Welcome to Nollywood Times |
- Fayemi Assembles 1,009 Witnesses, Hires 35 Lawyers, To Defend His Mandate
- 10,000 Kwankwaso Supporters Defect From PDP To APC, As They Burn Red Caps In Kano
- What Buhari’s Reported Refusal For Kwankwaso To Use Eagle Square Means – Dankwambo
- CBN Nail 4 Banks, Impose N5.87bn Sanctions, As MTN Is Asked To Refund $8bn
- Kwankwaso In Trouble As Thousands Of ‘Keke’ Riders Hold Massive Rally For Buhari
- Curious But True: 'I Washed Dead Bodies For 10 Years' – Nigerian Governor Reveals
- Kwankwaso Unveils ‘Positive Change’ Agenda, At Declaration, Slams Buhari, APC – (Full Text & Videos)
- JUST IN: Dankwambo Speaks On ‘Defecting’ From PDP
- BREAKING: Mammoth Crowd Gathered As Kwankwaso Declares For Presidency - 2019 Election
| Fayemi Assembles 1,009 Witnesses, Hires 35 Lawyers, To Defend His Mandate Posted: 29 Aug 2018 11:38 PM PDT
Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Governor-Elect of Ekiti State, has assembled 1,009 witnesses and 35 senior lawyers to defend his mandate at the recent governorship election in the state, which he won.The Governor-Elect yesterday filed his defence to the petition written by Professor Kolapo Olusola Eleka, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and outgoing Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, at the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.According to the election result that was announced and released, Dr. Fayemi, the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, polled a total of 197, 459 votes to defeat Olusola, the candidate of the PDP, who got 178, 223 votes in the keenly contested election.Professor Olusola, who was the candidate of the PDP in the July 14 governorship election, had a couple of weeks ago filed a 700-page petition against Fayemi's victory.The PDP Candidate is asking the tribunal to declare him winner of the election , having polled the highest number of lawfull votes in the election. Olushola accused the APC of using the federal might to muzzle opposition , while also accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of falsifying results in Fayemi's favour. According to ThisDay Newspaper report, Fayemi, in the 2,558-page defence with over 3,000 documents as exhibits, Fayemi averred that he won the gubernatorial election of July 14, 2018 and urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition of Eleka for lack of merit. The report further stated that the team of lawyers armed with 3,500 exhibits and 1,009 witnesses , were led to the tribunal by three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), Mr Hakeem AfoIabi, Mr. Yomi Aliyu and Dr. Kayode Olatoke. Addressing journalists after filing the defence, Dr. Kayode Olatoke (SAN), who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said Eleka's petition was a waste of time as it lacked substance and would be dismissed by the tribunal. READ ALSO: BREAKING: PDP Files Petition At The Election Tribunal Against Fayemi's Victory The SAN explained further that Fayemi won fair and square in 12 out of the 16 Local Governments Areas (LGAs) of the state, while Eleka won in four. While responding to Eleka's petition bordering on alleged over -voting in some polling units, Olatoke dismissed this claim as frivolous and baseless. Dr. Kayode, said Eleka's first ground in his petition is based on Fayemi's phantom indictment, which had been nullified and set aside by a competent court. "The second ground of Eleka's petition is alleged over voting, which is another false claim. In any case, the petition in itself is self-defeating. "The third ground is on deliberate voiding of votes as alleged by Eleka but in actual fact, majority of the voided ballots were votes meant for Fayemi, while the fourth ground is on vote buying which is baseless as it was, Eleka's sponsor, Fayose that was guilty of this. "Fayemi won convincingly based on his popularity," Olatoke said. The report has it also that other senior lawyers in the team representing Dr Fayemi and the APC are Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Hakeem Afolabi (SAN), John Baiyeshea (SAN), Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), Jelili Owonikoko (SAN), Yomi Aliyu (SAN) and Segun Ajibola (SAN). However, no date has been fixed for hearing. Credit: ThisDay Related Topics: #Fayemi, #EkitiElection, #Politics, #Olusola Sharing is caring. Share this story  | ||
| 10,000 Kwankwaso Supporters Defect From PDP To APC, As They Burn Red Caps In Kano Posted: 29 Aug 2018 10:49 PM PDT
The Kwankwasiyya Group may be in trouble in Kano as over 10,000 supporters of Kwankwaso red cap loyalists has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for All Progressives Congress (APC), Wednesday in Kano State and they openly burnt their red caps.Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, the Chairman of APC in the state, while receiving the defectors, described the event which took place at Sani Abacha Stadium as historic and an indication that the Kwankwasiyya and the PDP are dead and buried in Kano."Today, they have come to join us and we have received them with open hands. In our great party, there is no discrimination. They will be accorded the same treatment just like any one of us.""We are happy to receive the tricycle riders who have realised that there is no hope where they were."With what is happening now, you will agree with me that come 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Abdullahi Abdullahi Umar Ganduje will have a landslide victory in Kano." Speaking on the development, ThisDay Newspaper reports that Alhaji Muktar Sule Garo, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, in Kano State, stated that, about 6500 members of Kwankwasiyya Tricycle operators and 3500 members of PDP Tricycle operators defected to the APC. "Thousands of Kwankwasiyya and PDP loyalists are gathered in this place to show their disaffection on the ideals and ideology of their leader, Senator Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso. "The defectors have come to join the struggle of restoring true democracy under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari at the centre and Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje here in Kano. "What you have seen here today is the