Uncategories Welcome to Nollywood Times

Welcome to Nollywood Times

Januari 22, 2019

Welcome to Nollywood Times

Harrysong recognizes Kcee and E-Money’s impact in his career

Posted: 22 Jan 2019 12:30 AM PST

Harrysong recognizes Kcee and E-Money's impact in his career
Harrysong who took to Instagram to share a throwback photo as he advised fans never to bite the finger that fed them, also recognized Kcee and E-Money's impact in his career.

The singer who further disclosed that he took on the back and forth fight with the brothers because he was hurt at that time, added that a scenario which played out at his listening party gave him time to reflect on the past.

Harrysong wrote;

'I had a great time at my listening party yesterday & it gave me time to reflect as I watched my young bro Skiibii perform his hit song Sensima. Making peace with yourself begins with your ability to face your truth.

My journey will never be complete without Kcee and Emoney you were part of the vessels that God used to change my story. I appreciate you both, I was hurt & reacted at the time but regardless of what happened, I recognise the impact you made in my life.

Never bite the finger that fed you my people…let love lead

Recall that Harrysong was enmeshed in a court case saga with Kcee and E-Money few years ago. This led to the launch of his new label 'Alterplate'.




In This Story: #Harrysong #Kcee #EMoney #Career

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Toke Makinwa praises all single mums for taking care of their kids against all odds.

Posted: 22 Jan 2019 12:00 AM PST

Toke Makinwa has a message for all the single mums around
Toke Makinwa has a message for all the single mothers around who have been able to raise their kids on their own.

The media personality made this known via her Instagram page on Monday January 21, 2019. In her post which she dedicated to Ciara's husband, Russell, she praised him for taking up the responsiblity of taking care of his step son.

"My MCM today has to be this guy. If you've been following the whole Future Vs Ciara n Russell drama you'll know why. See I love future, I'm a huge fan of his whole vibe. He makes good music too but what is wrong is wrong. The black community has enough single mothers raising kids all by themselves, the narrative of absentee fathers has been played for so long that I'm sure if you check now senior future is probably a product of single parenting too. While life happens and sometimes it's no ones fault, if you see a man who accepts your kid and is raising him like his own, like truly loves your own blood and is present in his life, he deserves all the praise in the world,'' she wrote.

Toke then went on to write about single mothers who have weathere the storm to raise their kids alone. She praised them and prayed for them to let go of any bitterness in their heart so they can prosper.

"Today I use this as a point of contact to every single mother raising kids on their own while the sperm donors are walking around, may you find your own Russell, and May your baby daddy live long enough to become a step father to his own child. May you find the strength to move on without any bitterness, it's not easy but bitterness will kill you before your time. Let go and Let God. I pray you invest in your glow up and level up so bad that your shine will blind anyone working against you. Don't get even, get better. To all the good men out there just trying to do right and live right, more muscle to your hustle, may the world sing your praise and celebrate you even more. #mondaymotivation #Inspired," she concluded.


The last time Toke Makinwa talked about deadbeat dads was back in a few weeks ago when she called out a certain guy who assaulted the mother of his kids.



In This Story: #TokeMakinwa #SingleMums

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12 years ago Ruggedman laid the blueprint for blowing in Nigeria

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 11:30 PM PST

Ruggedman
In 2007, as I prepared to write my National Examination Council Senior exams in a South-western, Nigeria boarding school, I stumbled upon a 'contraband' in the coffers of my friend, Ayobami. It was a freshly minted CD, obviously snuck in with the idea to consume whil the authorities were not looking.
Despite my reservations (and that of my friend , Olawusi Dele, who - like myself - wasn't a fan of the contraband's creator, and even the album art), I pressed play and my life never remained the same.


I also had two contrabands; a portable CD player and headphones to experience the CD with. The contraband was 'Ruggedy Baba,' by Nigerian Hip-Hop legend, Ruggedman.  In the second quarter of 2007, 'Ruggedy Baba,' the classic – yes, classic – Ruggedman sophomore effort dropped and the rest was history. Ruggedy Baba came three years after the release of Ruggedman's debut album, "Thy Album Come" to critical acclaim, sonic and stylistic evolution, multilingual deliveries – in Yoruba, pidgin and English, and numerous controversies and rap beefs.

Ruggedy Baba equally continued that path Rugged had carved with his first album, merging the Nigerian essence with the atypical Hip-Hop sound and substance to produce his best and most impactful album till date – in many ways a classic.

On a personal note, it was one of the first set of Nigerian Hip-Hop albums I fell in love with – I loved him for his boldness and daredevil attitude which forced Hip-Hop to sit up and take notice of him. I've also bought the album four times.

Whatever reservations some might have towards 'Thy Kingdom come,' the brilliance of 'Ruggedy Baba' can not be denied – it also gave us some classic songs foremost collaboration and title track, 'Ruggedy Baba' featuring another legend, 9ice; 'Club Rugged', 'Rock Da Spot' featuring Lord of Ajasa, 'Waka' and 'Watch Me.'

Through all the songs on the album, one often overlooked gem is the track '9ja Hip-Hop.'

On the album's opener, Ruggedman laid the blueprint on how to properly break into the industry and work a single. You can read his 10 principles below;

One! You have to be sure you have the talent in you

Two! Only then can you develop words in you

Three! Your stage craft should make your fans scream

Four! No message could mean the loss of a war

Five! If you abide, you keep the industry alive

Six! Do a dance track to stay up in the club mix

Seven! Up your game a notch to another level

Eight! Add your mother tongue to represent where you're from

Nine! Let them know they can't stop your shine

Ten! No need to start all over again





In This Story: #Ruggedman #blueprint #BlowingInNigeria

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Oracle Joins DRF2019 As Gold Sponsor

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 11:20 PM PST

Internationally acclaimed Cloud solutions provider, Oracle, has been announced as Gold sponsor of Digital Retail Forum 2019, set to take place on 30 January at the Hilton Sandton in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Under the theme "Harnessing Digital Technology for Next-Level Customer Centred Retailing", DRF2019 will focus on how emerging technologies such as Ai, IoT, drones, digital payment solutions, new eCommerce models and mobility are disrupting the retail sector.

The forum will gather over 200 retail industry leaders and experts, who will join in on discussions about making digital innovation a key process within all retail organisations. They will also talk about how to increase productivity, reduce costs, attract more customers, improve customer experience, enhance security and sell more – for both small independent retailers and large retail groups alike.

About Oracle

Oracle, a global provider of enterprise cloud computing, is empowering businesses of all sizes on their journey of digital transformation. Oracle Cloud provides leading-edge capabilities in software as a service, platform as a service, infrastructure as a service, and data as a service.


