six pillars through which it aims to transform the livestock production system in Nigeria along market oriented value chain while ensuring an atmosphere of peace and justice.

“The six key pillars include: Economic investment; Conflict resolution; Justice and peace; Humanitarian relief and early recovery; Human capital development and Cross-cutting issues such as gender, youth, research and information and strategic communication.

“In all the Federal Government will not impose on any State government regarding its land.”

Appointment of Supreme Court Judges: Nigerians Worry About Separation of Powers

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June 29, 2019

By Uche Mbah

There are palpable fears about the fate of separation of powers judging from the happenings in the political terrain in recent times, where the legislature and the Judiciary are gradually being allegedly subsumed under the wings of the executive.

Eal y this month, the Presidency had written to the Acting Chief Justice of the Federation on the issue of appointment of new judges for the supreme court to make up the number to 21. The Judiciary and the legislature has never told the executive how to appoint aids.

The President had written: ‘‘Pursuant to the provisions of Section 230(2) A&B of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I am pleased to request that you initiate in earnest the process of appointing additional five Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to make the full complement of 21 Justices as provided by the aforementioned provisions of the Constitution.

‘This is in line with the Government’s Agenda of repositioning the Judiciary in general and Supreme Court in particular for greater efficiency, with a view to reducing the backlogs of appeals pending at the Supreme Court.”

Adewale Ogunkua, a social commentator, queried this action on social media.

“In 2014, the NJC of which the CJN is Chairman had stipulated the guidelines for the appointment of Justices to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. The CJN or National Assembly has never written a lettter to the Presidency to appoint Ministers. This is DEROGATORY to the principle of the DOCTRINE OF SEPARATION OF POWERS as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. The appointments procedure is certain and lies with the Judiciary,” he wrote.

So many others are toing this line of reasoning.

Recently, the President had tried to justify why he “sacked” the former Chief Justice, Walter Onnoghen, oblivious of the fact that he is confessing to usurping the role of the National Judicial Commission, NJC. The NJC, however, is constituted around the CJ, who heads the Judiciary.

Recently, too, there were allegations of queries by the Presidency to the President of the Senate, dictating to him on who to appoint as his personal aids.

It is currently believed that these are basic signs of power concentration on the presidency, which is inimical to separation of powers.

Electricity: Lagos, South East To Experience Massive Blackout

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Bayo Bernard

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June 28, 2019

More Nigerians are likely to experience power cut in the next few days over delay in payment of N2310 billion owed federal government by power distribution companies, also known as Discos.

The failure to reach an agreement has fueled a possible disconnection of all the Discos by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN the magazine learned last night.

“In the event that the Discos failed to meet the deadline set by the government we will go ahead with the disconnection and this would affect many factories and home,” a TCN official who craved not to be named told the magazine.

The revelation came on the heels of cut in power transmission across the country to barely 3000mgws.

Shortage of power has greatly impacted many homes and factories who depend on the government for energy supply, some consumers told the magazine.

But the situation may even get worse should the federal government and power transmission firms failed to agree within the next few days, energy experts have warned.

Caught in this web are the three major distribution companies in the country: Eko, Enugu and Ikeja.

A source from TCN said “the federal government has directed the three electricity distribution companies to be disconnected from the national grid as a result of “non-compliance with the conditions of market rules.”

In a letter sent to the three companies, the federal government stated that the act will no longer be tolerated.

The noticed sent to Ikeja Disco reads “The restriction of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company intake from the grid through a Disconnection Order to the Transmission Service Provider to disconnect some facilities of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company until the event of default stated in NIISO/2019/003 is remedied.”

To the Enugu Disco the memo reads “That Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) is under suspension through market operator issued Order TCN/ISO/MO/002.

That Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has been suspended from the market operator administered market due to an Event of Default that was not remedied.

EEDC was notified of this Event of Default by a Notice of Event of Default (NED/2019/002) dated May 24, 2019.”

A similar directive was issued to the Ikeja Disco whose officials said they are doing everything to meet the deadline set by the federal government.

“Notwithstanding the above, Ikeja Electric assures all its customers and other stakeholders that everything will be done to ensure that there is no deliberate disruption to services,” said Felix Ofolue, head, corporate communications, Ikeja DisCo.