beginning of the total annihilation of the Kwankwasiyya Group and the red-cap followers. "Already, plans have been concluded to receive more of these groups from market women, tea sellers, mechanics, baked beans sellers, soft drinks hawkers, vulcanizers and many other groups." "There is no doubt that Kano is ready to deliver over five million votes to President Muhammadu Buhari. The people are happy with the achievements of Governor Ganduje's administration and they are ready to appreciate him at the polls." In the same vien, Malam Muhammad Garba, the Kano state Commissioner for Information, Youths and Culture, described the event as memorable, adding that the state government was impressed by the development. "Most of the decampees were members of the APC who went on sabbatical, but today, they have realised that there is no road where they were. They are back and we welcome them with open hands. "You can also agree with me that Kwankwasiyya is dead in Kano. We are expecting more people to join the progressives. I must tell you that Kano will soon record yet another massive defection of the opposition into our great party, the APC." Alhaji Usama Haruna Dala, leader of the tricycle operators in the state, while responding on behalf of the defectors, said that, "our defection today is as a result of our conviction that Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has given Kano the kind of development we deserve and he is ready to do more. "We are also happy with the change agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari. We believe in APC, we believe in Ganduje, we believe in Buhari. In 2019, Insha Allah, APC is the winning party." Related Topics: #Kwankwaso, #NigeriaDecides2019, #Politics Sharing is caring. Share this story  | ||
| What Buhari’s Reported Refusal For Kwankwaso To Use Eagle Square Means – Dankwambo Posted: 29 Aug 2018 10:07 PM PDT
Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo, the Governor of Gombe State, has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari for refusing Senator Kwankwaso to use the Eagle Square Abuja, for his presidential declaration. He said Buhari is already being jittery of the opposition ahead of the 2019 general election.The Governor stated this in a statement, reacting to the alleged report that Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential aspirant, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso was prevented from using the Eagle Square, Abuja, to make the declaration of his presidential ambition.According to a DAILY POST earlier report,which stated, that the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, yesterday claimed that the federal government had ordered the Police to seal off the Eagle Square, ahead of Kwankwaso's official declaration to run for presidency.The action of the Federal Government had been condemned by politicians, especially those from the opposition.READ ALSO: Kwankwaso Denied Permission To Use Eagle Square For Presidential Declaration Governor Dankwambo, while speaking on the development via his Twitter handle, said: "Denying my brother, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso the use of the Eagle Square shows the presidency are jittery of the opposition." Related Topics: #Dankwambo, #Kwankwaso, #Buhari, #NigeriaDecides2019, #Politics Sharing is caring. Share this story  | ||
| CBN Nail 4 Banks, Impose N5.87bn Sanctions, As MTN Is Asked To Refund $8bn Posted: 29 Aug 2018 03:30 PM PDT
Standard Chartered – N2.4 bn … Stanbic IBTC – N1.8 bn … Citibank – N1.2 bn … Diamond Bank – N0.25 bn …writes MTN to refund $8 billion Read the report of the Central Bank of Nigeria investigation report and findings on the the financial irregularities of four commercial banks in Nigeria and MTN The report is put together by PRNigeria, a News Agency. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says it has imposed heavy sanctions totaling N5.87 billion on four banks under its regulatory purview and asked same to refund the sum of $8,134,312,397.63 for what it described as 'flagrant violation of extant laws and regulations of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1995 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Foreign Exchange Manual, 2006'. The four banks that have come under the sledge hammer of the CBN for the violations are Standard Chartered Bank, Stanbic-IBTC, Citibank, and Diamond Bank. Announcing the decision in Abuja on Wednesday, August 29, 2018, CBN's Director, Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor, said that the actions of the Bank became necessary following allegations of remittance of foreign exchange with irregular Certificates of Capital Importation (CCIs) issued on behalf of some offshore investors of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited and subsequent investigations carried out by the apex bank in March 2018. The CBN has therefore asked the Managements of the banks and MTN Nigeria Communications Limited to immediately refund the sum of $8,134,312,397.63, illegally repatriated by the company to the coffers of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Figures obtained from the CBN on Wednesday, August 29, 2018, indicate that the highest fine of N2,470,604,767.13 was slammed on Standard Chartered Bank, while Stanbic IBTC Nigeria was fined the sum of N1,885,852,847.45. For its punishment, Citibank Nigeria was penalized in the sum of N1,265,541,562.31, just as Diamond Bank was directed to pay the sum of N250 million for violating extant rules. The CBN Spokesman further disclosed that the decision of the Bank followed thorough investigations by it into the allegations of remittances by the four banks of forex with irregular certificates of Capital Importation (CCIs) issued on behalf of some offshore investors of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited. He said the investigations revealed that the sum of $3,448,119,321.72 was repatriated by Standard Chartered Bank on the basis of the illegally issued CCIs. Similarly, he said the sums of $2,632,005,623.78, $1,766,263,212.75 and $348,914,501.30 were repatriated by Stanbic IBTC Nigeria, Citibank Nigeria and Diamond Bank Plc, respectively during the period 2007 and 2015. Accordingly, he said the CBN had directed