Oracle also helps customers develop strategic road-maps and advance their journey to the cloud from any point: new cloud deployments, legacy environments, and hybrid implementations.


The company's complete, integrated approach makes it easy for companies to get started in the cloud and even easier to expand as the business grows. Oracle's application suites, platforms, and infrastructure leverage both the latest technologies and emerging ones—including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, the blockchain, and Internet of Things (IoT)—in ways that create business differentiation and advantage for customers.


Confirmed speakers include:

 1.  Ben Williams, GM: Online at Exclusive Books
 2. Shawn Sipman, CX Business Dev & Strategy Leader – Africa at Oracle
 3. Dr Mark Nasila, Chief Analytics Officer: Consumer Banking & Chief Risk Office at First National Bank
 4.  Phathizwe Malinga, Managing Director, SqwidNet
 5.  Alastair Tempest, CEO at e-commerce Forum Africa
 6.  Stephen Mallaby, COO at Argility Technology Group
 7.  Richard Phillips, Joint CEO at Cash Connect Management Solutions
 8.   Felipe Penacoba Martinez, CIO Retail & Business Banking at Santander UK
 9  Frans Van der Colff, Director at TIA
10.  Gareth Hawkey, CEO at redPanda Software
11.   Kofi Abunu, Chief Development Officer (Nigeria & Ghana) at Food Concepts Plc
12.   Lesego Moagi, Marketing Executive at AutoZone South Africa
13.   Bradley Elliot, Founder at Platinum Seed
14.   Vian Chinner, CEO at Xineoh
15.   Warrick Kernes, CEO at Insaka eCommerce Academy

Key topics to be discussed:

1.    Leveraging data to understand customer segments, manage risks and enhance decision making.
2.    Mapping your journey from brick-and-mortar to eCommerce.
3.    Leveraging mobile technology to enhance your in-store experience.
4.    Making Mobile Payment for Everything a reality.
5.    Leveraging AI to impact your bottom line and CX.
6.    Real-World retail digital transformation stories.
7.    Order Fulfilment: Improving efficiency and speed of delivery.
8.    Understanding the key drivers within the South African retail sector.
9.    Understanding the digital customer's journey.
10.    Utilising technology to identify customer pain-points.
11.    Optimizing inventory management and supply chains with technology.
12.   Closing the gap between technology and personalization.
13.    Customer engagement with interactive digital signage and point-of-sale (POS) solutions.
14.   Delivering a technology platform that empowers the business and delights customers.
15.    Assessing emerging retail models and technologies that will define 2019 and beyond.
16.    Adapting to Generation Z – "the digital shopper".
17.    The store of the future.


    In This Story:#DRF2019 #Oracle #Technology

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Tekno’s baby mama Lola Rae shares rare photos with their baby to celebrate her birthday

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 11:00 PM PST

Tekno's baby mama Lola Rae
Lola Rae who turned a year older today, took to Instagram to share photos of her baby with Tekno as she celebrated her birthday.


photos Lola Rae shared came with the caption;

'Happy Birthday To Me, Another year by his grace… Super thankful this year I have the best present right on my back'


Rachel Akosua Funmilola Garton, 27, professionally known as Lola Rae, is a Nigerian-born singer and dancer of Ghanaian and British descent. Lola Rae and Tekno welcomed their daughter back in May 2018 and it was heralded by beautiful comments on social media, after her baby daddy shared photos of the baby girl christened 'Skye'.




In This Story: #Tekno #BabyMama #LolaRae #RearBirthdayPhotos

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Shakar El- ‘I’m sure some of this ‘pant stealers’ are upcoming artists that want to raise money for promo’

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 10:30 PM PST

Shakar El and 'pant stealers'
Nigerian singer, Shakar El just shared an article on the recent pant stealing rave. Writing from the perspective of an artisti struggling to promote music, he said, 'I am sure some of this Pant stealers are upcoming artists that want to raise money for promo'.

He added that, 'when they calculate how much they need for Radio, TV, Street promo, online promo and social media promo, they believe that Ritual is the way to go.if some people can do ritual just for Benz now tell me why many won't do it cuz they want to blow and be famous'.

See the rest of the article below……

'Many of you are collecting ritual money oh, most of you are the ones pushing people to do it.

The same way that some people are not able to withstand pressure in life and they commit suicide is the same way many can't be paitent and they choose the Ritual Route.Some of us are So Strong while some are very Weak, the weak ones will always choose the faster route.

This Generation wants it fast,so many are choosing the faster route, when you watch the Tv you will see many unknown artists shooting big budget videos and driving expensive cars in real life, living high life.Most of them are children of poor parents that re currently living in poverty. Who is to Blame??

You that is enjoying the money, pray you dont become the victim sooner or later because one Day it might be you or your children or someone close to you… This Society is creating Beasts everyday.



In This Story: #ShakarEl #PantStealers #Promo

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Lionel Richie’s son Milo ‘arrested at Heathrow airport for claiming he had a bomb in his bag that he’d detonate on a plane

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 10:00 PM PST

Lionel Richie's son Milo 'arrested
Miles 'Milo' Brockman Richie, 24, the son of American music legend, Lionel Richie was arrested at Heathrow Airport after threatening to detonate a bomb inside a plane and assaulting a security guard.

 The incident occurred at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal Five on Saturday morning, Jan. 19th.

According to witnesses, Mr. Richie became irate after being denied onto a flight – and claimed he would detonate a bomb on board if he was not allowed on.

The model then punched one of the members of staff before being detained by police. He has since been released, law enforcement sources told TMZ.

A police spokesman told MailOnline: 'On Saturday, 19 January, a 24-year-old man accepted a caution for communicating false information causing a bomb hoax and battery following an incident at Heathrow Terminal 5 earlier that morning.'

The Metropolitan Police added that its statement was not a confirmation of the name of the person under investigation.




In This Story: #LionelRichie #Son #Milo #Arrested #Bomb

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Teenage Star, Regina Daniels Appointed Youth Campaign Coordinator For Atiku, Slams Buhari

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 09:30 PM PST

Teenage Star, Regina Daniels
Actress Regina Daniel has just been appointed Youth campaign coordinator for presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. She revealed this on Instagram moments ago adding that she accepted her appointment as a Youth campaign coordinator for Atiku, because the land bleeds from hunger and inertia.

According to her, it is time for Nigerian Youths to join her and vote Atiku/Obi 2019 to protect our future.