Ofolue assured electricity consumers not to panic as efforts are being made by the parties to resolve the issue.

APC Crisis: Plot To Replace Oshiomhole Thickens, As Either Ndoma Egba Or Ebiri Is A Possible Replacement

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June 28, 2019

By Akinwale Kasali

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, is in a fix following the plot by some top chieftains and stakeholders in the party to oust the party’s Chairman, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, out of office.

For months now, Oshiomhole has been in the eye of the storm following several allegations levelled against him ranging from corruption, high handedness, godfatherism and more. These allegations have, no doubt, brought bad press to the party.

Some Governors under the APC umbrella have commenced consideration of a possible replacement for the embattled national chairman who is, presently, at loggerhead with Governor Godwin Obaseki, his successor in Edo State Government House.

This magazine gathered that President Muhammadu Buhari is aware of the plot to remove Oshiomhole. Unconfirmed sources allege he has given tacit approval to the plot.

Oshiomhole has faced series of criticisms from party members since after the party’s primaries for the past general elections.

At a point, he was drilled by the Department of State Security (DSS) over alleged untidy businesses in the primaries that produced the party’s candidates for the election. Even the First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari, was so concerned, he spoke out against the alleged untidy businesses.

Last week, some APC governors met with President Buhari, allegedly, over Oshiomhole, where they stated that the Chairman lacks the capacity to lead the party.

The APC’s Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Lawal Shuaibu, was the first to accuse Oshiomhole of lacking the capacity to handle the APC.

Shuaibu had, in a personal letter he wrote to Oshiomhole, which was leaked to the media, insisted that with the poor performance of the APC in the last general elections, Oshiomhole had no option but to resign.

He insisted that it was Oshiomhole’s lack of capacity to manage the party’s affairs that led to the APC losing Bauchi, Oyo, Imo and Zamfara state governorship elections as well as some National and State Assembly seats.

Before Shuaibu’s letter, calls for Oshiomhole’s resignation had gathered momentum as the likes of former Governors Rochas Okorocha, Ibikunle Amosun, and Abdulazeez Yari had teamed up with some aggrieved ministers, senators and some other APC chieftains who felt they were ‘robbed’ the party’s tickets by Oshiomhole’s National Working Committee (NWC) voicing their concerns.

Also, the former national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, had accused Oshiomhole of “conducting the most fraudulent party primaries in the history of Nigerian democracy”.

In a statement issued by Oyegun’s Media Adviser, Ray Murphy, he said: “It is common knowledge that Oshiomole ran the most fraudulent primaries in the history of politics in Nigeria.

“Recall that INEC said so when it adjudged Oshiomole’s primaries as the worst so far. The courts are saying the same thing today by upturning several APC primaries for being undemocratic”.

Although the APC State chairmen came in defence of Oshiomhole when they recently passed a vote of confidence on him after a meeting with the NWC in Abuja, the calls for his removal have remained persistent.

According to the Secretary of the Forum of APC State Chairmen, Dr. Ben Nwoye: “We met with National Chairman of our great party in company of members of the NWC. Based on the information we have, and the readiness of the National Chairman to lead this party to the Next Level, we have unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the person of the National Chairman and the NWC.

“Any rumour that our National Chairman is facing troubled time should be disregarded. We need to say this to stop the speculation. He is a strong leader. He has all it takes to lead this party to the Next Level.

Senator Ndoma Egba, a former Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and Secretary of the past APC National Convention Planning Committee and Clement Ebiri, a former governor of Cross River State, are in the race to replace Oshiomhole.

It will be recalled that Ebiri was told to step down for Oshiomhole during the APC Chairmanship tussle when John Odigie Oyegun was replaced.

With the way the plot against Oshiomhole thickening, Ebiri could be considered to replace him.

Speculations are rife that APC stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, may have given his nod to the replacement of Oshiomhole, indicating that Oshiomhole’s exit as the chairman of the APC is in the offing. If it happens, he will be the second APC National Chairman from Edo state to be ousted. The first was his predecessor, John Odigie Oyegun.

US Visit: Former US Secretary Of Defense Calls Out Osinbajo, Akande Puts The Record Straight

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June 27, 2019