the affected banks to immediately refund the respective sums to the CBN. The CBN investigation further revealed that on account of illegal conversion of MTN shareholders' loan to preference shares (interest free loan) of $399,594,146.00, the sum of $8,134,312,397.63 was illegally repatriated by the company. While disclosing that the investigations by the CBN took a while in order to carry out thorough inquiry and give fair hearing to all parties involved, Mr. Okorafor advised all banks and multinational companies in Nigeria to adhere strictly to the provisions of all extant laws and regulations of Nigeria in their foreign exchange transactions. He warned that failure by the management of banks and companies to abide by the existing guidelines would be appropriately sanctioned, which sanctions may include denial of access to the Nigerian foreign exchange market. Details of the Investigations CBN's letter to MTN says: Our investigation also revealed the following, among others: i. The shareholders of your company invested the sum of $402,590,261.03 in the company from 2001 to 2006; ii. The investment was carried out through the inflow of foreign currency cash transfers and equipment importation, which was evidenced by the CCIs issued by Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), Citi Bank (CB) and Diamond Bank (DB); iii. The CCIs issued at the time of the investment by the above banks to your organization in respect of the $402,590,261.03 showed that $59,436,923.44 was invested as shareholders' loan and $343,153,339.56 as equity; iv. However, a review of your organization's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007 revealed that $399,594,146.00 was recorded/invested as shareholders' loan and $2,996,117.00 as equity investment, in accordance with the shareholder's agreement but contrary to the CCIs issued by the banks in (iii) above; v. Following a request by your organization through Standard Chartered Bank for CBN's approval to convert the shareholder's loan to preference shares, an approval-in-principle was granted vide our letter dated November 13, 2007; with the grant of final approval made subject to the fulfillment of the following conditions by your organization. a. Implementation of the decision in item 5B of your board resolution dated November 08, 2007 and submission of documentary evidence to that effect to the Director, Trade and Exchange Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria; and b. Provision of an undertaking that no remittance for either interest or principal repayment would be made to the shareholders from the date of the loan to the date they were converted to preference shares. vi. In spite of the non-fulfillment of the conditions in (v) above and consequently, the non-issuance of a final approval by the CBN, your organization converted the shareholders' loan to preference shares with Standard Charted Bank issuing new CCIs in respect of the illegal conversion; vii. The action of your banker in aiding your organisation in the illegal conversion of the shareholders' loan was later described by SCB in a letter to the CBN dated December 10, 2009 as an "unintended omission"; and viii. On account of the illegal conversion of your shareholders' loan to preference shares (interest free loan) of $399,594,146.00, the sum of $8,134,312,397.63 was illegally repatriated on behalf of your company by the aforementioned banks between 2007 and 2015. CBN's Letter to Standard Chartered bank says: Our investigation also revealed the following, among others: i. The shareholders of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited invested the sum of $402,590,261.03 in the company from 2001 to 2006; ii. The investment was carried out through the inflow of foreign currency cash transfers and equipment importation, which was evidenced by the CCIs issued by your bank, Citi Bank (CB) and Diamond Bank (DB) at the initial stage of the investment. iii. The CCIs issued at the time of investment by your bank along with the other banks in respect of the $402,590,261.03 showed that $59,436,923.44 was recorded/invested as shareholders' loan and $343,153,339.56 as equity. This position was, however, contrary to the position in the financial statements of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited for the year ended December 31, 2007, which revealed that $399,594,146.00 was invested as shareholders' loan and $2,996,117.00 as equity investment, in accordance with the shareholder's agreement but contrary to the CCIs issued by your bank, Citi Bank (CB) and Diamond Bank (DB). Your action in this regard constituted a rendition of false returns to the Central Bank of Nigeria. iv. Your bank subsequently applied to the CBN on behalf of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited for the conversion of the shareholder's loan to preference shares, for which an approval-in-principle was granted vide our letter dated November 13, 2007 with the grant of final approval made subject to the fulfillment of the following conditions by MTNN: a. Implementation of the decision in item 5B of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited board resolution dated November 8, 2007 and submission of documentary evidence to that effect to the Director, Trade and Exchange Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria; and b. Provision of an undertaking that no remittance for either interest or principal repayment would be made to the shareholders from the date of the loan to the date they were converted to preference shares. v. In spite of the non-fulfillment of the above conditions in (iv) above and consequently, the non-issuance of a final approval by the CBN, your bank issued new CCIs in support of the illegal conversion of the shareholders' loan to preference shares; an action that was later described by your bank in a letter to the CBN dated December 10, 2009, as an "unintended omission"; and vi. On account of the illegal conversion of the shareholders loan to preference shares (interest free loan) of $399,594,146.00, the sum of $8,134,312,397.63 was illegally repatriated by your bank and the other banks on behalf of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited between 2007 and 2015. Other findings from our