Regina Daniels who blasted Buhari in her Instagram post, wrote;

I'm Regina Daniels. Proud to be 100% Atikulated with Atiku Abubakar who is in the race to become Nigeria's next President. I accept my appointment as Youth Campaign Coordinator For Nollywood with humility and youthful zeal. Atiku is a youth-friendly leader who has assured that every 4 out of 10 of his cabinet will be a youth. The drift is brazen. The nation is at crossroads. The land bleeds from hunger and inertia. It's time to steer the ship away from caput. From Bama to Bori, Aba to Abuja, kaura Namode to Kaduna, the sky is gloomy.

Time for Nigerian Youths to join me and vote Atiku/Obi 2019 to protect our future.'


In This Story: #TeenageStar #ReginaDaniels #YouthCampaignCoordinator #Atiku

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Re Falz: Dear Nigerian artists, even in the face of stern criticisms, keep creating

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 09:00 PM PST

Re Falz:
Music is a powerful weapon for driving conversations, it on one hand sparks conflicting feelings, and on another tangles human emotions creating an experience, both for criticism and appreciation.

So I was watching the latest roll-out for Falz's recently released album, ''Moral Instruction'' which comes in the form of the almost nine minutes long visual documentary, 'The Curriculum' and my immediate thoughts were, how often do you find musicians on this side put in so much effort into creating something more than just the expected out of their releases?

From the way Falz has gone about the unfolding of this body of work, going as far as getting the legendary Lemi Ghariokwu to design individual art covers for every song on the project, the unique listening session and the thought process deployed in making the sound streamline with the ferocity of his message, he is onto something special and he can sense it.

It clearly shows an artist that is desperate to see this album take a new meaning in the ears of its listeners and produce an introspective emotion in line with its message to re-awaken the people into action.

And with the successful release of 'Moral Instruction', Falz has been able to convey a message effectively not just with the music but the beauty of its accompanying details.

On the album and its criticisms

With music, comes critical examination and more especially when it is one from an established artist.

The internet age has subdued the symbolism of what an album represents in the life of an artist such that it is more common to 'just' release them these days, at-times without any form of publicity or build-up than treat it with thought and some form of bond.

On his fourth studio effort, ''Moral Instruction'', a sparkly 9-track project that toes the conscious path and gathers ingenuity from one of the continents most celebrated musicians in the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Falz is finally being taken seriously by his listeners, nine years after he made his entrance into the industry.

As if this bold attempt in itself is not enough to warrant deeper scrutiny of his music, his lead single, 'Talk' was a pointer to the level of criticisms that would come with his attempt at being the voice of the masses in a country where there are voices aplenty, informed and otherwise.

And the criticisms have poured in. From polarized online reactions to scathing reviews and think pieces [Over 30 the last time I did a random google search] with different views and nuanced commentary by the writers.

Let's be clear, no artist is above criticism, NONE, and when the topics on your album touch on controversial and evolving grey-area conversations like 'Feminism' and 'Transactional Sex', then the criticisms are only expected to become louder, rightly or wrongly.

And of course, an artist choosing to make meaningful music as against what normally obtains does not in any way also excuse the person from being put through the lenses of evaluation.

Whether the artist loves the critics or not, they need them, the industry needs them and while criticisms at-times are spurred from a place of preconceived bias and emotions, which can be subtly hidden in the most poetic, meticulous, and brash pieces written with a mindset to 'crush' or 'demystify' the artist.

Or even the critic seeming to elevate oneself over the creator, the truth does most times find a way to creep into the picture, if only you are willing to look beyond what you see or read immediately.


However, with the visuals for 'Talk', Falz made an progressive and sentient attempt to correct the mistakes he was called out for on 'This is Nigeria' and this only shows that feedback can always lead to better art, even if it hurts.

While the comparisons with Fela are very much a stretch, Falz has the opportunity to make an impact and leave his own legacy as himself.

Depending on how well he navigates the waters of controversy, reinventing his craft into a more serious and personal character and tapping into the vacuum that artists have left staying away from music with impactful lyrics, he is on the path to building a cultural relevancy and becoming one of the most successful rap careers in Nigeria's recent history.

But should criticisms deter the artist?

In the midst of the Twitter drama, some of his fans have urged him and other Nigerian artistes not to bother creating songs with meaningful lyrics and continue feeding the audience with basic dance music, which will largely not be perused under the lights of the dance floor.

This type of 'advice' is why the artist becomes afraid to release their songs into the world for fear of people's judgement, or hide under the safety of trending sounds, but there is no way an artist can escape being critiqued, especially if the person seeks the height of excellence.

Criticism is not judgement, just outsiders, removed from the sentiments of the creative process, recognizing ''The-what-could-haves'' and wanting the best out of what has been created, and since creativity is tangled knee deep into personal expression, subjectivity naturally comes along.

Dear Nigerian artist, criticism is a vehicle for growth, especially in an industry like this and the fear of being critiqued should never stop one from taking risks or pushing the envelope of one's creativity. Let your art continue to speak for you.



In This Story: #Falz #NigerianArtist

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Bayelsa donates 700 mattresses to corpers lodges

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 11:27 AM PST

Seriake Dickson
Bayelsa State on Monday donated 700 mattresses to lodges accommodating members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) across the state.

The state Governor's aide on NYSC Matters, Mr. Kelvin Appah, handed over 500 mattresses to the NYSC state Coordinator, Mrs. Loto Bolade, in addition to 200 others he sent to the coordinator last year.

Appah said that the State Governor, Seriake Dickson, was passionate about the welfare of the corps members in the state.

Appah, who is a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) confirmed that last year 200 mattresses were handed over to NYSC for serving corps members.

He said: "This donation now makes it 700 mattresses released to the Scheme for the comfort of these Patriots. The governor is proud of your quality service to the state and is doing everything possible to make your service year a remarkable one." 

He noted that the government was working on the permanent orientation camp, the increment of state allowances and many other welfare packages for corps members.

Receiving the mattresses, Bolade commended the government for his support for the security and welfare of the corps members. 

She charged the corps members to reciprocate the governor's interest in the scheme by redoubling their services to the state in their places of primary assignments and in community development services.

Loto said that the mattresses were enough to provide comfort to the corps members in their lodges.

She commended the governor, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and the SSA in charge of the NYSC for the gesture.

In This Story:#NYSC #SeriakeDickson #LotoBolade #KelvinAppah #BayelsaState

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Buhari assure youths of appointment as ministers, head of government agencies

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 11:31 AM PST


Muhammadu Buhari 

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians youths of a ministerial appointment and appointments as heads of government agencies and parastatals if re-elected for a second term.

Director of Youth Mobilization of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Hon. Tony Nwoye, who disclosure this at a news conference, said that his group has secured the commitment of President Buhari to positively change the involvement of youths in his administration in his second term in office.

Nwoye, however, assured the President that his campaign group will mobilize over 20 million Nigerian youths to ensure a landslide victory for the president.

"Since my recent appointed to head the Youth Mobilization Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, I had embarked on nationwide consultations with the national youth polity to reach, understand the disposition and aspirations of Nigerian youths and students towards Buhari-Osinbajo 2019.

"During the over one week of non-stop nationwide consultations that l spearheaded, in the company of my able assistant and deputy directors, Comrade Sadiq Abubakar, the APC National Youth Leaders, Ismaeel Ahmed and Jasper Azulatam, I became convinced that while Nigerian youths deeply appreciate the improved regime of youth development and empowerment under President Buhari, from 2015 till date, the polity is ready for Buhari-Osinbajo 2019 if and only if the prestigious good leadership team is ready to take its youth development programme to the 'Next Level' of higher youth inclusion in leadership and the economy.

"Upon this all-important realization, I and my assistant and deputies quickly came back to Abuja to consult with Mr. President. This round of consultations happened intensively over a period of two days in which myself, my assistant and deputies were able to extract strong commitments from Mr. President on his readiness to take his youth development programmes to the 'Next Level' of higher youth inclusion in leadership and the economy through the following:

"A youth quota in the headship of Ministries, Departments and Agencies that is above the quota of Men, Women and Politicians. The activation of a policy targeted at Nigeria being the largest high-quality factory of the world by 2030 leading to fully legislated and well-funded youth-based programmes in entrepreneurship and industrialization.

"The activation of another policy targeted at Nigeria being the African global hub of ICT leading to fully legislated and well-funded youth-based programmes in ICT software and hardware development.

"After extracting these commitments from Mr. President, the Directorate quickly reverted back to the leadership of Nigerian youths and had regional consultations and engagements. Thereupon, the youths and students of Nigeria and the Directorate agreed that Nigerian youths will deliver an Avalanche of over Twenty Million Votes to Buhari-Osinbajo 2019.

"I am today very pleased to inform you that based on the decision of Nigerian youths to deliver 20-Million votes to Buhari-Osinbajo 2019 in February, the Youth Mobilization Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council is kick-starting a nationwide youth mobilization campaign starting today.

"It will interest you to know that this nationwide youth mobilization campaign is targeted at convincing Nigerian youths and students that they can trust Buhari-Osinbajo 2019 based on: the positive youth development credentials of Buhari-Osinbajo from 2015 till date. The solid commitments of Mr. President to take youth development to the 'Next Level' if voted to continue power come 16th February 2019.

"The positive infrastructural record of Buhari-Osinbajo from 2015 till date; such as the reawakening of Nigeria's national Railway Network; the visible upgrade of Nigerian Airports; and, the revamping of the National Roads and Highways Network.

"The record of visible and impactful Poverty Alleviation Strategies , such as the Traders' Money Scheme which has empowered over 350,000 MSMEs across the nation; the National School Feeding Programme; the Anchor Borrowers Programme which has added over three million metric tonnes to our annual food supply having, so far, created over 500,000 jobs for Nigeria youths.

"The N-Power Volunteers Scheme which has recruited 500,000 graduates; the N-Power Volunteer Corps which has trained over 200,000 youths; the N-Build Category which has so far trained over 10,000 non-graduates in vocational skills in 23 states of the Federation; the Special Training Programme of NITDA that has trained several hundreds of young Nigerians with disabilities on ICT skills.

"Our directorate is fully primed to work with the leadership of Nigerian youth and students to deliver the avalanche of over 20 million votes to Buhari-Osinbajo 2019 in the patriotic interest of Nigerian national development.

"We hereby call on all Nigerian youths and students to remain steadfast in their resolve and support for Buhari-Osinbajo 2019 despite a concerted attempt by some would-be-detractors to blackmail them with share sentiments that has no grounding in our national reality," he said.

In This Story: #MuhammaduBuhari #YemiOsinbajo #NigeriaYouth #APC

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INEC uncovers plot to buy votes

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 11:25 AM PST

Professor Mahmood Yakubu
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has uncovered plans by some political actors to use food vendors around polling units for vote-buying in the forthcoming general elections.

The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this when he received a delegation European Union (EU) Observation Team, led by Chief Observer, Mrs Maria Arena, on a visit to INEC on Monday, in Abuja.

Yakubu said that in INEC's determination to improve elections and ensure that votes counted, the commission had taken steps to address the disturbing trend of vote-buying by politicians.

He said that the steps included modification of the administration of polling units to make it difficult for voters to expose their marked ballot papers on the day of the election.

He said that the commission had also introduced a partial ban on the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices by voters while in the voting cubicles.

"We are also introducing the rolling and flattening of ballot papers by voters on the day of the election.

"We are training our election duty staff, in addition to voter education and sensitization, on this new innovation. We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring the sanctity of the ballot.''

The chairman explained that political actors planned to use food vendors "around polling units with large voter populations as collection points for cash-for-votes as well as other forms of material inducement to voters on election day''.

"We are aware of this trick. It will not work," he, however, said.

Yakubu also denied the claim that INEC had outsourced the recruitment of election duty staff to partisan actors.

He said that the Commission had established clear criteria for recruiting its ad hoc staff and Collation and Returning Officers, which, according to him, has been the practice over several electoral cycles.

"In addition, there is a clearly established system of vetting all election duty staff before they are engaged.

"Therefore, the claim that the Commission has outsourced the recruitment of election duty staff to partisan actors is the usual allegation on the eve of elections and should be disregarded.

"With 25 days to the 2019 General Elections, the Commission's attention is firmly focused on the conduct of credible elections. We will not be distracted into a fatuous debate.''

Yakubu stated that complaints arising from the collection of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were being addressed.

"We are committed to ensuring that all voter cards are made available for collection by registered voters who should collect the cards in person.

"There will be no collection by proxy."

He said that the commission had enhanced the functionality of the Smart Card Reader that would be used for the elections.

"Clause 10 of the Regulations and Guidelines recently released by the Commission make the use of Card Readers mandatory. It is an offence to accredit a voter by any other means."

Yakubu described the EU as one of the long-standing partners of INEC in deepening Nigeria's electoral democracy, through the EU-Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN).

"We have implemented all the recommendations made by the EU Mission in 2015 that are within the powers of the Commission to do.

"These include simultaneous accreditation and voting system which we introduced on Jan. 9, 2016 and used it to seamlessly conduct off-season elections into 194 constituencies.

"We have similarly introduced the continuous registration of voters. Over a period of 16 months, from April 27, 2017, to Aug. 3, 2018, over 14 million new voters were registered," he said.

He assured the EU that INEC preparation for the 2019 general election was on course.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Arena, had said that EU would deploy 40 observers to all states of the federation during the elections.

Arena added that the EU would also have its Parliamentary observation mission on the ground during the exercise.