investigation included the following: 1. Your bank issued three (3) CCIs outside the regulatory 24 hours without the approval of the CBN; 2. In contravention of Memorandum 24 (ii) of the Foreign Exchange Manual, which requires that CCIs should be transferred based on customer's instructions to a bank of the customer's choice along with the transaction history of the CCI, you provided confirmation to two other banks, Citibank and Diamond Bank, instead of transferring the CCIs to them as required by the Foreign Exchange Manual. The two banks on the strength of your confirmation subsequently remitted various sums as dividend for MTN Nigeria Communications Limited at different times; and 3. Your bank failed to issue a letter of indemnity to the CBN against double remittance in respect of ten CCIs transferred by Diamond Bank and Citibank to your bank as required under subsection 5(iii) of Memorandum 24 of the Foreign Exchange Manual. Upon the conclusion of the investigation, the Committee of Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria met with the management of your bank and the other banks as well as representatives of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited in Lagos on May 25, 2018. This was to give all the parties fair hearing, towards taking an informed decision on the matter. CBN's letter to Stanbic-IBTC says: Our investigation also revealed the following, among others: i. The shareholders of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited invested the sum of $402,590,261.03 in the company from 2001 to 2006; ii. The investment was carried out through the inflow of foreign currency cash transfers and equipment importation, which was evidenced by the CCIs issued by Standard Chartered Bank, Diamond Bank and Citibank, out of which eight of the CCIs totaling $377,216,508.30 were transferred to your bank by Standard Chartered Bank. Consequently, your bank repatriated the sum of $929,051,331.83 as proceeds of divestment from the CCIs valued at $42,704,408.61. iii. On account of the illegal conversion of the shareholders loan to preference shares (interest free loan) of $399,594,146.00, the sum of $8,134,312,397.63 was illegally repatriated by your bank and the other banks on behalf of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited between 2007 and 2015. Other findings from our investigation included the following: a). Your bank falsely reported thirty five CCIs valued $313,683,925.84 inappropriately as "other purchases" in your MTR 203 returns for February 2008 instead of "capital importation"; b) Your bank issued eight CCIs of $58,359,616.67 in respect of foreign exchange sourced locally as shareholders' loan. This constituted a contravention of the requirement of Section 15 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1995 and Memorandum 20 (1.3) (iii) of the Foreign Exchange Manual, which stipulate that CCIs should only be issued on capital imported; c). Your bank issued eight CCIs for capital inflows in form of machinery outside the 24 hours regulatory requirement of receipt of shipping documents in contravention of paragraph 4.1.1 (IV) of the Monetary, Credit, Foreign Trade, and Exchange Policy Guidelines for Fiscal Years 2012 to 2013; d) Your bank failed to issue a letter of indemnity to the CBN against double remittance in respect of twenty CCIs transferred by Standard Chartered Bank to your bank as required under subsection 5(iii) of Memorandum 24 of the Foreign Exchange Manual; and e) Your bank repatriated dividends totaling $905,260.20 in respect of CCIs illegally issued on the strength of locally sourced capital. Upon the conclusion of the investigation, the Committee of Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria met with the management of your bank and the other banks as well as representatives of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited in Lagos on May 25, 2018. This was to give all the parties fair hearing, towards taking an informed decision on the matter. CBN's letter to CitiBank says: Our investigation also revealed the following, among others: i. The shareholders of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited invested the sum of $402,590,261.03 in the company from 2001 to 2006; ii. The investment was carried out through the inflow of foreign currency cash transfer and equipment importation evidenced by the CCIs issued by your bank, Standard Chartered Bank and Diamond Bank; iii. The CCIs issued by your bank along with the other banks in respect of the $402,590,261.03 showed that $59,436,923.44 was recorded/invested as shareholders' loan and $343,153,339.56 as equity at the time of the investment. This position was, however, contrary to the position in the financial statements of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited for the year ended December 31, 2007, which showed that $399,594,146.00 was invested as shareholders' loan and $2,996,117.00 as equity investment, in accordance with the shareholder's agreement but contrary to the CCIs issued by your bank, Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) and Diamond Bank (DB). Your action in this regard constituted a rendition of false returns to the Central Bank of Nigeria; iv. Your bank issued seven (7) CCIs to MTN Nigeria (MTNN) totaling $42,126,803.04 that were subsequently transferred to Standard Chartered Bank Limited at the request of your customer (MTNN) on February 6, 2006, which constituted part of the CCIs that were consequently irregularly re-issued; v. Four of the CCIs issued by your bank evidencing the inflow of capital imported as cash were issued outside the period of 24 hours allowed by regulation upon the receipt of inflow, in flagrant contravention of Memorandum 22 of the Foreign Exchange Manual; vi. Your bank failed to comply with extant regulations on the issuance of letter of indemnity to the CBN in addition to forwarding the transaction history of the CCIs to the CBN, as provided in Memorandum 24(5)(ii)(b) of the Foreign Exchange Manual in respect of the CCIs received by your bank from Standard Chartered Bank; and vii. Your bank purchased $535,000,000 on the basis of photocopies of Form "A" bearing the name of Standard Chartered Bank as the applicant bank and the referenced CCIs in contravention of Memorandum 24 (4) (a) of the Foreign Exchange Manual 2006. Upon the conclusion of the investigation, the Committee of Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria met with the management of your bank and the other banks as well as representatives of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited in Lagos on May 25, 2018. This was to give all the parties fair hearing, towards taking an informed decision on the matters. CBN's letter to Diamond Bank says: Our investigation also revealed the following, among others: I. The shareholders of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited invested the sum of $402,590,261.03 in the company from 2011 to 2006; II. The investment was carried out through the inflow of foreign currency cash transfer and equipment importation, which was evidenced by the CCIs issued by your bank, Citi Bank and Standard Chartered Bank; III. The CCIs issued illegally by your bank along with the other banks in respect of the $402,590,261.03 showed that $59,436,923.44 was recorded/invested as shareholders' loan and $343,153,339.56 as equity. This position was, however, contrary to the position in the financial statements of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited for the year ended December 31, 2007, which showed that $399,594,146.00 was invested as shareholders' loan and $2,996,117.00 as equity investment, in accordance with the shareholder's agreement but contrary to the CCIs issued by your bank, Citi Bank (CB) and Standard Chartered Bank (SCB). Your action in this regard constituted a rendition of false returns to the Central Bank of Nigeria; and IV. On account of the illegal conversion of the shareholders loan to preference shares (interest free loan) of $399,594,146.00, the sum of $8,134,312,397.63 was illegally repatriated by your bank and the other banks on behalf of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, within a period of six years. Other findings from our investigation included the following: a) Your bank issued three CCIs in favour of Dantata Investment for the sum of $5million without converting the foreign exchange received into Naira as required by our regulations. On the basis of these illegally issued CCIs, your bank repatriated the sum of $102,545,336.77 in respect of these CCIs; b) A further review of the CCIs also showed that no Form "M" was opened as evidence of the utilization of the FX for the importation of goods (as "Not valid for FX") into the country; c) Your bank remitted the sum of $348,914,501.38 as dividend to MTN Nigeria Communications Limited offshore corporate shareholders without any documentary evidence of the audited account of the company to justify the basis of the payment of the dividend declared and paid by MTNN. This action was a violation of the provision of Memorandum 24(4)(b) of the Foreign Exchange Manual; d) Your bank failed to indemnify SCB for losses and/or liabilities that may arise from the use of the CCIs you transferred to SCB in violation of the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Manual 2006; e) Your bank issued three CCIs outside the regulatory 24 hours without the approval of the CBN contrary to provisions of Memorandum 22 of the Foreign Exchange Manual 2006; and f) Your bank illegally remitted the sum of $352,222,358.39 on behalf of Standard Chartered Bank and Stanbic IBTC Bank in respect of the various CCIs issued to MTN Nigeria Communications Limited. Upon the conclusion of the investigation, the Committee of Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria met with the management of your bank and the other banks as well as representatives of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited in Lagos on May 25, 2018. This was to give all the parties fair hearing, towards taking an informed decision on the matter. Source: PRNigeria Related Topics: #CBN, #News Sharing is caring. Share this story  | ||
| Kwankwaso In Trouble As Thousands Of ‘Keke’ Riders Hold Massive Rally For Buhari Posted: 29 Aug 2018 02:25 PM PDT
| ||
| Curious But True: 'I Washed Dead Bodies For 10 Years' – Nigerian Governor Reveals Posted: 29 Aug 2018 09:54 AM PDT
Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, the Oyo State Governor, has confessed how he struggled to survive when he was studying as a young man outside Nigeria.The Governor confessed that he used to wash dead bodies to survive. Ajimobi made this revelation on Tuesday at a South-West youth regional summit in Osogbo, while encouraging the youth to work hard and keep a positive and healthy mindset.Gov. Ajimobi disclosed that his parents at that time, only sent him 30 dollars all through his stay abroad, stating that he had to look for a way to survive.READ ALSO: Governor Ajimobi Reveals What Oyo Government Will Now Do To Yinka Ayefele(Video)"I left Nigeria in 1963 to study abroad, but throughout my stay there, I was washing dead bodies to support myself to go to school. Whenever I got home from work, I will be weeping, remembering the number of dead bodies I washed. My boss at work then said I should not be afraid or fear, adding that such feeling is normal for first comers. He encouraged me to always see those dead bodies as iced fish. But against all odds, I survived and that is why I am urging youths to see hard work as the only way to success. I am saying this to challenge the youth of our next generation not to give up.This is our chance as youths and as Yorubas to come together to chart a successful pathway for the country.'' Related Topics: #AbiolaAjimobi, #OyoState, #Politics Sharing is caring. Share this story  | ||
| Kwankwaso Unveils ‘Positive Change’ Agenda, At Declaration, Slams Buhari, APC – (Full Text & Videos) Posted: 29 Aug 2018 09:23 AM PDT