"We will issue two preliminary reports after the elections. We will work strongly with all the stakeholders of this country.

"We will also have the final reports two months after the elections, with recommendations.

"We really appreciate the work that INEC has done with the previous recommendations after the 2015 elections," Arena said.

Yakubu also received a delegation of the ECOWAS Observers Mission led by former Chairperson of Electoral Commission, Ghana, Ms Charlotte Osei.

Osei said that the mission was to let INEC know that ECOWAS would be deploying long-term and short-term observer missions for the elections.

She added that the mission would focus on legal, media, operations, gender and disabilities during the elections.

Source:(NAN)

In This Story:#INEC #MahmoudYakubu #ECOWAS #CharlotteOsei #MariaArena

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30 political parties back Buhari for Presidency

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 11:24 AM PST

Muhammadu Buhari
No fewer than 30 political parties in Bauchi have formed a coalition to support President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. Muhammed Abubakar's re-election during the forthcoming general elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this is coming barely 24 hours after six other political parties in the state formed a common front to unseat Gov. Abubakar during the election.

The 30 parties, led by Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammed of the All Peoples Alliance (APA), announced this on Monday Bauchi while addressing newsmen on the development.

Muhammed who listed some of the parties to include; NCP, YPP, NAC, DPP, ANRP, AA, HOPE, NUP, Fresh, NIP, DA and NDLP, said that the coalition was informed by the same objectives they had with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

"We hereby declare our support and alliance with APC, as well as to campaign for its candidates in Bauchi at all levels and President Buhari in the elections.

"We are satisfied with the progressive agenda, development projects and policies of the present administration of Buhari and Gov. Abubakar.

"We are committed to their success in the forthcoming general elections.

"We categorically dissociate ourselves from the six other political parties who had earlier purportedly formed a coalition to unseat Gov. Abubakar.

"No room for crack shall be allowed to thwart our collective success in the elections at all levels," the leader said.

Source:(NAN)

In This Story:#MuhammaduBuhari #AbdullahiMuhammed #APC #Abubakar #2019Election

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Red alert as opposition plans to scuttle elections

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 11:23 AM PST

Lai Mohammed
The Federal Government has alerted Nigerians to plans by some unscrupulous opposition elements to scuttle the 2019 general elections by orchestrating widespread violence.

"Having realized that their fortunes have dwindled badly ahead of the polls, the desperate opposition is orchestrating widespread violence with a view to truncating the elections, thus triggering a constitutional crisis that could snowball into the establishment of an interim government," the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, told a press conference in Abuja on Monday.

"Before you accuse the government of crying wolf, let me tell you, gentlemen, that we have credible intelligence that armed bandits and Boko Haram insurgents have been mobilized to engage in massive attacks and other acts of violence in several states across the country, including Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Benue, Kano, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara," the Minister said.

He said the Benue-based armed criminal group, led by Terwase AKWAZA, also known as Gana, has been commissioned to strike soft targets in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba States, while in Kano State, a group of notorious miscreants have been mobilized by some prominent opposition leaders to provoke massive chaos before, during and after the elections.

"There is also an international dimension to the evil plan. Some armed mercenaries from the Niger Republic have been contracted to attack top government functionaries, including state governors, across the North-west between now and the elections," Alhaji Mohammed said.

He, however, assured of the Federal Government's commitment to credible, free, fair and peaceful elections, hence it is taking every possible measure to counter "these evil plans by unpatriotic anarchists".

The Minister appealed to all Nigerians to be vigilant in the days ahead., and urged the media to help in sensitizing members of the public on the observed threats, which are capable of disrupting the elections.

"The punchline of our long-running campaign on security – if you see something, say something – remains relevant, perhaps even more, at this time," he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said all the relevant agencies under the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture will work together to ensure that Nigerians are alerted to the dangers posed to the forthcoming elections by "unscrupulous, unpatriotic and desperate characters who will not hesitate to destabilize the country if they cannot achieve their inordinate ambition".

In This Story:#LaiMohammed #FederalGovernment #2019GeneralElection

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Hope for African free trade

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 11:23 AM PST

Trade Fair
Following the current pace of ratification, the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement could be in force by mid-year.

At 2nd Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee of the Ministers of Trade, Industry and Mineral Resources, countries were optimistic that the agreement could be in force soon and called for preparatory measures for its implementation.

The meeting was under the theme: "The Entry into Force of the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and its Implementation".

The objective of the meeting was to consider draft continental strategies which included the African Union Commodity Strategy, Africa Union Small and Medium Enterprises Strategy and Trade Facilitation Strategy.

The meeting also took note of the various technical reports and presentations in the areas of Trade, Customs, Industry and Minerals; which are critical to supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The Meeting was attended by Member States, Regional Economic Communities, experts from the Afreximbank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

In her remarks, the Executive Secretary of UNECA, Dr. Vera Songwe noted the centrality of the theme of the summit, especially on the momentum towards signature and ratifications of the agreement establishing the AfCFTA.

She took note of the challenges facing the multilateral trading system and the global dynamics.

Dr. Songwe said Africa has a clear vision to create its own market, and to stop the fragmentation of the internal market through the AfCFTA.

She congratulated the countries that have ratified the AfCFTA to date, and expressed her confidence that the requisite 22 signatures needed for entry into force of the free trade regime would be secured in due course.

She further observed that on the basis of the rate at which ratifications where being deposited, the chances of the AfCFTA entering into force by mid-2019 where brighter. Dr. Songwe noted the importance of the digital economy towards the successful implementation of the AfCFTA.

The Executive Vice President of Afreximbank, Amr Kamel congratulated the African Union for the achievements on the AfCFTA and the 2018 Intra African Trade Fair (IATF).

The Afreximbank Vice President commended the AUC for developing the SME Strategy, more so given that the Bank also had a portfolio dealing with the same subject.

It was, therefore, imperative that the AUC and the Bank explore synergies in this direction to unlock the potential of SMEs in the continent, as well as their contribution to economic growth, employment creation and poverty alleviation.

He pointed out that Afreximbank was playing a critical role in the continent's development, and welcomed progress on the AfCFTA ratifications.

The Bank plans to disburse US$25 billion to African countries as trade and investment finance.

In order to support the implementation of various instruments of the African Union Kamel echoed the fact that the Bank is developing various Digital Ecosystems to enhance intra-African trade, and some of these instruments included the Pan-African Payments System Platform, Trade Information Portal, Regulation Platform and a Customer Online Platform.

Victor Djemba, Head of Africa Division, of UNIDO, welcomed the progress made towards the operationalization of the AfCFTA since its launch in March 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda.

He observed that successful implementation of the AfCFTA hinges on the existence of African economies that produce goods and services that can be traded among themselves and beyond.

He observed that several critical elements related to industrial development should be taken into account including the promotion of value addition, the improvement of regulatory frameworks (industrial policies, and industrial laws and regulations) for the success of the AfCFTA.

AU Commissioner for Economic Affairs, Prof. Victor Harrison, stressed that integration is the only solution for Africa to become an emerging continent.

In This Story:#VictorHarrison #VictorDjemba #VeraSongwe #AfCFTA #AmrKamel

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IPOB insists on boycott of 2019 polls

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 11:22 AM PST

IPOB
The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Monday reaffirmed its resolve to boycott next month's election.

A statement issued by the group's media and publicity secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful said the IPOB "ably led by our supreme leader and prophet of our time Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will stand on the decision of election boycott in Biafraland on the 16th of February 2019".

The statement insists: "The boycott of the presidential election next month will showcase our readiness, determination and seriousness in the pursuit for Biafra freedom and sovereignty.

"It is important we notify our people mostly politicians, clergymen and women including pastors who strongly believe in rebuilding one Nigeria to retrace their steps because Nigeria Government and its leadership have been hijacked by Fulani people.

"Fulanis are parasites and a stranger in Nigeria today but unfortunate that they control over 200 million Indigenous Population because of British support to them.

"Our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu during his weekly radio Biafra broadcast from the holy land of Israel on Saturday evening reaffirmed strongly to the people and gullible Nigerians who still doubt our stand towards boycotting the forthcoming presidential election next month.

"It is crystal clear that one of our major lethal weapons to achieve this present Biafra demand is civil disobedience, therefore we urge Biafrans, both home and abroad to advise and caution their families not to vote and totally boycott this coming election no matter the level of promises and inducement politicians of this days might have given them.

"In few days to come IPOB high command will release a blueprint and how this election boycott will be achieved and it's a benefit to Biafrans, IPOB will evoke a high level of civil disobedience next month to make it effective so as Biafrans will realize how much determined we are.

"Federal Government of Nigeria, South East governors mostly Okezie Ikpeazu, David Umahi and Willie Obiano including Ohaneze Ndigbo led by Nnia Nwodo conspired and brought in operation python dance to frighten our people to trigger panic, apprehension and fear in the minds of Biafrans who believe in Biafra restoration project. IPOB will inevitably bring those governors and few Abuja/Lagos based politicians who believe in serving Hausa Fulani caliphate to account in no distant time.

"It is in the light of this recent distortion, twist and adulterated truth and propaganda against IPOB decision by unscrupulous individuals, groups and politicians in our land that prompted our supreme leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to come on air last week Saturday to state unequivocally without mincing words the position of IPOB in Abia and Ebonyi states gubernatorial elections come next month. Okezie Ikpeazu and David Umahi who unbeknown to most people have donated a portion of our sacred land of Biafra to Miyetti Allah cannot support Operation Python Dance and expect the people not to revolt accordingly. IPOB is at the front of this coming revolution next month.

"The potency of our agitation for Biafra will be made clear for all to see. We remain unwavering and determined as ever to bring this divine and ordained mission to its successful conclusion.

"Our freedom is paramount therefore ongoing politically motivated abductions, high levels of humiliation, intimidation, abduction, arrest, massacre and sponsored propaganda against a peaceful group like IPOB will not shake our resolve, instead it will make us stronger."

In This Story:#IPOB #OkezieIkpeazu #DavidUmahi #WillieObiano #OhanezeNdigbo

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FG re-appoints Bogoro as TETFund Executive Secretary

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 11:00 AM PST


Professor Suleiman Bogoro
The Federal Government has approved the appointment of Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, as the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that Bogoro was Executive Secretary between April 2014 and February 2016, but Prof. Bichi Baffa was appointed to replace him.

Mr Ben Goong, Deputy Director, Information, Ministry of Education, in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, said the appointment of Bogoro is with immediate effect.

He said the reinstatement was also with the same terms and conditions as it were in his previous appointment and as stipulated in the TETFUND staff conditions of service.

Source:(NAN)
In This Story:#BenGoong#SuleimanBogoro #TETFUND

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SARS Lastest: Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu Break Up F-SARS

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 10:41 AM PST


F-SARS
Mr Mohammed Adamu, the Acting Inspector-General of Police (I-G),  has ordered the decentralisation of operations of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that before the current development, operations of SARS were centralized at the Force Headquarters.

NAN also recalls that recently, the SARS operations were reorganised following alleged unethical conduct by personnel of the unit.

Adamu gave the order at a meeting with officers in the rank of Commissioners of Police and above on Monday in Abuja.

He said that with the new arrangement, commissioners of police in the 36 states and the FCT would assume full command and control all SARS in their commands.

The police boss said henceforth, the SARS unit in the force headquarters would be under the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID).

He said that the DIG FCIID and CPs would be held liable for any professional misconduct resulting from the operations of the units in their commands.

Adamu also directed them to evaluate the units in their commands and submit a report to his office within two weeks.

The police boss also announced the disbandment of the Special Investigation Panel (SIP) and Special Tactical Squad (STS) and other quasi-investigation and operation units of the force.

He said that the DIG FCIID would take over and review all cases being currently handled by the units.

Adamu said that a comprehensive reorganisation of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counterterrorism unit and Special Protection Unit (SPU) would be undertaken.

"This re-positioning process will eventually cascade down to the zonal and state command levels," he said.

The IG said that the essence of the reorganisation was to restore order and stop the current slide in policing standards.

Adamu also said it would discourage the proliferation of multiplicity of outfits competing for operational space in unprofessional manner.

He said that the capacity of personnel of the force would be enhanced towards situating its operations within the practice of intelligence-led policing.

He said that at the end of the reform, a protocol that would document its outcome would be developed.

In This Story: #IGP #MohammedAdamu #FSARS

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JUST IN: Dino Melaye Regains Freedom, Files Suit Against IGP In Court

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 10:13 AM PST


Senator Dino Melaye
Senator Dino Melaye, the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly,  has regained freedom after over two weeks in detention.

Melaye's freedom was sequel to the bail granted him by a high court in Abuja on health grounds.

In his ruling, Justice Yusuf Halilu said Melaye should be allowed to attend to his health as he could not be arraigned on a stretcher or on his hospital bed.

Halilu ordered the senator to present three sureties who reside and have property in Abuja, emphasising that one of the sureties must be the clerk of the national assembly who would provide a letter attesting that Melaye will always be available for trial.

After fulfilling his bail conditions, Melaye filed a suit against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), seeking that the police do not arrest him.

More details later.........