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the former governor of Kano State, and a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on Wednesday formally declared his presidential ambition for 2019 general election.Kwankwaso is one of the presidential aspirants seeking the Peoples Democratic Party's, PDP, ticket for the 2019 presidential election.His declaration which was held at Chida Hotel in Abuja, having been denied permission to use the Eagle Square, Abuja, attracted thousands of Kwankwasiya supporters and party members.The Senator and former Minister of Defence expressed readiness to give Nigerians the change the current government has failed to provide despite repeated assurances.In his speech, Kwankwaso promised "positive change", insisting that the President Muhamadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed Nigerians. Watch video below: Read his full speech below: "Let me begin by thanking all of you for travelling from far and wide to witness this important occasion heralding my decision to run for the office of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Your resolve to come, I am convinced, was informed by our collective disillusionment, disappointment and the pervasive air of hopelessness in our country today. Your desire to see things change for better is well-informed and inner conviction that together we can midwife positive change is applauded. Today I declare that I am going to vie for the office of President Federal Republic of Nigeria under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. I stand on my honour to offer a paradigm shift in leadership. There is no gainsaying that all is not well with the polity. It is also clear that the same mindset that created and escalated the problems cannot be used in resolving the on-going crises in our nationhood and national development. Watch more videos below: I intend to offer positive change. Change has again become inevitable. To live is to witness changes because change is an inseparable part of living. Come May 2019, the narrative of helplessness, buck-passing, division, poverty, insecurity, and hopelessness must change to turn to a new dawn of confidence in building a one well restructured Nigeria. I assure you that while I do not have the prophetic power to predict the future, we certainly have in us the ability to create the future that we want. On this day, as I stand before you I offer you a value-based leadership anchored on our National Ethics as outlined in Chapter 2 of Section 23 of our Constitution: And I quote; "The National Ethics shall be Discipline, Integrity, Dignity of Labour, Social Justice, Religious Tolerance, Self-reliance and Patriotism." We will provide a leadership where everybody is free and equal; where Nigerians see themselves as Nigerians first and as Ibo, Yoruba, Hausa, Ijaw, Ibibio, Fulani, etc second; where citizens are self-assured and self-assertive; where they are confident and competent; where they want to do what is right no matter whose ox is gored. I want to lead a Nigeria where people are educated and exposed beyond the confines of their tribe, religion, linguistic group or place of birth. I want to lead a Nigeria where Citizens respect their leaders, and leaders lead and forge a team to promote and protect the interest of all Nigerians. I want to lead a Nigeria where all are comfortable anywhere and on any positive issue can compete fairly with their peers without favour or discrimination. That is the kind of Nigeria we envision. We will abandon the failed relics of the past. We have all it takes to make Nigeria good and relevant for all. What are some of these changes that we are promising? 1. National Security: The primary responsibility of the Government is security of life. My understanding of National security transcends the stereotype limiting it to the Armed Forces and other security agencies. As former Minister of Defence, I understand security from that point; it covers more and includes the entire scope of food, health care delivery, education, economic prosperity, and enjoyment of human rights on the physical defence and security side. There is the need for a well-trained, motivated, well-equipped and intelligence-propelled security architecture. That requires decisive options of strengthening and equipping the military while restructuring the Police to make it more effective. We will vigorously pursue other institutional reforms in the other security and paramilitary agencies and justice system that will serve as a huge disincentive for crimes and criminality. This will include training and retraining of personnel, improvement of personnel welfare as well as the provision of other security infrastructure considered necessary and relevant to combating crime and other deviant behaviors. READ ALSO: BREAKING: Mammoth Crowd Gathered As Kwankwaso Declares For Presidency - 2019 Election The constant misuse of security apparatus will stop immediately. Ours is a recommitment to strengthening all democratic institutions in Nigeria. We shall also strive to create an all-inclusive mechanism for effective intelligence gathering that involves all stakeholders especially – Traditional rulers, Religious Leaders, businessmen and women, civil servants, Community leaders, the communities themselves, youth, trade organizations, politicians and all well-meaning Nigerians. We must as a policy strive to support and protect the identities of those patriotic Nigerians that volunteer credible information to make Nigeria and Nigerians safe. Above all we shall put mechanisms in place for the continuous monitoring of the operations of these security institutions to ensure efficiency and conformity with the rule of law. I also understand the difficult conditions under which our military and other paramilitary organisations operate. An ill-equipped, unmotivated, deprived and over- tasked soldier cannot perform maximally. We shall motivate all affected communities, the military and the police to put an end to all killings. There is absolutely no excuse whatsoever for killings by Boko Haram insurgents, herdsmen, crop farmers, kidnappers, human traffickers and abductors. We will provide an atmosphere where there will be security, safety, serenity and sanity. 