In This Story: #DinoMelaye #NationalAssembly #IGP

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2019 Presidency: Don’t Allow Looters Return To Power – Osinbajo Begs Nigerians

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 09:36 AM PST


Prof. Yemi Osinbajo
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has advised Nigerians to resist the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from returning to power in 2019, claiming that the motive behind the party's desperation to win this year's election is to loot the country.

Osinbajo said Nigeria's economy would have collapsed long ago but for President Muhammadu Buhari's honesty, reminding that only a honest and selfless leader can be trusted with the nation's wealth.

In spite of the barrage of attacks by eminent Nigerians and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) castigating the Tradermoni policy, Osinbajo described the scheme as "one of the major policies of President Buhari's government, because it was centred around the youths and poor Nigerians".

The Vice President and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Vice Presidential candidate in the 2019 presidential polls spoke in Ado Ekiti on Monday during a Roundtable and Mentorship Programme on Micro, Small and Medium Scale enterprises (MSME) in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

The Tradermoni programme was disbursed in Ado Ekiti metropolis, Ikere and Omuo Ekiti all in Ekiti State.

The number-two Nigerian also visited Iworoko Ekiti, where a trailer rammed into market and killed 15 persons a couple of weeks ago, to commiserate with indigenes of the town.

Osinbajo said Nigerians would be plunged into another round of embezzlement if the PDP succeeds in wresting power from President Buhari's government, which he described as prudent in terms of financial management.

He said the government will establish special micro finance banks namely: People's Money Bank and Entrepreneurial Bank to drive the Tradermoni and Marketmoni policies, where beneficiaries will get between N100,000 and N500,000 to establish MSME to drive the economy.

"Many of our leaders are not responsible, so Nigeria needs a honest man to lead the people and President Buhari is doing just that. Don't allow anybody to deceive you. President Buhari is a honest man, Our problem in this country is that many of our leaders are stealing our money, so you must disallow them from coming to power again," he said.

He said Ekiti will benefit from Lagos-Kano railway line that is underway when completed, saying this project was targeted at strengthening the economy of each of the benefiting states.

"Rather than stealing money, President Buhari is doing more in strengthening the youths through N-Power, Tradermoni, School Feeding Programme, Lagos-Kano rail line, Calabar—Asaba-Abuja Railway line, among others. All these are meant to benefit Nigerian masses.

"As we speak, 500,000 Nigerians are benefiting from N-Power, but we are not going to stop at that. Soon, the number will increase.

"The Next Level of our government is to give loans to women, youths and other sector through the Special banks that are underway to make lives easy for the masses," he stated.

Also speaking, the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, urged Nigerians to vote for Buhari's continuity if they want good values for their lives in terms of good governance and prudent management of the
nation's wealth.

Fayemi said the array of potentials and creativity of Ekiti have been showcased to the Federal Government, saying those with special skills shall continue to benefit patronage from government.

"If you want better values for your lives, if you need a government that will be compassionate and resourceful, then vote For
Buhari/Osinbajo in the next election.

"The good livelihood of Ekiti people is dear to Buhari's government and with the APC in the saddle, Ekiti will continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

"In four months that will came into power, we have paid four salaries and pensions are paid regularly, so you have seen that we are different to the government of the past," he said.

In This Story: #Osinbajo #Buahri #Tradermoni #KayodeFayemi

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Sen. Uba promises victory for Buhari in Anambra

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 09:05 AM PST

Andy Uba
The Anambra Coordinator, Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organization, Sen. Andy Ubah, has promised to mobilise total victory for President Muhammadu Buhari in the state.

Uba made the pledge at a meeting with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in his Uga ward one, Aguata Local Government Area on Monday.

"There are a lot of things that the President is doing that the people do not know about, but what we are going to do is to take those good works to the rural people and ensure that they assimilate this.

"There are projects like the Zik's Mausoleum that have been abandoned for several years, but now constructed by the Buhari administration.

"There is the Second Niger Bridge which is still ongoing and seriously too, and there is also the Enugu-Onitsha expressway.

"There are several more projects and our job is to tell the people about them and mobilise them to vote for President Buhari," he said.

He said his reason for beginning his campaign in the ward was to fulfil the saying that " charity begins at home", assuring that he would use his position to mobilise voters from the state to vote for Buhari.

Uba, who is also seeking re-election to represent Anambra South Senatorial District at the Red Chambers, said Igbos had a lot to benefit from Buhari if they voted him.

According to him, Buhari was ready to support the South East to produce the Senate President in 2015, but could not find an APC ranking senator from the zone, leading to the position being clinched by another zone.

"If Igbos vote Buhari in the coming election, I am sure that the Senate Presidency would come from the South East, especially as the people are also ready to vote senators from the zone on the platform of APC.

"You need to have people who are ranking senators from the zone who can be made the Senate President.

"I am vying for a seat in the Senate for the third time, and that among other things qualify me to be a ranking senator, who would be qualified to be a senate president.

"There are some people who are contesting for the Senate against me but cannot as little as reading documents.

"To be a Senate president, you have to be a ranking senator, and you have to be in the Senate for at least eight years and must have a number of bills you have sponsored.

"So Igbos must vote wisely in their choice of senators," Uba said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Uba will contest the seat with his elder brother, Chris of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Ifeanyi Ubah of Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Mr Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).


Source:(NAN)

In This Story:#MuhammaduBuhari #AndyUba #IfeanyiUbah #NicholasUkachukwu #APC #PDP #YPP #APGA

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JUST IN: Buhari Sacks TETFund Executive Secretary, Baffa, Makes New Appoints

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 11:01 AM PST

President Muhammadu Buhari.
Dr. Bichi Baffa, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has been sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Prof. Elias Suleiman Bogoro, has also been appointed with immediate effect by the President to replace Baffa.

The sacked Executive Secretary of TETFund was an aide to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu.

He was appointed the head of TETFund alongside 14 other heads of parastatals in the education ministry on August 2, 2016.

The Sun reports that Baffa had been having misunderstanding with the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, particularly as it concerns 2019 intervention.

He was said to have disregarded the Minister in virtually everything happening in TETFund, particularly in interventions to institutions.

This was in addition to his alleged deep and open involvement in political activities ahead of the forthcoming elections in Kano state.

In This Story: #Buhari #BichiBaffa #MallamAdamuAdamu #TETFund

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Obasanjo plus Atiku equals zero: Oshiomhole

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 08:58 AM PST

Adams Oshiomhole
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole lambasted former Nigerian leader Olusegun Obasanjo and the PDP candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, saying their political machinations will boil to nought.

"Obasanjo and Atiku equal zero", Oshiomhole, speaking in Hausa and English, told a crowded rally of the APC in Damaturu, Yobe state on Monday.