2. The Economy: Nigeria in recent years has witnessed a weak economic performance due to tight economic policies and failed institutional supervision especially as it relates to growing small enterprises that should, in the long run, result in larger ventures to anchor our economic prosperity. Tight monetary rates, exchange rates fluctuations, inflation and unemployment are the dominant factors hindering the growth and survival of our businesses in the country today. Therefore, our focus shall be on sound economic policies that will ensure a new regime of exchange rate stability, low-interest rates and reduction in the country's rising burden of domestic and foreign loans. In the past three years, poverty and unemployment have become more visible, challenging Nigeria's economic prosperity. Existing policies and economic programmes for alleviating the poverty incidence in the country have obviously failed. Our non-negotiable goal will, therefore, be the eradication of poverty through sustainable wealth creation and a coordinated and effective micro small and medium enterprises development. We shall promote policies that boost our foreign reserves and lower interest rate to ensure that the unsustainable debt treadmill profile is tamed. Locally, we shall diversify the economy through industrialisation and manufacturing, aggressive promotion of agribusiness, the mining sector and entrepreneurship to make us self-sufficient and export-oriented. The oil and gas sector must cease to be a verifiable source of corruption and inefficiency. 3. Social Challenges: Our response to the various social challenges shall be hinged on our economic model of poverty eradication. We must consciously seek to tame the widening of inequality. We will strive to end ethnic and religious bigotry, corruption, poor economic management, nepotism, gross dereliction of duty, condonation of misdeed. As we all know a serious lack of progress and hope for the future, lack of national cohesion and poor management of internal political dynamics and widening inequality – are very much with us today. We need to believe in ourselves; we need to be critically analytical when and where necessary; we need to have indomitable courage and unwavering commitment to Nigeria and all that is Nigerian; we need to stand firm for what is noble, edifying and wholesome; we need to fight those ills that have shackled us and held us back in the past; we need to establish shared values and enthrone norms, virtues and morality that are enduring, uplifting and distinguishing. We owe the successor generation a country that is united, stable, secure, cohesive and prosperous, playing its role among the comity of nations easily. That is our goal. We must not only do things right, we must do right things and always do them right. There should be no excuse for poor performance, shoddy job and incompetence on any grounds. We must avoid failure at all cost and engender the right ambience that will allow the creative potentials of Nigerians to be expressed uninhibited. We will have truly inclusive growth and development for shared prosperity. 4. Infrastructure: With a rapidly growing population, Nigeria's infrastructure is challenged. If not tackled it would deny citizens the joy of national prosperity. Energy need keeps shooting up the stress of doing business in Nigeria. Domestic production suffers and a lot of foreign companies also find it hard to invest in Nigeria due to constant power failures. For decades, Nigeria failed to develop its infrastructure. To bridge the gap in infrastructure, we will prioritise capital expenditure and ensure that adequate funds are not only allocated to capital expenditure but also disbursed in a timely manner and utilised as budgeted for road and rail networks, waterways, housing, aviation communication and others. 5. Human Capital Development & Global Competitiveness, Education, Research and Innovation: The greatest asset of any nation is its human capital. In the people lies the solution to most of our challenges. My job as the leader is to facilitate the release of the creative energy embedded in our growing youth population brimming with ingenuity and famed resilience. Ours will be a deliberate policy to make our workforce globally competitive. Human Capital development in all its ramifications shall be a cardinal point of our administration. We shall provide ICT- compliant high-quality personal development education. And research for development will be made accessible to all. We are committed to providing good quality universal education from pre-primary to tertiary and vocational skills development. We shall provide accessible, quality education to all Nigerians. Education in Nigeria will be rejuvenated and restructured to make future generations not only problem-solvers but proud custodians of their culture, heritage and history and also for creating confidence in all Nigerians across all the States, sectors and talents. We believe that education is the cornerstone of any development and nation-building and a very strong weapon to fight inequality, injustice and poverty. It is also an instrument or tool for building national unity and cohesion. As a policy, we will drive a plan to provide the necessary infrastructure, rejuvenate existing ones and modernize them to be in line with the best international practice. We shall equally review the fees being charged for WAEC, NECO and JAMB examinations and make education affordable. Every child in Nigeria must be supported to attain his or her maximum potential in education. In addition, we shall commence a review of our method as it relates to agricultural technology in particular. 6. Agribusiness: Agri-business holds one of the major keys to eradicating poverty from our midst. The key of our agricultural development must be an aggressive pursuit of agri-business. We intend to collaborate with our numerous Agricultural Research Institutes and Universities by challenging them to pursue resolute research and development in agribusiness, agricultural technology etc. Working with expert advice, we intend to qualitatively improve the agricultural value chain, to create employment opportunities. 7. Healthcare Delivery: Now that medical tourism has become the first choice of our leaders, we will ensure that the current situation in clinics and hospitals is given radical reforms. We shall prioritise and institutionalise national healthcare programmes and delivery, medical education and training and financing of healthcare in a manner that is universally accessible and affordable. Our main goal in healthcare would be to provide affordable 'Healthcare services for all Nigerians'. 