Obasanjo incurred Oshiomhole's anger following the letter he wrote on Sunday, accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of planning to rig the elections and even likening the government to Abacha's.

He urged the Yobe voters to ignore Obasanjo as he was the father of corruption, who tried to bribe the National Assembly to elongate his two term-tenure.

"When President Buhari said Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, it was a statement of modesty to show there other capable people within the party.

"But the opposition twisted it. When they started seeing many people at the rallies, they complained again", he said.

He urged voters to ignore Obasanjo's recent comment and vote all APC candidates, from the 16 February election.

He said under Buhari, Nigeria will grow to realise its potential as the greatest African on the
continent.

In This Story:#AdamsOshiomhole #OlusegunObasanjo #AtikuAbubakar #APC #PDP #MuhammaduBuhari

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INEC not under pressure to rig election – Yakubu

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 08:54 AM PST

Mahmoud Yakubu
The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, said that the commission was not under pressure to do what was wrong.

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, had on Sunday, expressed doubt about INEC's integrity to conduct free, fair and credible elections.

Yakubu made the clarification at a meeting with the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and other senior police officers on Monday in Abuja.

"This is to be expected in an election year when people make all sorts of insinuations.

"I want to tell you that we as a commission have never been under any pressure to do what is wrong.

"We will never compromise our integrity to do what the law says that we shouldn't and for the 2019 general elections, I want to assure and reassure Nigerians that votes and nothing but votes will count.

"WIth this level of cooperation from the security agencies, I want to assure you that Nigerians will have a pleasant voting experience in 2019," he said.

He said that the nation was looking forward to INEC and the Nigeria Police Force to conduct credible elections.

Yakubu said that the media would be provided unimpeded access to the commission during the elections.

He called for a close working relationship between the commission and the police at all levels.

"The more we collaborate with the police, the easier the prosecution of election offenders.

"We are going to consult the security agencies for the deployment of personnel for the elections.

"We must work in partnership to give Nigerians a pleasant election in the upcoming elections, our responsibility is to serve the Nigerian people," he said.

He urged the police personnel to be on the ground early enough to escort officials of the commission to polling units.

Earlier, the Acting IGP said that the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), has been directed to set up a special lectionaries investigation teams.

He said that the teams would take into custody and undertake a detailed investigation of all arrested electoral offenders across the country.

Adamu said the teams shall liase with INEC towards the prompt processing of the case files of the offenders for prosecution.

He said that the police would respect and protect the rights of all citizens of the country regardless of their socio-economic status.

NAN reports that the Presidential and National Assembly elections comes up on Feb. 16, while the governorship and state Houses of Assembly will hold on March 2.

Source:(NAN)
In This Story:#INEC #MahmoudYakubu #NigerianPeople #Adamu

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Deceiving Nigerians with ethnicity, religion is nonsense -Buhari

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 08:48 AM PST

Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has described as "bloody nonsense" the penchant of some Nigerians to hide under the canopy of ethnicity and religion to perpetuate injustice and corrupt acts.

He made the remark while hosting his former staff who worked with him during his tenure as military head of state (January 1984-August 1985) on Sunday night at the State House, Abuja.

The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity Femi Adesina, said "Recourse to the smokescreen of religion and ethnicity "is just corruption, pure and simple."

To justify his thesis, President Buhari went down memory lane, drawing lessons from his electoral battles at the courts in 2003, 2007, and 2011, where those who ruled against him were Muslims from the North, but those who defended him were Christians from the South.

His words: "I was recently forced to talk to somebody I respect a lot about Nigeria. I said in 2003, when I started out, complaints about presidential election used to start from the Court of Appeal. The president of the court then was my classmate in secondary school for six years. Himself, myself and Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, were classmates.

"My lawyer, Mike Ahamba, was Roman Catholic and an Ibo man. My first witness was in the box. Ahamba said he needed the register of voters in certain constituencies and states to prove that votes were just allocated, and not a true reflection of what existed in the constituencies. He asked them to record his request and sign. They did so.

"When they came to give judgment later, the matter was not mentioned at all. In the panel was another Roman Catholic and Ibo, who raised his hand and said, this is what Buhari's lawyer had said.

"Did we write to those constituencies and states to submit the register? If so, why is it not in the judgment? They just shut him up. He had to write a minority judgment. Of course, he's now our Ambassador in the United States of America.

"I petitioned the Supreme Court. Who was the Chief Justice? A Muslim, probably a Fulani, from Zaria. After 27 months, we went. Ahamba addressed the court for 2 hours and 45 minutes. They went in, came out after about 45 minutes, and said they were proceeding on vacation the next day. They were away for three months, making it 30 months in all. When they came back, they dismissed the case within 45 minutes.
"In 2007, they repeated the same thing. Who was the Chief Justice? A northerner and Muslim. After 18 months, they dismissed the case.

"The third time, who was CJ? A Muslim, Fulani man from Jigawa. After 8 months, he dismissed the case. This bloody nonsense about Nigeria on ethnicity and religion is just corruption, pure and simple. Wherever we find ourselves, let's pray to God that we maintain our faith. That's all we have.

"I try to do my best and pray to God to help me. May God Almighty give us the ways and means to continue to do our best for the country. Whatever religion we follow, let's do it seriously, as finally, we would appear before God. Whether we believe it or not, it will happen. So, we better continue to behave ourselves." he said

President Buhari described the reunion and interactive meeting as an "emotional one" for him, as he had not seen some of the people since 1985 when the military regime he headed was toppled.
Commending his former Aide-de-Camp, Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo, who used his initiative to put the parley together, the President equally commended his former Number 2 man, Major General Tunde Idiagbon (now deceased), whom he said, showed uncommon loyalty and courage.

His words: "He was in Saudi Arabia, performing the Hajj when we were removed. The Saudi king said the coup was not just against us, but also against him since Idiagbon was praying with him.

"He asked him to send for his family to join him in Saudi until it was clear where I was. Idiagbon said no, I want to go back, Your Majesty. If they kill him, let them kill me also.

"He joined the next flight and came back. I think there's no way you can describe such loyalty, such courage. May his soul rest in perfect peace." he said

Alhaji Jokolo said though the departure of the former staff from the government was "unexpected and disappointing, if not regrettable," the affected people recall the ugly experiences today, "not with bitterness because individually, they had since moved on with their lives, though painfully aware that they were victims of misplaced aggression."

He added: "The fact that among us today are highly respected Royal Fathers, businessmen, captains of industry, lawyers and other specialists in the professions, and a university professor, speaks volumes that God is good and that values of discipline and perseverance that we imbibed under Your Excellency's tutelage had not been in vain."

In This Story:#MuhammaduBuhari #MikeAhamba #ShehuMusaYar'adua #SaudiArabia

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