8. International Relations: While Africa must remain the centrepiece of our foreign policy, we shall endeavour to keep our old friends while seeking deeper and better understanding of our other development partners and allies. Our foreign policy must be directed at contributing to the eradication of poverty and global competitiveness. 9. Youth & Women Empowerment: Our government will treat the youth, sports, recreation and culture activities as an Industry through which businesses can be created and job opportunities established. Our women shall consciously be encouraged in governance and business. We shall encourage and support young people and women in collaboration with all financial institutions to create platforms where they can get access to finance to establish and deploy their creative energies into problem-solving apps and other forms of ICT for sports, recreation and core businesses. We will endeavour to get 30% representation of women and youth in all organs and structures of government in line with the PDP constitution. 10. National Unity, Cohesion and Restructuring: The fulcrum of our leadership will be the enhancement of a united Nigeria couched within the matrix of productivity and a shift from the sense of entitlement by officeholders and their hangers-on. Fellow compatriots, a key propellant of our journey must be a committed desire to ensure that the labours of our heroes shall truly not be in vain. We will strive to create an atmosphere where every Nigerian has an equal opportunity to contribute. Our restructuring will be to ensure an inclusive political, social and economic space for all. All of this will ensure that first, we are Nigerians. At this juncture, I will conclude by once again thanking all those who contributed in their own way to make this occasion a huge success. I must specifically mention those who mobilized their resources, time and energy to travel from far and near to witness this important occasion. I hope you have collected your PVC, and if you still haven't collected your own you have tomorrow to do so. Take the opportunity to collect and encourage others to collect their own to be used to vote out the APC Government and vote in the PDP umbrella Government." Related Topics: #Kwankwaso, #2019Election, #NigeriaDecides2019, #Politics Sharing is caring. Share this story  | ||
| JUST IN: Dankwambo Speaks On ‘Defecting’ From PDP Posted: 29 Aug 2018 08:28 AM PDT
Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo's, Presidential Campaign Organisation has refuted in strong words, the speculations that the People's Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant was set to defect to another party.Prof. Terhemba Shija, the Director-General of the campaign organisation, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, said the governor will remain in the People's Democratic Party (PDP) irrespective of the outcome of the party's primary.Shija said that Dankwambo had consolidated his position in the PDP, having distinguished himself as the only state governor who refused to defect before and after 2015 elections in the entire 19 northern states.The D.G, said that the presidential aspirant (Dankwambo) would accept whatever the outcome of PDP's presidential primary and work with whoever emerged as the party's flag bearer in his determination to re-position Nigeria's economy."Luckily, Gov. Dankwambo himself has said it repeatedly that he is a team player. He said that he is a PDP man who was brought up and groomed by the PDP. "He said that the party is a pool where leaders are grown and that he is one of them. "So, nothing will make him walk out of PDP just as he did not walk out of PDP when every other person was running away. "Don't forget that people ran away before and after 2015, they said all sorts of things against the party. But Dankwambo stood his ground. "Many people chickened out because of the Tsunami that APC unleashed on the country. Despite this, our principal stood his ground and fought them to a standstill both in his state and the entire North/East. "Mind you, he was the only PDP governor who retained his position and eventually returned for a second term as a governor. READ ALSO: Nigerians Blast Dankwambo For Mocking Buhari Over His Comment On Nigerian Youth "Today, he is one of the most senior in the fold of the PDP governors. He has been resilient and consistent. "I cannot see him running away from PDP because leaders and delegates at the presidential primary election will prefer somebody like him. Such politicians do not jump around over personal ambition or interests judging from his antecedents. "At the end of the primaries, let me assure you that he is ready to stay back in PDP and work with whoever eventually emerges. "But it may not even come to that because the leaders and delegates know that we will win the primary and we will fly the flag of the party,'' he stated. Related Topics: #Dankwambo, #PDP, #NigeriaDecides, #Politics Sharing is caring. Share this story  | ||
| BREAKING: Mammoth Crowd Gathered As Kwankwaso Declares For Presidency - 2019 Election Posted: 29 Aug 2018 06:52 AM PDT  Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State and Senator representing Kano Central, in the Upper Chambers of the National Assembly, had on Wednesday officially declared his ambition for 2019 presidential race in Abuja.The presidential aspirant declared his ambition in front of Chida hotel Abuja, while addressing a crowd of supporters, who despite a change of venue, were not deterred, turned out in their numbers.Watch video below:
Kwankwaso said: "Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let me thank you for coming far and wide to hear my decision to run for the president of Nigeria."Today, I declare under PDP to offer a leadership as all is not well in our polity."On this day, I offer you a great leadership anchored on our constitution."  READ ALSO: Kwankwaso Denied Permission To Use Eagle Square For Presidential Declaration  Related Topics: #Kwankwaso, #2019Election, #NigeriaDecides2019, #Politics Sharing is caring. Share this story  |
| You are subscribed to email updates from No.1 News, Entertainment, Sports, Politics, Fashion,Movies in Lagos Nigeria | Nollywood Times. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States | |
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon