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In Paris, several thousand people, many waving placards calling for Macron to resign or condemning police violence, marched peacefully through the Left Bank in freezing temperatures.

“Parisians, rise up!” they chanted, urging residents of the capital to join the movement which has been driven from the start by rural and smalltown France.

Demonstrations also took place in Toulouse, Lyon, Rouen and other cities.

Some 80,000 police were deployed to keep the peace.

Turnout was being closely watched for signs of possible fatigue in the movement as it enters its third month and Macron’s “great national debate” gains momentum.

‘Divorcing our elites’

Last week, an estimated 80,000 people took part in protests that were markedly less violent than several previous editions, which ended in clashes with police, the torching of cars and shopfronts being smashed.

Michel, a 53-year-old computer engineer from the Paris suburbs who did not wish to give his full name for fear of losing his job over his radical politics, was taking part in his ninth demonstration in as many weeks.

The father of three said he intended to boycott the debates organised around the country on some of the issues raised by the yellow vests.

“It’s over. We’re divorcing our elites and there can be no getting back,” he said, adding: “People are starving but for them everything is fine. They have to go!”

By giving the protesters a forum to air their grievances Macron hopes to lure them off the streets.

This week, he kickstarted two months of nationwide discussions on issues ranging from taxation to public services, spending over 12 hours debating with mayors at separate gatherings in the north and southwest of the country.
‘Not addressing real issues’

The debates mark a return to form for the combative 41-year-old, who won the election at the head of a grassroots movement that went door-to-door asking the French what kind of changes were needed.

A prodigious debater, he vigorously defended his reforms.

Many “yellow vests” see the debates as an attempt to drain support from their movement, which erupted in mid-November over fuel taxes but quickly grew into a broader anti-Macron and anti-globalisation revolt.

Marie-Helene Guais, 60, accused the government of “not addressing the real issues”.

“What I want is citizen-sponsored referendums so that citizens can repeal laws, oversee spending and recall senior officials or even the president if they want,” she said, echoing one of the protesters top demands.

The growing number of demonstrators to suffer serious injuries at the hands of the police has compounded their hostility towards the state.

The “Disarm” collective, a local group that campaigns against police violence, has counted 98 cases of serious injuries, including 15 cases of people losing an eye to rubber bullets.

The police have pointed to several attacks on officers as justification for their sometimes heavy-handed approach.

Warning against debate ‘bluff’

Macron is looking to the debates to reconnect with the French and try salvage his reform agenda.

He has assured that there will be “no taboos”.

But he has refused to consider reinstating a fortune tax on high earners which he partly repealed in one of his first, and most unpopular acts as president.

“I’m warning you, Mr President. This debate must not become a big bluff,” the mayor of the south-central village of Saint-Cirgues, Christian Venries, warned Macron at a public meeting Friday.

The president has already scrapped the controversial fuel tax hike that triggered the “yellow vest” movement.

In December, he also unveiled a 10-billion-euro ($11.5-billion) package of wage increases and tax relief for low earners and retirees.

But the measures fell short of the mark for the protesters, who are demanding a radical policy shift in favour of low earners, buoyed by opinion polls that show widespread sympathy for their cause.

AFP


Source:
www.channelstv.com/2019/01/19/macrons-debate-put-to-test-as-yellow-vests-stage-10th-protest/

The Hay’s lives just around the corner on 3, soundton street, west Neverlands. They are quite a pack who’s got everything going good for them. The couple makes sure of it and it’s not hard to see how happy they are.
Somewhere close, on the same street lives the Bees. They are all shade of everything regular, the everyday regular kinda couple.

The two Mrs’ sometimes meet at the Tee’s salon every other week, during which times Mrs Bee can hardly keep her eyes off the ever glowing Mrs Hay.

Every day she prays to God that her marriage would one day come to be something close to the bliss the Hays enjoy.

ALSO READ: When revenge could be therapeutic

She wished like Mr Hay, her husband would sometimes take her shopping, buy her gifts, take her out for dinner, lend a helping hand at home, just make her feel loved and special. How she longed to be shown love but Sam just didn’t notice her misery.

She knows the Hays are wealthy the reason it’s easy to afford those luxury dates, trips, and fancy things. But she also knows that more than it requires money, it requires more eyes that see and a heart that feels.

Every day she prays her husband sees and come to understand, maybe then he’ll try and make the change. She wishes they would both learn to live life and not the other way round.

In one of those down times several weeks later, a friend comes visiting and she shares her deepest pains and yearnings

‘’I think I’m losing it’’ she turns to her friend eyes blurry with tears.

“I’m just 35 years old but I already look like a grandma, just look at me’’ the tears flowed….

“I wonder why life has to be so unfair. Look at Mrs Hay, does she have two heads? Really I think Sam doesn’t just care.”
Deep in thoughts Mrs Cici tries to talk her friend out of the sadness. But she didn’t dare tell her she shares her thoughts and feelings, at least ‘not today’ she thought.

‘Today I’ve got to be a friend’ Mrs Cici nod as the counsellor in her goes to work to put in a few words… she says.

“Not everything that glitter is gold. And most times what you see outside doesn’t truly represent the true picture of what is inside.

That you see Mrs Hays glowing doesn’t mean she’s happy o. see, I know a friend of Mrs Fadipe who lives behind the printing press, down the road. she drives the latest cars, and uses all the fancy things you can think of, I’m sure you know her yet, her husband beats her up every time… So you see, don’t be fooled o. better be thankful for your own o. Be contented with what you have.’’

‘’Hmmm it’s true o… Thank you Oremi’’ Mrs Bee sighs thoughtfully and drops the discussion.

Unfortunately today, Mrs Bee is learning to be contented with her reality, living in misery.

What a life.

And I’m wondering, for how long?

Since when has mediocrity become acceptable?

But truth is, it will always be to the complacent.

Several months ago, I stumbled on a story which went viral on social media streets. Vaguely I remember the story centred around two couples. One of the wives compared her marriage with the other couples. Perhaps you read the story too.

While I cannot fully relate it as it goes, the lesson therein lingers – contentment.

A particular line explains how one husband usually opens the car door for his wife and another wife was envious of the woman whose husband did this. Who wouldn’t be?
The writer at the end of it all insinuates that the supposed romantic gesture by that husband wasn’t actually intended as painted. The car door was actually faulty and that necessitated his coming down to open the door each time.

Phewwww… (Blows out)

You see, I quite understand the moral behind the story and I find it excellent too but, I am a bit more concerned because somehow for some not too matured, one faced persons, it downplays the realness, importance and substance of romance in marriage.

Too often, I hear people regarding the true acts of love, romance as fluke.

I will say, many are misconstruing complacency for contentment.
Alas they are two differing words.

While contentment is a feeling of quiet happiness, complacence is a feeling of satisfaction with oneself or achievements accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies.

Theformal is great for a happy life, but the latter is recipe for unhappiness. It shouldn’t be allowed to set in at any phase in the journey, as it cripples the will to make things better.

When allowed, it makes people, couples close their minds to the concept of happily ever after. The possibilities of a happy marriage becomes a mirage, and anyone working to make that happen is seen as unreal.

Isn’t it also the reason it’s ever so convenient to console ourselves while celebrating our lapses?

…Why it’s so easy to make excuses for our unwillingness to change?

And why happiness, true love, bliss sounds too good to be true?

Well I guess it’s because some don’t see themselves deserving it. Some are not willing to try or we just don’t find our partner worthy of that kind of life. Whatever it is, it’s great to keep in mind that as we lay our beds, so we lay on it.

Whatever we sow, we’ll reap.

You see, your relationship may not be like the fairy tale kind but, it can be better if you want it to be. It may not always be dry but you can always try.

‘No harm in trying’ they say.

Again, you may not think the Hollywood kind of love is doable but some couple out there are making a trial and are getting better for it. That someone thought of it makes it achievable…only if you will try.

When others won’t give it a thought, give it a try.

When others won’t help with the chores, give it a try.

When others ignore their needs, get busy with it.

When others prefer to watch, get involved.

When others won’t try, try.

Let them be where they are, but let your marriage be to them a fairy tale.
It is possible.

Source:
www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/contentment-or-complacency-check-your-baggage/

The mother of billionaire businessman, Omofemiwa Ibrahim is dead.

The septuagenarian died in a fire accident at her Victoria Garden City (VGC) residence on Saturday.

Mrs Ibrahim was pronounced dead at the scene after the arrival of fire fighters.

Her corpse has been deposited at the morgue.

Madam Ibrahim moved to VGC to be close to her billionaire son after she was released by kidnappers in 2011.

She was kidnapped in Igbotako, Ondo State and released in Sapele, Delta State after her family paid millions of naira as ransom.

Jimoh Ibrahim has confirmed the incident.

A source close to him told DAILY POST that Ibrahim was “very sad” about the development.

Ibrahim, who is currently in London, was said to have been informed earlier in the day.

Source:
dailypost.ng/2019/01/19/breaking-fire-kills-jimoh-ibrahims-mother/

He stated this at the NEDG/BON presidential debate currently holding at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

“Let’s first understand that we cannot fix the economy if we don’t fix our politics,” Moghalu said.

“Our economy can never grow for as long as we are led by the incompetent, visionless, and recycled and arrogant old politicians that have run this country’s economy into the ground and are seeking another four years of poverty for us.”

READ ALSO: ‘We Have Been Ruled Not Led For The Past 50 Years’ – Durotoye

The YPP candidate stressed the need for Nigerians to elect a president who understands how to manage the economy.

He further highlighted some of the strategies he plans to use in fixing the nation’s economy to improve the standard of living of the people.

According to Moghalu, the problem the nation must solve is that it does not have an economic policy.

He said the nation has to realise that it needs to decide whether it is a capitalist or socialist country and the type of capitalism it is practicing if that is the case.

“My approach to the Nigerian economy is first of all to focus on reforming the educational system, to ensure that our young people have the skills that can make them competitive in the 21st century and the skills that can give them jobs or help them to set up their own jobs,” the YPP candidate state.

He added that there are plans by his administration to ensure the youths have access to finance through “N1trillion venture capital fund” which would provide equity capital for them.


Source:
www.channelstv.com/2019/01/19/we-cannot-fix-the-economy-if-we-dont-fix-our-politics-moghalu/

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) totally and vehemently rejects contemplations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accommodate the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the general elections in Rivers state.

PDP’s position is predicated on the unacceptable and compromising suggestion by INEC, through its National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, that certain circumstances could lead to the postponement of election, in Rivers State, to accommodate the APC, which currently do not have candidates in the elections, following the quashing of its congresses in the state by the Court.

Such suggestion by INEC is distasteful and only points to a collusion with the APC in its plot to stalemate electoral processes in some strategic states to pave the way to postpone elections in such states and use compromised security forces to effect massive rigging, as was the case in the 2018 Ekiti and Osun states governorship elections, a scheme, which will be firmly resisted by Nigerians in the 2019 general elections.

Atiku to meet Nigerian business community in U.S.

Currently, the APC is not on the ballot and has no candidates for the governorship, Senatorial, House of Representatives and State Assembly elections in Rivers and Zamfara states following the voiding of the APC congresses in these states by the court.

In line with this reality, the ballot paper in all elections in Rivers and Zamfara states must, under no circumstance, bear the logo of the APC.

The PDP insists that INEC must base all its actions and contemplations for the elections on this reality and should under no circumstance predicate any action on a hypothetical condition.

It is also important for INEC to know that Okoye’s advocacy for the APC detracts from the commission’s neutrality and exposes it as a compromised umpire.

The PDP therefore charges the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to be appropriately guided in the conduct of the general elections.

Elections: INEC shops for 18,000 ad-hoc staff in Enugu State

Unlike the APC, our party is fully prepared for the elections and will never allow the APC and some compromised INEC officials to manipulate the elections, just because the APC has seen that it has no chance of winning.

The PDP therefore calls on all Nigerians to unite in condemnation of this cowardly scheme by the APC in its bid to foist itself back to power against their collective will as a people.

Source:
www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/2019-pdp-rejects-inecs-move-to-accommodate-apc-in-rivers/

The women of Enugu State have reiterated their support for the re-election of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, pledging to work harder to ensure his landslide victory at the poll.

Rising from a Town Hall meeting organized by the women wing of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was graced by Gov. Ugwuanyi, the excited women commended the governor for his commitment to their wellbeing and the giant strides his administration has recorded so far in the state.

They described Ugwuanyi as the most women-friendly governor in the history of Enugu State and promised to continue to canvass vigorously for votes in favour of the governor and the party, in their various polling booths and ensure that the votes count.

Speaking earlier at the colourful and well attended event, a member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP and former Nigerian Ambassador to Guinea Bissau, Amb. Mrs. Justina Eze, charged the women to remain committed to Gov. Ugwuanyi’s re-election and play their leading role as the most influential factor in the family.

The PDP chieftain stated that Gov. Ugwuanyi has continued to cater for the needs of the women, disclosing that he has performed creditably and demonstrated the political will and commitment to the advancement of peace and good governance in the state.

She added that Gov. Ugwuanyi is a humble and compassionate leader, who remembers the needy and downtrodden and relates well with everybody irrespective of class, religion or political leaning, saying:”Since I ventured into politics, 40 years ago, I have never seen a governor like Ugwuanyi”.

Amb. Eze, told the excited women that their choice of Gov. Ugwuanyi as their governorship candidate in the forthcoming elections was a welcome development that will yield more fruits for them, accordingly.

Her words: “If you know all the good things he (Ugwuanyi) has been doing for us, this is the payback time with our massive votes”.

Other speakers at the event, such as the member representing Igbo-Etiti/Uzo-Uwani Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Stella Ngwu; former Minister of Aviation and PDP BOT member, Amb. Fidelia Njeze; Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development, Princess Peace Nnaji and State Party Woman Leader, Mrs. Vera Ezeugwu, lauded the governor’s leadership qualities and his contributions to the upliftment of the wellbeing of the women of the state and reiterated their firm resolve to intensify efforts towards the governor’s re-election.

The highly elated women expressed delight at the presence of the governor at the event, discribing it as a demonstration of humility and passion for their wellbeing.

Responding, Gov. Ugwuanyi emphasized the importance of women in politics and governance and appreciated their tremendous support for his administration and his re-election bid.

The governor who reiterated his determination to advance the welfare of the women, urged them to take the message from the Town Hall meeting to the grassroots where the majority of the electorate reside.

Source:
dailypost.ng/2019/01/19/enugu-women-reiterate-massive-support-ugwuanyis-re-election/

The Archbishop Metropolitan and Primate of all Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, has called on politicians to refrain from overheating the polity, ahead of next month’s general elections.

The Anglican Primate stated this while speaking at the Cathedral Church of Andrews Amichi in Nnewi South Local Government of Anambra State, during a two-day working visit in the diocese, for the 10 years anniversary celebration of its creation and Bishop Ephraim Ikeakor’s 10th year episcopacy.

He charged politicians to be mindful of their utterances and to conduct themselves in a manner, that would promote peace and the rule of law, during and after the general elections.

Okoh, who expressed serious worry over what he described as “very high tension” in the country, warned that such tension was a threat to Nigeria’s unity.

“The Nigerian state is bigger than any individual. So, all of us have a duty to ensure that Nigeria is not harmed in the course of electioneering campaign, during the election and after the election.

“These three stages are very critical. We should work hard to ensure that peace reigns. If you win, be considerate in your victory, and if you lose, don’t kill anybody because of that,” Rev. Okoh said.

Source:
dailypost.ng/2019/01/19/2019-election-rev-okoh-sends-strong-warning-politicians/

Astronomy and Astrophysics researchers at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), said on Saturday that there was nothing to fear over the expected total lunar eclipse on Monday.



The researchers said eclipse is a natural occurrences that helps scientists understand the celestial body.

The scientists made the remarks in separate telephone interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

One of them, Dr Bonaventure Okere, while reacting to the lunar eclipse expected to take place on Monday, said some people still misunderstood the natural occurrence.

Okere who is also the Acting Director, Centre for Basic Space Science (CBSS) Nsukka said some people still attach spiritual meanings to eclipse which was not so.

Lunar eclipse occurs when the moon appears darkened as it passes into the earth’s shadow and occurs only when the sun, earth and moon were exactly aligned with the earth between the two.

It can occur only on the night of a full moon. The type and length of a lunar eclipse depend on the moon’s proximity to either node of its orbit.

NAN reports that the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) predicted that Nigeria would experience total lunar eclipse on Monday.

Okere said: “For the scientists, eclipse helps them to study and understand the shape of the celestial bodies but for the lay man, it is just to demystify some myths.

“Some people attach some spiritual meanings to it which is not meant to be.

“Some people may see it and think that the world is coming to an end. We create the awareness to sensitise people that it is not something to be frightened about.

“People should understand that a lot of things happen naturally and it is the scientist who is left to inform people about such occurrence”.

He said that the total lunar eclipse would be the last eclipse to be experienced until 2021.

Prof. Augustine Ubachukwu, leader of the researchers, said unlike solar eclipse, which occurs when the moon completely covers the sun’s disk, lunar eclipse was safe to view.

Ubachukwu said “people can view the lunar eclipse without any eye protection or special precautions, as they are dimmer than the full moon.”

According to him, the total phase of this total lunar eclipse will be visible from North and South America, and Western parts of Europe and Africa.

“Central and Eastern Africa, Europe, and Asia will see a partial eclipse of the Moon.

“The lunar eclipse begins at 3:36 a.m. early Monday and last until 8:48 a.m., starting and ending as the moon passes through the penumbra (the lighter part ) of the earth’s shadow”.

The team leader said the whole duration of the eclipse would be one hour, one minute and 58 seconds.

He further said the whole process would include partial eclipse initially, full eclipse, maximum eclipse,full eclipse again, moon set and end with a partial eclipse.

Ubachukwu also said people should not be scared, as the eclipse was one of creation’s mysteries. (NAN)

Source:
www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/nothing-to-fear-about-eclipse-scientists/

Rajoelina regained power in the Indian Ocean by winning a second-round vote in December against Marc Ravalomanana after an election process in which both sides alleged they were victims of ballot fraud.

Rajoelina first ruled from 2009 until 2014 after he was installed by the army when then president Ravalomanana was ousted following violent protests.

“Nobody will be above the law, we will restore the values of the rule of law,” Rajoelina said after being sworn in by nine constitutional court judges at a sports stadium in the capital Antananarivo.

Madagascar is ranked 155 of 180 countries on the Transparency International index.

Rajoelina also pledged to boost growth in one of the world’s poorest countries, saying: “we will build industries in each provincial capital to create jobs.”

The ceremony was attended by President Hage Geingob of Namibia and President Edgar Lungu of Zambia, as well as former French president Nicolas Sarkozy.

In the run-off vote, Rajoelina took 55.7 percent and Ravalomanana won 44.3 percent.

Ravalomanana petitioned the Constitutional Court over alleged voting irregularities but later accepted defeat.

The two rivals were banned from running in the 2013 election as part of an agreement to end recurring crises that have rocked Madagascar since it gained independence from France in 1960.

Rajoelina, 44, is a former events planner and successful entrepreneur with slick communication skills.

Both candidates spent lavishly on campaigning, with promises and handouts distributed liberally to voters.

AFP


Source:
www.channelstv.com/2019/01/19/madagascars-new-president-vows-to-fight-corruption/

Chelsea striker, Alvaro Morata has agreed to join Atletico Madrid in this January transfer window.

This claim was made by respected Spanish football pundit, Guillem Balague.

According to Balague, the deal is subject to Chelsea signing a replacement and Atletico selling striker, Nikola Kalinic.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are believed to have agreed a deal with Juventus to sign striker, Gonzalo Higuain this month on loan until the end of the season.

“Morata has already agreed deal with Atletico Madrid. It seems to be a matter of finding a buyer for (Nikola) Kalinic,” Balague told BBC Radio 5 live.

“Everything else seems to be in place for Morata to abandon what feels like a nightmare.”

Morata has struggled at Stamford Bridge since joining Chelsea from Real Madrid last summer.

The 26-year-old was dropped by Blues manager, Maurizio Sarri in Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Newcastle United in the Premier League encounter last weekend.

Chelsea will now tackle Arsenal in their next Premier League fixture on Saturday.

Source:
dailypost.ng/2019/01/18/transfer-morata-agrees-join-atletico-madrid-chelsea/

The Presidency has reacted to the report making the rounds in the media of a plan to arrest the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen.

The Presidency, in a statement to DAILY POST by the Special Aassistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said there was no such plan.

He asked Nigerians to disregard the claims while describing it as fake news.

The statement added, “We have read with considerable concern and surprise, the fake news of the Presidency’s alleged plan to arrest the Chief Justice of Nigeria and frame three other Supreme Court Justices.

“This false story is being peddled by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) apparently to set the judiciary against the executive and cause major confusion ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

“The story is absolutely false as the Presidency is not in any way involved in plotting against or framing anybody.

“We note that the findings of the Code of Conduct Bureau against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, and the allegations arising from them, are being handled by the courts in the normal way, as is expected in a democratic society like ours. The Presidency has not, and will certainly not, interfere in the process.

“We, however, want to draw the attention of the general public to this or similar false stories, which are ill motivated to further the political interests of their sponsors.

“While the Buhari administration is very firmly committed to the fight against corruption, we want to assure the general public that Government will always pursue its mission with the highest standards of fairness, and in strict conformity with the relevant laws.”

Source:
dailypost.ng/2019/01/19/justice-onnoghen-presidency-speaks-plan-arrest-sack-cjn/

Filipino star Manny Pacquiao tipped the scales half a pound lighter here Friday for his WBA welterweight title bout against Adrien Broner.A trim-looking Pacquiao, who faces Broner at Las Vegas’s MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, weighed in at exactly 146 pounds.

Broner, who is determined to wreck what will be Pacquiao’s first fight on US soil since 2016, came in at 146.5 pounds.

Pacquiao smiled broadly as he faced off with Broner for the cameras following the weigh-in.

For relaxed Mayweather, Japan fight ‘all about entertainment’

The eight-division world champion later said he wants to prove that he still has the ability to be a force in the welterweight division despite turning 40 last month.

“I’m happy to be back here and happy to fight tomorrow night,” Pacquiao said.

“Forty is just a number, it doesn’t matter that I’m 40 years old — I feel young,” he added. “Tomorrow I have something to prove: that at 40 I can still be at my best … I want to prove that Manny Pacquiao is still there.”

Pacquiao (60-4-2, 39 knockouts) last fought in July last year, when he scored his first knockout in six years with a seventh-round stoppage of Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse in Kuala Lumpur.

Pacquiao, who holds the lesser version of the WBA’s two welterweight belts, is widely believed to be angling for a rematch with retired welterweight king Floyd Mayweather.

Mayweather won their money-spinning first bout in 2015 in a contest that failed to live up to its “Fight of the Century” hype.

Broner, 29, said Friday he is determined to seize his opportunity.

“I feel good. It’s a helluva opportunity,” he said. “After I win tomorrow night I’ll be a legend overnight.”

Source:
www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/pacquiao-lighter-for-las-vegas-return/

I can confirm the death of a child of four years, who was hit by a bullet on a farm in the town of Burgillos (near Seville),” a spokesman for Spain’s civil guard told AFP.

The incident happened on Saturday during an organised hunting expedition and the child had died in hospital, he added.

While police released no details of the incident, they said that they were working on the theory that it had been an accident.

In October, Spanish newspapers reported the death of a 13-year-old who was shot in the head during a hunting expedition in the northwest province of Valladolid.

AFP


Source:
www.channelstv.com/2019/01/19/child-shot-during-spanish-hunt-dies/

Trump’s lieutenants had already strongly pushed back against the report, which said that the president ordered Michael Cohen to lie about a Russian skyscraper project they pursued during the 2016 election.

“BuzzFeed’s description of specific statements to the Special Counsel’s Office, and characterization of documents and testimony obtained by this office, regarding Michael Cohen’s Congressional testimony are not accurate,” spokesman Peter Carr said in a statement.

Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 vote and possible collusion between Trump’s campaign and Moscow is the subject of frequent articles and even more frequent speculation.

But it is extremely rare — if not unprecedented — for Mueller’s office to issue such a statement.

BuzzFeed’s editor-in chief, however, said the news organization stood by its work.

“We stand by our reporting and the sources who informed it, and we urge the Special Counsel to make clear what he’s disputing,” Ben Smith tweeted.

The statement was nevertheless a cause for celebration for the president, who retweeted numerous supporters slamming BuzzFeed and later wrote it was “A very sad day for journalism, but a great day for our Country!”

“Fake News is truly the ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!” he added, a now familiar refrain when talking about critical media.

Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani had earlier called the allegation in the BuzzFeed report “categorically false” in a comment sent to several White House reporters, while Deputy White House Spokesman Hogan Gidley labelled the report “ridiculous.” He said Cohen is someone “who now quite frankly has been proven to be a liar.”

Democrats in Congress had pledged to investigate the report to see if the president had committed an impeachable felony.

“These allegations may prove unfounded, but, if true, they would constitute both the subornation of perjury as well as obstruction of justice,” said Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.

BuzzFeed reported late Thursday that Cohen, who worked for Trump for more than a decade, has told investigators that the president personally instructed him to lie about the Moscow Trump Tower plan in testimony in 2017 to the House and Senate Intelligence Committees.

The BuzzFeed article was based on interviews with two anonymous “federal law enforcement officials” who are familiar with Cohen’s testimony to the investigation led by Mueller.

“Any suggestion — from any source — that the president counselled Michael Cohen to lie is categorically false. Michael Cohen is a convicted criminal and a liar,” Giuliani said in a statement quoted by New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman.

“Lying to reduce his jail time!” Trump said on Twitter of Cohen, who was convicted last year of fraud and perjury.

A plea deal

No other media have confirmed BuzzFeed’s reporting.

It came two months after Cohen pleaded guilty in a New York court to making “false, fictitious and fraudulent” written testimony to the House and Senate intelligence committees in August 2017 in connection with the Moscow project.

A statement of the facts in his November 29 plea deal with Mueller’s prosecutors suggested that his testimony had been prepared in consultation with unnamed people in the White House.

Cohen had told the two committees that the Moscow project talks ended in January 2016, when in fact, as he later admitted, they went on at least six months longer, to June 2016 when Trump had already secured the Republican nomination for president.

Cohen had also testified that others in the campaign, including Trump, were not informed about the project.

But in the November plea deal, Cohen also admitted the project had been discussed with Trump — designated “Individual 1” in court documents — several times in early 2016.

“Cohen made the false statements to minimize links between the Moscow project and Individual 1… in hopes of limiting the ongoing Russia investigations,” prosecutors wrote.

Trump’s right-hand man

Cohen was the president’s right-hand man for years at the Trump Organization, the umbrella company, often relied upon to quietly fix difficult problems and negotiate deals for the real estate mogul.

But he turned on his former boss after he was charged with giving hush money to women alleging affairs with Trump ahead of the 2016 election — payments that violated campaign finance laws.

Cohen, who has been sentenced to three years in jail, said Trump ordered him to make the payments, and now says he regrets his work for the president.

While Democrats could not confirm the BuzzFeed report, they said they were poised to further probe the allegations.

“Our committee is already working to secure additional witness testimony and documents related to the Trump Tower Moscow deal and other investigative matters,” said Intelligence Committee chairman Schiff.

AFP


Source:
www.channelstv.com/2019/01/19/muellers-office-disputes-explosive-report-on-trump/

Says Kaduna Mammoth Crowd Proof Of Nigerian’s Love For President
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday evening reiterated his position that President Muhammadu Buhari, who is flag-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 16 Presidential election, remains the best choice for Nigeria to move forward to the next level.
The choice before Nigerians is simple; to go back to the days of corruption, infrastructural decay and insecurity or continue with the trajectory of infrastructural development, steady anti-corruption war and the constant fight against territorial threats. This is what the Buhari and Osinbajo ticket represents.

“They have initiated social inclusion policies and constructed critical infrastructure across the federation which is gradually bringing back the nation’s economy in the right path and giving Nigerians a real sense of belonging. This is the way we want to go and Nigerians have shown that this is where they are going to go,” the Governor said.

He said the unprecedented crowd that thronged out to witness the APC Presidential rally in Kaduna was a testament to the fact that Nigerians are fully in support of President Buhari’s government and are going to go all out to renew his mandate come February 16, 2019.

“What we saw in Kaduna was unprecedented, just look at the crowd and the way they came out in droves. The passion, the trust and support that the Nigerian people have for Buhari is unrivalled and iconic. People just love Buhari; they trust him because he has performed well in the last three and half years, together with the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, they have delivered on their electoral promises and what is in the APC manifesto,” Governor Ambode said.

He urged supporters of the party to remain focused and not be distracted by the campaign of calumny the opposition parties have decided to harp on rather than focus on issues affecting Nigeria, saying that President Buhari has remained focus to deliver a new Nigeria that would take its rightful place among the comity of nations.

APC disciplinary c’ttee recommends Okorocha’s sack

“We are not deterred by all the false narratives the opposition are spreading; we would rather focus on the issues and these issues are basically on how to make the life of Nigerians better. You can see for yourselves, the people have seen that President Buhari is a man of integrity that they can trust him and that is why it is important that he continues. He promised change which he has fulfilled and the next level is to consolidate on that change on the policies he has introduced and implemented,” the Governor said.

Source:
www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/2019-buhari-remains-the-best-choice-for-nigeria-ambode/

Diogo Jota’s hat-trick piled pressure on Leicester manager Claude Puel as the Wolves midfielder’s last-gasp strike secured a thrilling 4-3 win on Saturday.Nuno Espirito Santo’s side blew a two-goal lead and then wasted a 3-2 advantage, but still finished with all three points in one of the Premier League’s games of the season at Molineux.
Jota was Wolves’ hero with his winner deep into stoppage-time, capping a dramatic finale that left Puel holding his head in disbelief at the final whistle.

This was a third successive defeat for Leicester, including an embarrassing FA Cup exit at minnows Newport, leaving Puel facing a fight to hold onto his job.The Frenchman had already endured numerous reports that he was on borrowed time at the King Power Stadium amid reports of player and fan unrest.

Wolves were quickly into their stride and took the lead in the fourth minute when Joao Moutinho’s cross picked out Jota and the Portugese midfielder guided a close-range volley past Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Jamie Vardy almost snatched an equaliser when Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio got his feet in a tangle, gifting possession to the Leicester forward before scrambling back to save at the last moment.

Ryan Bennett doubled Wolves’ lead in the 12th minute, the defender rising above Harry Maguire to met Moutinho’s corner with a bullet header for his first goal of the season.

Leicester pulled a goal back two minutes after the break as Vardy found Demarai Gray, who skipped past a challenge and fired home with a blistering strike.

Harvey Barnes, on his first Premier League start for Leicester, played the crucial role in the 52nd minute equaliser when the young midfielder’s shot deflected in off Wolves defender Conor Coady for an own goal.

Wolves regained the lead in the 64th minute when Ruben Neves’s pass sent Jota clear on goal and he chested down before drilling a shot that Schmeichel could only push into the net.

In the 87th minute, Wes Morgan charged onto James Maddison’s free-kick and climbed above three Wolves defenders to thump a close-range header past Patricio.

But Jota had the last word in the third minute of stoppage-time as he raced onto Raul Jimenez’s pass and slotted home with the Leicester defence completely out of position. Jota’s winner sparked wild celebrations from Santo, who ran onto the pitch to join his jubilant players, earning a dismissal in the process.



Source:
guardian.ng/sport/football/jota-treble-fires-wolves-to-leave-puel-under-fire/

Olusegun Osoba, former Ogun governor, has said incumbent governor Ibikunle Amosun, made him “look stupid” when he presented him a paper containing four commissioner nominees following his election as governor in 2011.

He made the remark yesterday when Dapo Abiodun, Ogun All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, met with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state.

Amosun was elected on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) during his first term in office.

For his second term, he ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Osoba, an APC chieftain, said he was humiliated in spite of him spending all he had on the governorship bid of Amosun in 2011.

He said: “I don’t want to denigrate the office of governor because Amosun is still in saddle

“I am proud to say that, when Amosun contested in 2011 on AC platform, I spent all the money that I had on me to make him governor.

“He requested for four commissioner nominees from me and I took the list to him in his office. Thank God, Leke Adewolu was on seat that very day.

“The only regret I had was that I gave him the list containing the four names and he tore it in my presence. He now asked me to write a fresh one and bring it to him. And I looked stupid. That was my only regret.”

Amosun is backing Adekunle Akinlade, governorship candidate of Allied Peoples Movement (APM), to emerge as his successor.

The outgoing governor remains at loggerheads with Adams Oshiomhole, APC national chairman, over Akinlade’s failure to secure the governorship ticket of the ruling party.

Source:
dailypost.ng/2019/01/19/ogun-amosun-made-look-stupid-ex-governor-osoba/

The aircraft conveying the former vice president touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at about 3:00pm on Saturday.But Atiku alighted from the plane almost an hour after it landed.



He was received at the airport by leaders of the opposition party, including former Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke and former Foreign Affairs Minister Tom Ikimi among others.

The PDP presidential candidate was accompanied to the US by the Director General of PDP Presidential Campaign Council and Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, as well as Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, among others.



While in Washington D.C., Atiku met with some Nigerians and participated in a business roundtable at the US Chamber of Commerce.

He also held discussions with some Nigerians living in D.C. metropolis where he revealed his plans and commitment to working with them to ensure the development of Nigeria if elected president.

He had reiterated his commitment to the devolution of powers at the centre, thereby “allowing for a smaller, and more effective Federal Government”.

An Intriguing Debate

Upon his return to the country, the PDP candidate is expected to participate in a presidential debate organised by the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON).

Others expected to partake are President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili who is running on the platform of the Allied Congress Party Of Nigeria (ACPN).

The other two candidates are Mr Fela Durotoye and Professor Kingsley Moghalu of the Alliance For New Nigeria (ANN) and the Young Progressive Party (YPP).

The debate, which holds by 7:00pm in Abuja, will be transmitted live on all BON member-stations and its affiliates, as well as streamed live on all social media platforms.

Ahead of the general elections, it provides a platform for the presidential candidates to tell Nigerians how they plan to move the nation forward.

The debate comes five weeks after NEDG and BON organised a similar debate for vice-presidential candidates.


Source:
www.channelstv.com/2019/01/19/atiku-lands-in-abuja-after-us-visit/

Young Progressives Party, YPP, has described call by the Federal Government for the resignation of Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, as hypocritical.In a statement in Abuja, National Publicity Secretary of YPP, Mr. Olawale Egbeola, advised the presidency to allow the rule of law take its course without interference.

Egbeola said the rule of law remained one of the fundamental pillars of democracy and should not be subjected to intuition or the will of an individual or group, adding that anything short of this would be an invitation to anarchy.

Assets Declaration: FG slams 6-count criminal charge against CJN, Onnoghen

He said: “The Young Progressives Party, YPP, strongly condemns any acts of corruption by any individual or group irrespective of ethnicity, religion, social status or gender, but is of the firm belief that the law is supreme and is the basis upon which the war against corruption should be fought and won.

“The recent allegation over declaration of assets against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, is sad, especially coming at a time we are about to go into a general election that will ultimately define the destiny of our great country.

“We also observe that the haste by the Federal Government in calling for the resignation of Justice Onnoghen is highly hypocritical, especially coming from a government renowned for overlooking allegations of corruption against cabinet members.

“This only goes to confirm the comment made by Senator Shehu Sani that the Presidency fights corruption using insecticides when it comes to the opposition, but apply deodorant when it comes to members of his cabinet.”

Egbeola noted that the APC-led government, “with an unacceptable reputation of flagrant disregard for the rule of law, should desist from arm twisting relevant agencies within its control.”

According to him, the Presidency should allow the wheel of justice to move smoothly without interference, “rather than the current desperation that is beginning to suggest to Nigerians a conspiracy to get rid of Justice Onnoghen by all means.

“While time is irrelevant in the fight against corruption, the verdict of whether he is guilty or not is exclusively the prerogative of a competent court of law and the Young Progressives Party is calling on the Federal Government to first allow the internal disciplinary processes of the National Judicial Council, NJC, which is a body saddled with the responsibility of taking disciplinary actions against erring judicial officers, to be completely exhausted.”

Source:
www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/ypp-accuses-fg-of-hypocrisy-over-onnoghen/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday arrived Jos, capital of Plateau, in continuation of his nationwide Presidential Campaign rally on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The the jet conveying the President and some members of his entourage landed at the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos at about 1.35 p.m.The president had earlier, before departing to Plateau, inaugurated the Baro Inland Water Port and addressed APC presidential campaign rally all in Minna, Niger.

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau and his deputy led large members and supporters of APC to welcome the President and his entourage at the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos.

Buhari’s achievements’ll give him smooth sail – Adjogbe

Buhari is expected to pay a courtesy visit on the Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Gyang Buba before addressing the mammoth crowd of APC supporters at the Rampam Township Stadium.

The president will also receive thousands of defectors from other political parties to APC.

Source:
www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/buhari-others-arrive-plateau-for-apc-presidential-campaign/

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it has registered over 300,000 candidates for its 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination in one week.

The Board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

Benjamin speaking on the registration urged candidates with issues of biometrics must to go to Abuja and have it rectified.

The board commenced registration of candidates for the 2019 all Computer Based Test (CBT) on Jan.10 and it would close on Feb. 21.

Benjamin said: “I want to reiterate the fact that only the Registrar of the board has the sole right to attend to such issues.

“Any candidate who may have issues with the capturing of his or her fingerprints at their respective points of registration will need to come down to our office in Abuja.

“This will require the Chief Executive to do it himself for the purpose of security,”

Source:
dailypost.ng/2019/01/18/jamb-2019-candidates-issues-biometrics/

DR Congo rebuked the African Union on Friday over its calls to suspend the announcement of final results from the presidential election, insisting that the Constitutional Court assessing the vote’s legality was impartial.

The court is examining a dispute over the December 30 election to choose a successor to President Joseph Kabila, with runner up Martin Fayulu claiming he was cheated of victory by fraud.

“The court is independent, both of us and the African Union,” government spokesman Lambert Mende said.

“I don’t think it is the business of the government or even of the African Union to tell the court what it should do.”

At a meeting on Thursday in Addis Ababa, AU heads of state and government agreed to send a high-level delegation to Kinshasa help solve the crisis.

AU commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, currently the AU chairman, are expected to fly in on Monday.

The summit also said there were “serious doubts” about the provisional results of the vote and called for the final announcement to be suspended — a matter which now lies in the hands of the Constitutional Court.

Mende, who is also minister of communication and the media, added bluntly: “I don’t know if there are countries where people can interfere like that in a legal procedure.

“The court will do what is right for showing the truth. We should all trust it,” he said.

Appeal

On January 10, DR Congo’s electoral commission declared opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi the provisional winner of the December 30 vote with 38.57 percent against Fayulu’s 34.8 percent.

But Fayulu declared the result to be an “electoral coup” forged by Tshisekedi and Kabila, and filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court a day later.

He claims he won with 61 percent of the vote.

The Financial Times and other foreign media have reported seeing documents that confirm Fayulu as the winner.

The court’s ruling, and the announcement of the final results, have to be completed by next Tuesday when the new president is scheduled to be sworn in.

Fears of violence

The dispute has raised fears that the political crisis that began when Kabila refused to step down at the end of his constitutional term in office two years ago, could turn into a bloodbath.

The vast and chronically unstable country lived through two regional wars in 1996-97 and 1998-2003, and the previous two elections in 2006 and 2011, were marred by bloody clashes.

The AU has taken the firmest line of all major international bodies with regard to the post-election crisis.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC), a bloc that includes Angola and South Africa, initially called for a recount and a unity government.

But in a later communique, it made no mention of those demands, instead calling on Congolese politicians to “address any electoral grievances in line with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Constitution and relevant electoral laws”.

Kagame’s visit as part of the AU delegation could complicate matters, analysts say.

Rwanda backed the 1997 ouster of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko by Kabila’s father, Laurent-Desire Kabila, but then changed allies. Sporadic clashes occurred last year on the border between the two neighbours.

AFP


Source:
www.channelstv.com/2019/01/18/dr-congo-rejects-aus-call-to-suspend-final-vote-result/

The All Progressives Congress (APC) United Kingdom Chapter, says Abubakar Atiku’s visit to the United States would not change Nigerians perception about him.Mr Ade Omole, Leader, APC UK chapter stated this while reacting to the development in an interview with newsmen on Friday in Abuja.

Atiku’s visit to the U.S was the first in 12 years, following an alleged corruption case.

Atiku calls NNPC ‘mafia organisation’, vows to privatize it

Mr Paul Ibe, his media adviser, in a statement said Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate, left Nigeria on Thursday for the U.S.

He was accompanied by the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation and President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki.

Ibe claimed that Atiku in the course of his trip, would hold meetings with U.S officials, the business community and the Nigerian community.

But Omole faulted the claim, describing the visit as a kangaroo trip meant to score cheap political gain, adding that Nigerians are wise enough to read between the lines and could not be hoodwinked by such untoward arrangement.

“Abubakar Atiku certainly has reasons for not visiting the U.S in the past years, especially because of corruption allegation against him,” he said.

He recalled that records at the U.S congress had it that Atiku engaged in money laundering through his wife who was resident in the country.

ENUGU 2019: Why the odds favour Ugwuanyi

Omole maintained that Atiku’s entry into the U.S. is a mockery of President Bush’s Presidential Proclamation 7750 which affirmed denial of entry VISA to foreign officials involved in corrupt practices by the congress.

He, however, said that Atiku’s visit to America would not absolve him of the corruption allegation which had been hanging on him.

Omole stressed that he does not object to Atiku or any Nigerian gaining entry into the U.S., especially when he meets the entry VISA requirements.

He, however, maintained that the visit of the former Vice President, more or less made a mockery of him and the PDP.

“Whether he visits U.S., or outer space, it doesn’t change anything in Nigeria, the electorate have already made up their minds to re-elect President Buhari for a second term come Feb. 16,” Omole said.

He added that the questionable character of an individual no matter how highly placed he may be, does not evaporate by a mere visit to America.

Omole said an individual with questionable character remains so no matter where he visited at any given time, especially if such visit is to score political point.

He noted that while Atiku is busy trying to prove himself clean from corruption allegations with his U.S visit, Buhari is busy campaigning to Nigerians on why he should be re-elected.

Why APC ‘Bastards’ are not reconciling

He added that the APC had continued to use its scorecard and achievements in all sectors to campaign to Nigerians on why Buhari deserves a second term in office to consolidate on his achievements.

Source:
www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/atikus-visit-to-u-s-an-attempt-to-score-cheap-political-point-apc-uk/

The Kwara state Government has handed the prosecution of Offa robbery case to a private law firm, Wahab Egbewole and Co.


The Principal Counsel of the firm, Mr Wahab Egbewole, made this known in court on Friday while announcing his appearance for the case.

Egbewole asked for a short adjournment to enable him study the case for proper prosecution.

“I was given the case file yesterday to prosecute the case; I need to study the file for proper prosecution.

“I brought all the witnesses to show that the prosecution is ready to go on.

“Justice is not by rushing but to ensure that all parties are satisfied,” he said.

The defence counsel, Mr Mathias Emberibe, did not oppose the application for adjournment.

“Since the file got to him late, it is expected of him to study the file for proper prosecution.

“I am waiting for them to show that they have the capacity to try the case,” the defence counsel said.

In his ruling, Justice Halimat Salman, granted the adjournment but cautioned against stalling the trial.

She adjourned the case until Jan. 25, for definite hearing.

Five persons were charged with the April 5, 2018, bank robbery that claimed 31 lives including nine policemen and women.

The accused are Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salaudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran.

The accused are facing a five-count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery, murder, culpable homicide and illegal possession of firearms.

Source:
www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/offa-robbery-kwara-govt-hands-case-over-to-private-prosecutor/

A lady, one Aishat Odofin, has been duped after she parted with N700,000 to a self acclaimed Islamic cleric a.k.a Alfa Adeyemi Mutairu, in order to be delivered from evil forces to become successful in life.



It was gathered that the prophecy and prayer involved that the victim will be stripped naked before the Islamic cleric will bath her with his own hands and then embark on the deliverance prayer.

The incident happened at Ejigbo area where Aishat met Mutairu and he gave her the false prophecy that seemed to have ruined her life.

The lady paid the said amount of money and the prayer was conducted but it did not work as her condition became worse. It was then that she realised that she had been duped by the Islamic cleric and asked that her money be refunded to no avail.

The matter was reported to the Ejigbo Police Division; Mutairu was arrested and detained at the police station.

During interrogation, the suspect admitted that he obtained the money which he claimed was used for the prayer but the victim explained that the prayer did not work and she was hypnotized to part with the money.

The police charged Mutairu before Ejigbo Magistrates Court for obtaining the money under false pretence.

He pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Inspector G. Simon, did not oppose his being granted bail. Thus, the Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.K.J. Layeni, granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Mutairu was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect the bail condition.

The matter was adjourned till 3rd February, 2019.

Source:

www.nationalhelm.co/2019/01/woman-gets-cleric-arrested-after-undergoing-naked-deliverance-in-lagos.html

After 12 years of being denied access to enter the United States of America, Nigeria’s main opposition presidential candidate and former Vice President, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku finally stepped his feet on U.S soil again on Thursday night.

Though details of his trip were kept hush, social media has been active since yesterday after news broke that he landed in the U.S.

While he will be meeting different groups and US officials during his visit, the former customs officer is reportedly lodging at the Trump International Hotel, Washington D.C.

To stay in the luxury hotel, guests have to part with between $400 and $1600 per night (N140,000 and N560,000), depending on the choice of room.

Rooms at the hotel range from deluxe rooms to the premier and executive suites.

Trump’s luxury hotel — located in the renovated Old Post Office building at Pennsylvania Avenue and 12th St NW was opened in 2016. The 263-room hotel allows guests to have an easy walk to national monuments and museums and has 35 guest suites with a private entrance on Pennsylvania Avenue.

When it initially opened, the one-bedroom presidential suite cost $9,000 a night (N3,150,000), and the two-bedroom Trump Townhouse went for $18,750 each night (N6,562,500).

Atiku is one of Nigeria’s wealthiest politicians with heavy corruption allegations hanging over his dealings when he served as Vice President between 1999 and 2007. One of the cases involved him and a U.S congressman, William Jefferson who was jailed for 13 years for accepting a bribe from an investor.

Mr Jefferson told an investor that he would need to give then Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar $500,000 “as a motivating factor” to make sure the investor obtained contracts for his businesses in Nigeria. Atiku continues to deny the claims he personally accepted the bribe.

It is unclear why he chose to stay at a Hotel owned by the U.S president but some believe it may be one of the back-channel agreements arrived at by his aides and U.S officials to win over the U.S president known for promoting his businesses and estates even while serving as U.S president.

The People’s Democratic Party’s presidential candidate has ties with the same lobbyist Trump used during his election. According to reports, Brian Ballard was one of the top fundraisers for Trump’s campaign and continues to raise funds for his reelection campaign.

The Washington lobbyist is reputed as one of the most influential in the country.

According to the contract, as seen on the US Department of Justice website, Ballard signed with the PDP, he is expected “to consult with the Client and advocate on its behalf those issues the client deems necessary and appropriate before the US Federal government.

“Issues and objectives may include, but not be limited to, enhancement of US Nigerian relations; strengthening and advancing democratic values and the rule of law in Nigeria, with a special focus in the coming months on maintaining political and security conditions free of intimidation and interference in order to ensure the success and fairness of Nigeria’s national election for president in 2019. It shall further be the Firm’s duty to inform the Client of developments in legislation and policy relevant to the Client’s issues and objectives.”

Source:
guardian.ng/politics/atiku-trump-and-the-eventual-us-touch-down/

“I respect your consistency, firmness, integrity and steadfastness,” President Muhammadu Buhari Friday told the leadership of the Coalition of Progressive Political Parties, which visited him at the State House, Abuja.

The coalition had endorsed the candidacy of President Buhari for next month’s election, just as it also did before the 2015 poll, and a delighted President declared:

“I am happy with your decision to continue to support us. I respect your consistency from 2015 to date. Your belief in one Nigeria is admirable. This visit has raised my morale; you support us quietly, without noise, and it encourages us to press on.”

Appoint new IGP now or …, CUPP tells Buhari

Leader of the coalition group, Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim, said the endorsement of President Buhari for a second term in office was due to the many successes of the administration, including, strides in the fight against insurgency; efforts to redress the country’s huge infrastructural deficit; and the yeoman’s fight against corruption, among others.

He pledged that the coalition would campaign for President Buhari round the country, confront fake news with facts and figures, adding that a formal declaration of their support would be made soon.

Outrage in Ghana after killing of investigative reporter

Members of Coalition of Progressive Political Parties include: Advanced Allied Party; Africa Peoples Alliance; Freedom & Justice Party; KOWA Party; New Progressive Movement; Peoples Democratic Movement; Accord Party; Sustainable National Party; New Nigeria Peoples Party; Unity Party of Nigeria; United Progressive Party; National Democratic Liberty Party; Nigeria Elements Progressive Party; and Yes Electoral Party.

Source:
www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/thank-you-for-believing-in-one-nigeria-buhari/

Sen. Magnus Abe of the All Progressives Congress (APC), representing Rivers South-East Senatorial Zone, on Friday warned against the use of abusive words on the social media by aggrieved party faithful.
Abe said in Port Harcourt that derogatory statements recently being paraded on social media by aggrieved party faithful regarding eligibility of the party’s candidates in the forthcoming general elections in Rivers were not in the best interest of the party.

He added that such comments on the social media would not in any way help to resolve the crisis at the state chapter of the party.

“I have read through a lot of comments on this platform and do not consider them helpful.

2019: APC studying court ruling barring it from presenting candidates in Rivers

“It is true that there are those who feel that the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, was wrong and there are equally those who felt that I, Sen. Abe, was wrong.

“I appeal to you all to please stop abusing yourselves on this platform.

“It’s enough! If the minister still believes he can save his candidates, he should be allowed to pursue his options in peace,” he said in a statement by his spokesman, Mr Parry Benson,.

Abe, who is also a gubernatorial aspirant of the factional APC in Rivers, said that the in-fighting in the party was unnecessary, especially as it was orchestrated by saboteurs who wanted to rise by bringing others down.

“I remember that Hon. Loolo Ibieneye correctly predicted that the current road on which we (Rivers Chapter of the party) were being led will lead to disaster.

“And I believed that, that road was wrong ab initio, and I said so, we must continue our quest for peace,” he said.

Abe queried the role most party members played and their contributions when the party was derailing.

Why Rivers APC crisis will not end now – Abe

“Those who are interested in saving the party should quit the blame game and name calling.

“Let us focus on what we can do to gather ourselves together,” Abe said.

The lawmaker charged party faithful on a renewed mindset so as to restore confedince and hope to the party.

“We must preach and act forgiveness and tolerance. Rightly or wrongly, we are in a quagmire before the entire country.

“It is clear that no one person, not myself nor the Minister for Transportation have answers, but I am committed to the party, let us talk constructively and look for ways forward,” Abe said.

Source:
www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/sen-abe-warns-against-abusive-language-on-social-media/

For more than 13 years, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria and now presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, kept away from the United States.

Once, the US even turned down his request for a visa.

But on Thursday, he landed in Washington DC for talks with some American officials on his campaign in Nigeria. His visit, said to have been facilitated by his former boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo and other lobbyists, threw up questions as to why he had avoided America in the first place.

What is known is that nine years ago, there was a US Senate Committee report detailing money laundering activities against him, including being a recipient of a bribe by Siemens.

The Committee known as the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations was chaired by Senator Carl Levin.

The probe was motivated by US government concern about corruption in the Third World and its corrosive effects on the development of honest government, democratic principles, and the rule of law.

“It is also blamed for distorting markets, deterring investment, deepening poverty, undermining international aid efforts, and fostering crime. Some have drawn connections between corruption, failed states, and terrorism. Corruption also continues to be a massive problem. The World Bank has estimated that $1 trillion in bribes alone exchange hands worldwide each year,” the committee noted in its bulky report.

Abubakar was not the only foreign Politically Exposed Person(PEP) probed by the committee. He had company in Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, now the 48-year-old son of Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mbasogo, the President of Equatorial Guinea (EG), late President of Gabon, Omar Bongo and three Angolan PEP accounts, involving an Angolan arms dealer, an Angolan government official, and a small Angolan private bank.

The committee submitted its report on 4 February 2010, three years after Abubakar left office as Nigeria’s vice president.

The report unveiled violations of US laws by Abubakar and his fourth wife, Jennifer Douglas. It also included revelations about Siemens bribe paid into one of the accounts, and it possibly provided the basis for Abubakar being barred from entering the United States, since then.

This Report examines how politically powerful foreign officials, their relatives, and close associates – referred to in international agreements as Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) – have used the services of U.S. professionals and financial institutions to bring large amounts of suspect funds into the United States to advance their interests. Using four case histories, this Report shows how some PEPs have used U.S. lawyers, real estate and escrow agents, lobbyists, bankers, and even university officials, to circumvent U.S. anti-money laundering and anti- corruption safeguards. This Report also offers recommendations to stop the abuses.

Here is a summary of the report:

Abubakar Case History.

From 2000 to 2008, Jennifer Douglas, a U.S. citizen and the fourth wife of Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and former candidate for President of Nigeria, helped her husband bring over $40 million in suspect funds into the United States through wire transfers sent by offshore corporations to U.S. bank accounts.

In a 2008 civil complaint, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission alleged that Ms. Douglas received over $2 million in bribe payments in 2001 and 2002, from Siemens AG, a major German corporation.

While Ms. Douglas denies wrongdoing, Siemens has already pleaded guilty to U.S. criminal charges and settled civil charges related to bribery and told the Subcommittee that it sent the payments to one of her U.S. accounts.

In 2007, Mr. Abubakar was the subject of corruption allegations in Nigeria related to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund.

Of the $40 million in suspect funds, $25 million was wire transferred by offshore corporations into more than 30 U.S. bank accounts opened by Ms. Douglas, primarily by Guernsey Trust Company Nigeria Ltd., LetsGo Ltd. Inc., and Sima Holding Ltd.

The U.S. banks maintaining those accounts were, at times, unaware of her PEP status, and they allowed multiple, large offshore wire transfers into her accounts. As each bank began to question the offshore wire transfers, Ms. Douglas indicated that all of the funds came from her husband and professed little familiarity with the offshore corporations actually sending her money.

When one bank closed her account due to the offshore wire transfers, her lawyer helped convince other banks to provide a new account. In addition, two of the offshore corporations wire transferred about $14 million over five years to American University in Washington, D.C., to pay for consulting services related to the development of a Nigerian university founded by Mr. Abubakar.

American University accepted the wire transfers without asking about the identity of the offshore corporations or the source of their funds, because under current law, the University had no legal obligation to inquire.

Executive Summary

Combating corruption is a key U.S. value and goal, due to its corrosive effects on the rule of law, economic development, and democratic principles. In 2001, the Patriot Act made the acceptance of foreign corruption proceeds a U.S. money laundering offence for the first time, and required banks to apply enhanced scrutiny to private banking accounts opened for senior foreign political figures, their relatives, and close associates. In 2003, the United States supported the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, now ratified by over 140 countries. Also in 2003, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) formed an investigative group dedicated to combating foreign corruption by PEPs. In 2004, President Bush issued Presidential Proclamation 7750 denying U.S. visas to foreign officials involved with corruption, and Congress later enacted supporting legislation. A 2009 study sponsored by the World Bank analyzed PEP controls worldwide and recommended stronger measures to reduce corruption.

The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (Subcommittee) initiated this investigation to learn how U.S. laws apply to PEPs utilizing the domestic financial system, and examine how foreign senior political figures, their relatives, and close associates may be circumventing or undermining anti-money laundering (AML) and PEP controls to bring funds that may be the product of foreign corruption into the United States. It is the latest in a series of Subcommittee hearings examining foreign corruption and its U.S. aiders and abettors.

During the course of its investigation, the Subcommittee staff conducted over 100 interviews, including interviews of lawyers, real estate agents, escrow agents, lobbyists, bankers, university professionals, and government officials. The Subcommittee issued over 50 subpoenas and reviewed millions of pages of documents, including bank records, correspondence, contracts, emails, property records, flight records, news articles, and court pleadings. In addition, the Subcommittee consulted with foreign officials, international organisations, financial regulators, and experts in anti-money laundering and anti-corruption efforts.

In addition, there was the case of Congressman William Jefferson who was jailed for accepting a bribe from a would-be Nigerian investor, Lori Mody, who was wearing a wire.

Jefferson told the investor that he would need to give then Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar $500,000 “as a motivating factor” to make sure the company obtained contracts for iGate and Mody’s company in Nigeria.

The case put Atiku in bad spotlight, with his mansion in Potomac, Maryland searched by the FBI in 2005. But there was nothing incriminating found in the house.

About 12 years after the raid, Atiku sold the property.

-NAN

Source:
www.tori.ng/news/114639/why-atiku-avoided-america-for-more-than-10-years.html

The presidential candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) Mr. Fela Durotoye, has assured that the party would promote true democracy and give every Nigerian the opportunity to achieve his dreams and aspirations.

Addressing a press conference ahead of the presidential debate later in the month, Durotoye said that the party would ensure proper resource control and revenue allocation required to maximize the economic value of all the resources all across Nigeria if he is elected as the president next month.

He urged Nigerians to vote wisely, saying that it is time to retire the old politicians and empower the new generation of nation builders that would build a great nation every Nigerian would be proud of.

ANN presidential candidate, Durotoye reveals running mate

According to him, this year would mark a new beginning for the nation as the upcoming election would offer the people the opportunity to gain freedom from the cabals and few people that have held the country bound since independence.

“By freedom, I mean our freedom from the shackles of the cabals and a few people who have held us bound soon after independence. Freedom from the deprivation, poverty, hunger, the preventable diseases and all other forms of hardship brought upon us by those who have ruled us and held us captive for so long. Freedom from the terror of armed robbers, kidnappers, herdsmen, militants and the harassment & extortion from security agents. Freedom from the shackles of unemployment and career stagnation. Freedom for our students to pursue an academic career without strikes,” he said.

Obi, Atiku’s wife urge women to deliver Nigeria from poverty

He urged Nigerians to vote for ANN, saying that the party is committed to the freedom, happiness and prosperity of the nation.

Durotoye stated that without wastage and corruption, the leaders could afford to provide free and quality education to every Nigerian child through primary and secondary education, adding that “the hallmark of our government will be the care and respect for every citizen, particularly the elderly, the weak and the vulnerable.”

Source:
www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/ann-promises-true-democracy-opportunity-for-all/

Nice piece

Manchester United caretaker manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has said that former Red Devils manager, Jose Mourinho will not “struggled to find work”.

Solskjaer, who replaced Mourinho at Old Trafford, stated this ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Brighton on Saturday.

Mourinho was dismissed by United in December following the club’s poor form this season.

“Why shouldn’t Mourinho be ambitious?” Solskjaer was quoted by FourFourTwo as saying.

“He’s a fantastic manager, with the results he’s had, I don’t think he’ll be struggling to find work.”

“I can’t really comment on everything he says,” Solskjaer added. “I’m enjoying working with these boys and that’s all I can say.”

Source:
dailypost.ng/2019/01/18/epl-solskjaer-speaks-mourinho-struggling-find-work/

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole has said that sins of politicians are forgiven once they decamp to the party.

Channels TV quotes Oshiomole as saying this while welcoming new members to the party, at the APC presidential campaign in Benin city today January 17th.

“I am told that there are a lot of very very senior people from PDP who have decided to join forces with President Buhari to take the broom to sweep away PDP and to continue to ensure that APC continues to preside all over Nigeria.

“It includes my own brother, my friend who comes from my own clime, Henry Duke Genebe. He is the former organising secretary of PDP and we also have former vice chairman PDP and leader of Edo North of PDP. We also have my brother Chief Esheshi Godwin.

He is also former council chairman and my very dear friend. We have quite a number of other leaders who have come. We have quite a number of other leaders who have come… in fact, once you have joined APC, all your sins are forgiven,” he said.

Source:
www.tori.ng/news/114623/once-you-join-apc-all-your-sins-are-forgiven-adams.html

German coach Imke Wubbenhorst had the perfect answer to a s*xist question asked by a journalist. She responded sarcastically that she selects her team’s list based on the P*n*s size of the players.

Imke Wubbenhorst, who is the first female to coach a male team in Germany’s fifth tier side BV Cloppenburg, said this while responding to questions from journalists.

She told a German TV Welt how one journalist had asked her whether she warned players to put their pants on when she entered the dressing room.

“Of course not, I’m a professional,” she responded, sarcastically. “I pick my players based on their P*n*s size,” Wubbenhorst said.

Wubbenhorst, who is a former German youth international, is not the first female coach to face condescending or s*xist questions.

When former Sweden women’s team manager Pia Sundhage was asked in 2014 whether a woman was able to coach a men’s team, she replied: “Well [German chancellor] Angela Merkel runs a whole country.”

Sundhage had already won two Olympic golds as manager of the United States.

Fortunately, Cloppenburg’s owners are more forward thinking, saying “We only looked at quality.”

“It was an easy decision to let go of gender in the evaluation process,” said board member Herbert Schroder.

Wubbenhorst, 30, had been in charge of Cloppenburg’s women’s team but the club decided she would be better placed helping the relegation-threatened men’s side.

Cloppenburg currently sits bottom of the league.



Source:
guardian.ng/sport/german-coach-says-player-selection-is-based-on-P*n*s-size/

The Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, has threatened to resume the industrial action it suspended on 30th May 2018 if the issues in dispute are not resolved by Thursday, 31st January, 2019.

Issuing the 154day strike notice in a letter addressed to the Minister of Labour & Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, JOHESU Chairman, Comrade Biobelemoye Josiah noted: “In view of the apparent indifference of government to permanently resolve these lingering issues, some of which have persisted for over five years now, the Joint Health Sector Unions by this letter notifies the Federal Government of her resolve to resume the suspended industrial action by Thursday, 31st January, 2019.

“Having waited for this long it is surprising that the following matters have not been resolved,” he noted.

Among issues at stake are upward adjustment of the CONHESS Salary structure; unjustified withholding of the salaries of JOHESU members for the months of April and May, 2018 and headship of hospital departments.

Others are non promotion of members on CONHESS 14 – 15 as Directors in some Federal Health Institutions, and implementation of Consultancy Cadre to JOHESU members.

Source:
www.tori.ng/news/114635/johesu-set-to-embark-on-indefinite-strike.html

Ayodele Fayose, former Ekiti State Governor, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to ensure he attends the presidential debate slated for tomorrow.

Presidential debate for candidates of political parties is billed to hold on January 19.

Mr Fayose, factional head of the South West campaign organisation of Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the call on Friday.

Messrs Buhari and Abubakar are major contestants in the presidential election scheduled for February 16. They are expected to participate in the debate.

There are insinuations in some quarters that the president who seeks a second term in office will dodge the debate. As at press time, POLITICS TIMES could not verify if the APC flag-bearer would be present at the parley.

“They challenged @atiku to travel to US, he is there now. We are challenging President Buhari to come and debate tomorrow, no excuse!” Fayose tweeted.

Mr Abubakar, a former vice president popularly known as Atiku on Thursday travelled to the United States, the first since he left office in 2007.

Since he left office he has been unable to visit the country, this the All Progressives Congress (APC) maintained was because of corruption allegations involving him at the U.S.

Atiku’s visit has rattled the APC-led adminstration, forcing it to dug out a fresh corruption allegation against the former number two citizen.

The government said the former vice president has issues to clarify on his role on the collapse of Bank PHB.

Source:
www.tori.ng/news/114680/fayose-mocks-buhari-as-atiku-visits-the-us.html

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja has granted bail to Nigerian lawmaker Senator Dino Melaye, who was being held in a police health facility in Abuja.

Dino Melaye’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), was granted a bail application by Justice Yusuf Halilu on health grounds.

Justice Halilu was of the view the Senator must be healthy to stand trial.

He said since the Senator cannot be arraigned on the stretcher or ‎on his hospital bed, he should be allowed on bail to attend to his health.

The judge asked him to produce three sureties, one of who must be the clerk of the National Assembly, who must undertake to produce him when he is to be arraigned in respect of a charge already filed against him.

The judge said the other two sureties must be owners of properties within the Abuja metropolis.

Melaye was arrested by the Police after a siege on his home in Maitama, Abuja on Friday, January 4. The Senator locked away in his apartment, surrendered on the eighth day of the siege.

He slumped while he was being taken into custody and was taken to the police infirmary in Garki.

The People’s Democratic Party lawmaker was arrested for alleged criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide.

Melaye is currently standing trial in more than one suit. He has been accused of illegal possession of arms, gun running and sponsoring hoodlums in Kogi State.

Police spokesman Jimoh Moshood said the shooting and injuries on a police officer by Senator Dino Melaye and his armed thugs in Kogi State on the 19th July 2018 warranted his arrest.

He added that the police officer was yet to recover from the gunshot injury he sustained during the attack and was under intensive medical care.

“The Police Officer, Sgt. Danjuma Saliu, is yet to recover from the gunshot injury he sustained during the attack and still under intensive medical care in the hospital.”



Source:
guardian.ng/news/court-grants-dino-melaye-bail/

Dr Raphael James is a multi-award winning Nigerian who believes in creating jobs via skill acquisition especially among the women to add value to their families and reduce economic pressure.

He is the founder, CRIMMD Skills Acquisition Centre, he studied Psychology in the university and holds a diploma certificate in Journalism but found himself in the media world doing mostly research. He has written 56 books and published 23.

INEC ready for general election – Yakubu

In this interview with Moses Nosike, he revealed how a strange widow woman walked into his office asking him for money to buy food and to feed her children raised in him an idea that gave birth to CRIMMD Skill Acquisition Centre. Excerpts:

How did you initiate this free offering acquisition centre?

The idea started in 2015 through an incident. A woman walked into my office asking for alms and I told her I wasn’t a bank and I don’t run a canteen to feed her. Then she exposed her body and offered me s*x in order to get money to take care of her children. I refused and asked her to leave my office.

The following day she came back and explained to me that almost all her husband’s friends had slept with her ever since she lost her husband because they are trying to assist her financially. She went on to reveal that five thousand Naira is the highest and fifty Naira happened to be the lowest she has received from any one of them.

Feeling for her situation, I asked her if she learnt any trade or skill she could engage in that will give her a regular income in order to take care of her family and she said none. I offered her the little I could afford knowing that wouldn’t make much difference, so I encouraged her to learn a skill.

When she left, I asked myself two questions; If it were to be my wife that my friends would want to sleep with her because she asked them for money to help my children when I drop dead? And how many other women are out there facing this same challenge? I felt quite bad and that was how the idea of setting up a skill acquisition centre came up.

OPM’s Apostle Chinyere: an Icon of free education

I discussed it with my wife and she agreed and offered to support by being part of it. Luckily, she is a seamstress and she was willing to take care of the dressmaking class. That was how we started; rented a place, bought six sewing machines and commenced classes in February 2016. At the end of 2016, we were able to train about 124 women in different skills and that was because we were still battling then to get women understand that what we are doing is free.

I had few challenges along the way. The Local Government officials came to lock up the place but I told them that we are training the women free of charge but they found it difficult to believe. Since inception we have been running it free till date.

So far, we have trained over four thousand women in nine different skills; catering, dressmaking, bead making, liquid soap production, Ankara classes, music etc. We’ve also had some guest instructors. Also a friend of mine who is based in the US flew in to teach the catering class how to cook Igbotic type of soup.

How do you get the instructors that teach at the centre?

I have two permanent staff members; a lady and my wife. Others are guest instructors and I pay them when they take the classes. I’ve also had voluntary teachers. A particular woman was handling the bead making class for free for two years but she encouraged the students to buy the bead materials from her because she runs a bead shop. That’s basically how we are running it since 2016.

How were you able to create awareness and gather these women?

It was a one-on-one thing. We talked to woman A to talk to woman B to talk to woman C and it went on and on like that. We also printed hand flyers which we shared to churches; I post it on social media for those living within the vicinity to attend classes. I went to some schools too and even the police station to speak with the

Chelsea striker, Olivier Giroud, has admitted that he has found it “difficult” to adapt to not being Maurizio Sarri’s first-choice.

Giroud has started just two of Chelsea’s last eight Premier League matches, with Sarri increasingly deploying Eden Hazard as a false No. 9 over both him and Alvaro Morata.

Competition for places will increase with the imminent arrival of Gonzalo Higuain on loan from Juventus until the end of the season, and Giroud revealed that he has found it tougher to earn Sarri’s trust, after making a positive start to his Chelsea career under Antonio Conte.

“It’s not me who decides the team, making the starting XI, but obviously every single player wants to play every single game.

“As a competitor obviously I can’t be happy to stay on the bench, but I keep that frustration with me and try to transform it to positive energy to work hard in training.

“It’s true that every time I play from the start I try to bring something to the team, to play my part. But in these 14 games I started maybe only half of them, so it’s a bit difficult to be consistent in this case. You need to play a few games in a row to be competitive, so that’s what’s a bit difficult in this last month.

“The first six months [at Chelsea] were very good for me. I needed to leave Arsenal because of the fact that Arsene Wenger wanted to play with a different kind of striker. My time was over in Arsenal and I was really pleased to sign in a big club like Chelsea.

“I settled really well — it’s like I was part of this Chelsea team for a long time. I felt very good, with a good understanding with the players. We won the FA Cup and I played a few games, and then I had the opportunity to go to the World Cup. It was very good for me.

“Then after, when I came back late from the World Cup, it was a bit different because the new manager came and you have to start again, prove to him that you are ready to play in this team. It has been a little bit difficult for me to be honest, this last month, but I will keep fighting to play in this team,” Giroud told ESPN.

Source:
dailypost.ng/2019/01/18/epl-giroud-unhappy-chelsea-higuain-set-arrive/

Everything you need to live well

The technology debt-free people are waiting for is here (or not.)

China Daily has reported that North China’s Hebei province is taking VERY bold steps to aid you better.

Higher People’s Court of Hebei’s aid comes in no other way than a roadmap called “a map of deadbeat debtor” which shows you where your debtors are.

People who are familiar with the WeChat platform will understand how this works.



The app goes further than this. It shows you where they are within a 500-meter radius, their names, ID numbers and why they are on your list.

According to China Daily, this feature is to “make it easier for people to whistle-blow on debtors capable of paying their debts.”

A spokesman of the court also adds, “It’s a part of our measures to enforce our rulings and create a socially credible environment.”

In 2017 Xinhua News Agency reported that Chinese China had ordered that authorities to “establish online platforms to expose debtors who fail to honour their credit obligations.”

“The online platforms will be developed and maintained by local news organizations on the basis of a database provided by local courts.”

Source:
guardian.ng/life/map-to-show-your-debtors-location-underway/

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to make it a point of “duty to man and to God” to prosecute those who wasted $16billion on electricity.

Oshiomhole urged Buhari to probe the controversial $16billion power fund “wasted” on the power sector by the administration of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Speaking during the APC Presidential campaign rally in Warri, Delta State, on Thursday, the former Edo State governor also insisted that the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar was not fit to rule Nigeria.

Oshiomhole urged Buhari to “ensure that he follows through till he gets answers to how the $16billion appropriated by the previous PDP administration was spent and ensure that everyone involved in the mismanagement is punished.

“Uduaghan, you will recall as Governor of Delta State, despite the fact that you were a PDP Governor and I was in ACN as Governor, when PDP decided to sell BEDCO which covers Delta, Edo, Ondo and Ekiti states, we agreed that if PDP does the privatisation in the manner they wanted to do it, the economy of the South-South would be destroyed.

“We spoke loud at the National Economic Council. We told Jonathan ‘don’t do it’. We told PDP not to deceive the people but they went ahead. Uduaghan and I held a press conference at my private residence in Benin. We warned that this DISCO, which is owned by a family, will destroy the economy of our states.

“Today, are you not having power crisis in Delta State? Even in Edo State, the Governor is fighting every day. They took $16billion in the name of power supply. They took the money and put it in their pockets and Nigeria remains in the dark. They signed agreement of 20 years, which is difficult to revive.

“But, Mr President, in your second term, I urge you with respect sir; you must fulfill the question which we have asked. After $16billion, you will ask, where is the light? Mr. President, you have a duty to man and to God, to ensure that that question must be answered. It must be answered judiciously. It must be answered in the court of law and what people are entitled to know.”

On Atiku’s candidature, he said: “Yesterday I was watching the television and I saw PDP presidential candidate and a former customs officer (Atiku). He was saying in the likely event that Nigerians make the mistake of their lives to vote for him (Atiku) as President, whether they like it or not, even if he would die, that he will sell the oil reserves of Delta, Akwa Ibom, Edo states and that he would auction all oil properties of Nigeria, whether they [Nigerians] like it or not.

“If somebody puts you on notice that if you vote for him that he is going to sell your family, will you agree? Will you vote for him? When Atiku was the Vice-President, I was the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress. When they wanted to sell Nigeria Airways, when we told him ‘no’, he [Atiku] said he doesn’t care. He just wanted to sell Nigeria Airways.”

Source:
dailypost.ng/2019/01/18/oshiomhole-charges-buhari-punish-past-govt-missing-16bn/

According to PEOPLE’s magazine, She decided that she needed to take some time off to reboot, realign and prioritize her physical and emotional health. She checked herself into a treatment facility to aid in her wellness plan.

Paris had previously opened up about her battle with depression and says it stemmed from hanging out with a lot of older people doing a lot of crazy things.

She explained: “I was doing a lot of things that 13-, 14-, 15-year-olds shouldn’t do. I tried to grow up too fast, and I wasn’t really that nice of a person.

”I was crazy. I was actually crazy. I was going through a lot of, like teen, angst. And I was also dealing with my depression and my anxiety without any help.”

Paris previously took to Instagram to plead with her critics to give her a break.

The young superstar said:

“I guess this is for the people that don’t agree with who I am and don’t agree with my morals and spend their time trying to hurt me. I like to think that I’m on a pretty good track, as someone that is literally still a teenager … I get it, Y’all don’t like the tattoos, Y’all don’t like profanity,

”Y’all don’t like my free spirit, my outspokenness. I’m a young chick and I should be quiet, I get it. I am a teenager. I am doing the best I can, I’m working as hard as I possibly can to make a living for myself and create my own life. I’m fighting for human rights, I’m fighting for animal rights, I’m fighting for the environment. Basically, any liberalist movement that will create positive impact on this planet, I’m trying to get involved in.”

Source:
dailypost.ng/2019/01/18/michael-jacksons-daughter-paris-goes-rehabilitation/

The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is overwhelmed by the current rush by eligible voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) few days to the election.

Mrs Ndidi Okafor, Head, Voter Education, Publicity, Gender and Civil Society at the INEC office in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.

Okafor therefore, appealed to prospective voters who were yet to collect their PVCs in the FCT to be patient with the commission as it is doing everything possible to distribute them before the deadline.

NAN reports that INEC had set Feb. 8, as deadline for eligible voters to collect their PVCs.

“We have been distributing PVCs in the six Area Councils and in all the 62 wards of the FCT for the past 20 months.

“We had earlier appealed to residents to come and collect theirs to discourage the 11th hour rush syndrome, but they did not come, now they are putting pressure on everybody.

“One of our staff was injured and most of them cannot even take break to eat due to the pressure from the people, so we are working on seeking assistance of the police in all the collection centres to maintain order.

“The Feb. 8, deadline is sacrosanct and there won’t be extension that is why we have extended the collection time from between 9 a.m. and 3p.m. to between 9.am. and 4p.m. daily,’’ she said.

Okafor appealed to residents to be orderly on the queues so they can collect their cards on time.

She said the commission would distribute PVCs on Saturday Jan. 19 and Sunday Jan. 20 to enable workers collect theirs.

She said that complaints of those whose names were omitted had been noted and had been sent to the headquarters for redress.

She said their PVCs would be produced for collection before the deadline.

Okafor said the commission has two PVC hotlines- 08153162663 and 08188241666 that people can call for complain or enquiry.



Source:
guardian.ng/news/were-overwhelmed-by-rush-to-collect-pvcs-inec/

The Czech Republic has decided to pay Nigerians and other migrants to encourage them to leave the central European country.

The offer is under a programme that focuses particularly on migrants from Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Mongolia, Russia, and Vietnam.

According to a report published on RemixNews, a Czech Republic-based newspaper, the Czech government would pay any migrants who would voluntarily leave the country and other EU countries 4,000 EUR.

The programme tagged ”Returns” established by the Czech Interior Ministry would assist immigrants with transportation costs and integration in their country of origin, including accommodation, household equipment or domestic animal expenses.

”Anyone who voluntarily leaves the country and promises not to return not only to the Czech Republic but to the EU will be eligible for the money,” the report said.

”Allocation for the program amounts to 60 million CZK, 75 percent is to be covered from the European Asylum, migration and integration fund. Each individual could get funds ranging between 40,000 and 100,000 CZK. First funded returns should be processed in the third quarter of 2019.”

Source:
www.tori.ng/news/114652/czech-republic-offers-nigerians-4000-euros-to-leav.html

West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini says the club are open to selling star forward Marko Arnautovic this month, but only if the price is right.

Arnautovic was the subject of a reported £35 million ($45 million) bid from an unnamed Chinese Super League club last week, an offer his brother and agent Danijel Arnautovic pleaded with West Ham to accept.

Shanghai SIPG are the side said to be interested and have reportedly offered Arnautovic a wage packet of £200,000 per week for a four-year deal.

West Ham have so far refused to accept any bids and urged Arnautovic to honour the contract he signed when joining the club from Stoke in 2017.

However, Pellegrini admitted that stance could change with an increased offer that would benefit both the club and the player, 29.

“They are not forcing me to sell Marko Arnautovic but I think as a manager the best thing is to take the solution that is best for the player and the club, both together,” said Pellegrini.

“If they agree, we don’t have any problem to change. I am not telling the club about it. If it’s a good deal for both parties we will arrange to be without Marko. But the club doesn’t want to sell him.”

Despite the speculation, Arnautovic started last weekend’s 1-0 win over Arsenal that lifted West Ham up to ninth in the Premier League.

However, the Austrian appeared to wave goodbye to the home fans as he was substituted 19 minutes from time.

Pellegrini, though, does not expect Arnautovic to refuse to play for Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth.

“When you have such a high offer, everyone wants to leave but he has a contract here and we will know what will happen about it in the coming days.

“Of course you can’t blame him, he knows what is the best option for him and now we will see what happens between the clubs. I don’t think that the player will refuse to play.”

AFP


Source:
www.channelstv.com/2019/01/18/west-ham-open-to-selling-arnautovic-if-price-is-right/

Justice Halimah Salman reluctantly adjourned the case on Friday after the new prosecutor pleaded with the court to give him more time to properly study the case.

Professor Wahab Egbewole told the court that he was ready to present four police officers as witnesses, but he was given fiat to proceed with the case by the Attorney General of the State on Thursday.



The defence counsel, Mr Mathias Emeribe, did not object to the adjournment.

He, however, said he was prepared for the prosecutor to show that they have the capacity to do well in the case.

Justice Salman thereafter adjourned the case till January 25 and stated that she reluctantly took the decision.

She, therefore, warned the prosecutor to be serious about the case.

READ ALSO: Offa Robbery: Absence Of Witnesses Stalls Suspects’ Trial



The suspects were alleged to be among the armed men who stormed the town in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State in April 2018 and robbed some banks.

Justice Salman had adjourned the case on Monday last week due to the absence of witnesses and exhibits by the police to prosecute the case.

The Director of Public Prosecution, Mr Jimoh Mumini, had informed the court that all the witnesses in the case were policemen who investigated the incident.

“No witness was taken from Offa where the robbery took place and none from Kwara State,” Mumini had told the trial judge.

In her ruling, the trial judge vacated the order of definite hearing earlier given on November 13, 2018, and adjourned till January 18.


Source:
www.channelstv.com/2019/01/18/judge-reluctantly-adjourns-trial-of-offa-robbery-suspects/

The Police Command in Niger had deployed 1, 711 security officers to provide adequate security before, during and after President Muhammadu Buhari’s one day official visit to the state.

The President’s official visit to Niger is billed for Saturday Jan. 19.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Dibal Yakadi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Minna on Friday.

Yakadi said that an effective operational order on how to provide security at each of the places that the President was expected to visit had since been issued to the officers deployed for that purpose.

He said that President Buhari was expected to inaugurate the Baro River Port, Presidential Lodge at Baro in Agaie Local Government Area , as well as launch the All Progressives Congress ( APC), Presidential Campaign rally at the Trade Fair Complex in the metropolis.

He said that the command had taken concrete security measures to ensure a peaceful visit.

” We have mobilised sufficient armed personnel with modern working facilities to provide security cover for our president during and after the visit.

” We have since embarked on “Operation Show Force” with other security agencies to show our preparedness for the August visitor.

The Commissioner warned politicians and party supporters against thuggery before during and after the visit.

According to him, the police will arrest and charge to court, any politician or youth caught perpetrating violence.

He said that the police would not fold their hands and watch any politician or group of youths carry arms before, during and after the visit.

Yakadi added that the command had been proactive in responding to emergency calls across the state at all times.

” I wish to also solicit the cooperation of the public through the provision of timely and useful information to all divisions of the command across the state with a view to helping us respond to distress calls on time,’ he said.

Source:
guardian.ng/news/buharis-visit-police-deploy-1711-officers-in-niger/

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika issued a decree on Friday calling a much anticipated presidential election for April 18.

Bouteflika “issued a presidential decree calling voters to the polls for a presidential election that will take place on Thursday, April 18,” a statement from his office said.

AFP


Source:
www.channelstv.com/2019/01/18/algeria-calls-presidential-election-for-april-18/

A pro-democracy group, Democracy Support Coalition, lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his sterling performance at the Town Hall meeting organized and broadcast by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) tagged ‘The Candidates’.President Buhari, who appeared on the programme with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, highlighted some of his achievements since assuming power in 2015.

The group said Buhari during the programe clearly demonstrated his clear understanding of the issues militating against the progress of Nigeria as he responded to germane queries from Nigerians.

ALSO READ: Why I’m seeking reelection – Buhari

Rotimi Adeyemi, Esq, Executive Director, noted Bubari in the course of the programme was able to move away from theoretical and textbook posturing to demonstrate with real life project execution what he has done for the country and what he would be able to do when given another four years in office.

He said in a a statement that “No other debate can be more brutal given the candour with which Nigerians interacted with President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo yet they were able to satisfactorily sell their vision for the country in a way that completely convinced the electorates that voting for the other candidates would amount to wasting ballot papers.

“All what these other candidates have offered from their other engagements pale in relevance to what the APC candidate has promised.

“We encourage Nigerians to accept President Buhari as the best choice for the country especially when the short and long term solutions to the problems of the country can only be found in the template he has presented. He has the kind of courage needed to address these problems.

“Some other candidates might have presented rosy solutions but a deeper assessment of their promises clearly show that they are busy trying to impress their fans even when it is obvious that their proposals are unworkable while they themselves lack the will and experience to implement such assuming their solutions are practical in the first place.

“It is impressive that the President subjugated his candidacy to the needs of the nation as he did not shy from saying the truth in response to the questions of Nigerians during the Town Hall Discussion Program.

“Other candidates would have, out of desperation to win, lie their way through the entire programme in the hope of deceiving voters. Their lies would have been propelled by their being addicted to manipulating facts to appear saintly when they had never for once in their lifetimes harboured any good intentions towards the country.

“We congratulate President Buhari for seizing the opportunity provided by the programme to engage with the citizenry, which he has done at all times the chance presents itself to engage with Nigerians. His habit of stating matters the way they are without hiding behind deceptive words is responsible for his ever growing following amongst the masses that form the support base that will hand him another term of four years in office.

“The contents of the shallow promises being made by other candidates are well known to Nigerians. They range from those that have concluded on how they will sell national assets to their friends to those who want to use Nigeria as the guinea pig in their next economic experiment and to those that want to officially commission the country as a drug hub.

“President Buhari on the other hand has rendered a satisfactory account of his under four years of stewardship, which gave the assurance that another four years will make the plants he has sowed to begin yielding fruits.

“We are therefore able to conclude that the results are in already and President Muhammadu Buhari is the winner in the round about convincing citizens on how Nigeria should proceed in the next four years.”

Source:
www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/pro-democracy-group-hails-buharis-performance-at-town-hall-meeting/

Predestined love, wow

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said that Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has confirmed that Muhammadu Buhari was not in charge of the current administration with the claim that the President does not know about the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen.

The party disputed the claims by Osinbajo that Buhari only knew about the plan to arraign Onnoghen on Saturday.

DAILY POST reported that Justice Onnoghen refused to appear before the Justice Danladi Umar led Code of Conduct Tribunal on Monday on charges of asset declaration infractions.

Osinbajo who spoke on the matter, Wednesday, said Buhari only got to know about plans to arraign the CJN on Saturday.

But in a statement Wednesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said Osinbajo’s claim was a clear confirmation that Buhari was not in charge.

The party told Osinbajo that “Nigerians are aware that there is no way such high level decision, like the arraignment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria in a court, would be taken without the awareness, input and clearance of President.”

Speaking on the claim by the Vice President that the Federal Government was saddened by the development, the PDP challenged Osinbajo to “explain why Mr. President neither stopped the arraignment on Monday nor said a word on the matter since then.”

The party said, “Vice President Osinbajo’s assertion has also confirmed the claims by our First Lady, Aisha Buhari that a cabal has taken over the control of the Presidency, for which she forcefully called on Nigerians to take back their country.

“The PDP notes the Buhari Presidency is only trying to sway public opinion on the matter following the outrage by Nigerians against the arraignment of the CJN.

“The party urges all lovers of democracy and rule of law to continue to be on their guard in the defence of our nation against anti-democratic tendencies of the Buhari administration, particularly the clamp down on democratic institutions in our country”.

Source:
dailypost.ng/2019/01/17/onnoghen-osinbajo-confirmed-claims-buhari-not-charge-pdp/

Health experts in Nigeria and other parts of the world met in Abuja on Wednesday to discuss how Lassa fever outbreaks can be tackled in West Africa.

Borne out of human contact with food or items contaminated by rodent waste products, they noted that the disease saddles Nigeria with its heaviest burden internationally.

The Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, told the gathering that the progress recorded in the fight against Lassa fever in the country was not a dose of coincidence.

He also attributed the success to the recent signing of the Centre for Disease Control Act into law in November 2018.
Dr Ihekweazu said, “Today, we have an Act signed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – giving us the mandate to do the critical work that we have to do for Nigeria and for the world.”

“The increasing political commitment has meant greater recognition and encouragement to the staff that work tirelessly to protect the health of Nigerians.

“It has meant increased funding to NCDC, it has meant an opportunity to increase our staff strength, it has meant that we have a strong confident work for that is taking all these responsibilities on our behalf,” he added.

The touching account of Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, and his experience with Lassa fever in 1990 drew full attention and sympathy.

The stakeholders agreed that the full eradication of Lassa fever in the West African sub-region would require more effective synergy between nation states and international development partners.

The disease has proven to be one of the most significant threats to Nigeria’s health care system following the annual bouts of outbreaks in various parts of the country.

In view of this reality, the Federal Government is planning disease control as an integral part of the overhaul of the nation’s health sector masterplan.

While both local and international experts agree that progress has been made on this front in Nigeria, the impetus is now placed on the pursuit of final eradication of the dreaded disease.


Source:
www.channelstv.com/2019/01/17/experts-seek-effective-synergy-to-tackle-lassa-fever/

With the clock ticking, May has appealed to opposition leaders to meet for cross-party talks before she presents an alternative proposal to parliament on Monday.

But her opponents have set out a list of demands for cooperating — including ruling out the possibility that Britain would leave the EU in March without any deal at all.

The embattled leader conceded the divorce terms she struck with the EU had been roundly rejected, after MPs delivered the heaviest government defeat in parliament in modern British political history on Tuesday – 432 votes to 202.

“Now MPs have made clear what they don’t want, we must all work constructively together to set out what parliament does want,” May said in a televised address to the nation on Wednesday evening, after winning a no-confidence vote triggered by the opposition Labour party.

She set out a schedule of cross-party talks that began immediately with meetings with the Scottish nationalist, Welsh nationalist and the pro-EU Liberal Democrat leaders.

READ ALSO: May’s Government Survives No-Confidence Vote

“We must find solutions that are negotiable and command sufficient support in this House,” she had told parliament earlier.

But opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he would only meet May if she could “remove clearly, once and for all the prospect of the catastrophe of a no-deal Brexit”.

May said she was “disappointed” by Corbyn’s decision and stressed that “our door remains open”.

On Wednesday evening her spokesman said the possibility of a “no deal” was still on the table.

Ian Blackford of the Scottish National Party (SNP) said his party would only participate if she were prepared to consider delaying Brexit, ruling out a “no deal” and the option of holding a second referendum.

May has flatly rejected a second vote.

Late-night talks

The prime minister is working to the tightest-possible deadline as Britain prepares to leave the bloc that for half a century defined its economic and political relations with the rest of the world.

Her defeat sparked warnings from European leaders that the prospect of “no deal” had increased, with the potential for huge economic disruption on both sides of the Channel.

May must return to parliament on Monday with a Plan B that she and her team intend to negotiate with various MPs through the weekend.

Her offer to meet with the opposition “rings hollow without evidence of her readiness to compromise on the substance of Brexit”, the Guardian newspaper said, pushing for a “menu of options” to be presented to parliament.

Meanwhile the Daily Telegraph warned that parliament “may be planning a betrayal”.

“After two-and-a-half years, Plan B is to let parliament take over,” the Telegraph said. “At least it is a plan; but is parliament capable of delivering on the referendum result, or is this the start of a great betrayal of that vote?”

Divorce delay?

May survived the no-confidence vote Wednesday thanks to the support of members of her Conservative Party and its Northern Irish allies in the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

But more than a third of the Conservatives and all 10 DUP members of parliament voted against her Brexit arrangements on Tuesday — each for their own reason.

May will therefore tread carefully as she tries to win over opposition lawmakers — many of whom want to remain in the EU — while also attempting to appease more hardened Brexit-backing coalition partners.

She stuck to two key principles on Wednesday: limiting EU migration and pursuing an independent trade policy.

Both points rule out Labour hopes of membership of an EU customs union or its single market.

Yet she also hinted at the possibility of delaying Brexit.

May said the EU would allow this “if it was clear that there was a plan that was moving toward an agreed deal”.

EU officials have said extending the negotiating period could be possible until the newly elected European Parliament meets in July.

On Thursday, the pound edged up against the dollar with dealers optimistic that Britain will not leave the EU without a deal in place, despite May’s exit plan being thrown out by MPs.

Blurred lines

European leaders have repeatedly said they will not reopen the draft withdrawal agreement sealed at a special Brussels summit in December.

French President Emmanuel Macron suggested the EU might be willing to tweak a few minor points — but only if they did not alter the bloc’s existing position on trade and borders.

“We won’t, just to solve Britain’s domestic political issues, stop defending European interests,” he said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said there was time for talks as long as London could present a clear and united position.

And Irish Prime Leo Varadkar added “that if the United Kingdom were to evolve from its red lines on the customs union and on the single market, that the European Union could evolve also”.


Source:
www.channelstv.com/2019/01/17/uk-pm-may-reaches-out-to-rivals-in-brexit-deadlock/

IN what has been described as an assault on press freedom in Nigeria, the Abuja and regional offices of the Media Trust Limited, publishers of Daily Trust newspapers in Maiduguri, Borno State were invaded by soldiers while the tabloid’s Regional Editor, Uthman Abubakar and a reporter Ibrahim Sawab were arrested and later released by reckless military officers.Defending its action, the army said it took the step in the interest of national security by alleging that the newspaper published stories that undermined the ongoing insurgency war. The untenable explanation by the military is that the media outfit breached the existing legislation on security in its reportage of troops’ operations against Boko Haram. Before the onslaught, Daily Trust had earlier reported that the Nigerian military had assembled thousands of troops and equipment in preparation for a massive operation to retake the North-East towns of Baga and others in Borno State from the grip of Boko Haram terrorists and that the nation’s combined armed forces of army, navy and the air forces would be involved in the major offensive to flush out insurgents from the captured territories.

Justifying the invasion, the spokesman of Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman had insisted that the disclosure of classified security information amounted to a breach of national security and ran contrary to Sections 1 and 2 of the Official Secrets Act of 1962, adding that the publication afforded the Boko Haram terrorists prior notice of plans and served as an early warning to prepare against the Nigerian military by sabotaging the planned operations.

No doubt, the killing, maiming and harassment of journalists have remained a big issue across the globe. Rather than see journalists as partners in progress by virtue of their unique role in facilitating the media’s agenda-setting role and as the Fourth Estate of the Realm in fostering accountability, transparency and good governance in the society, journalists are treated with great suspicion and disdain. Decrying this hostility, the Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ, reported that in 2017, there were 42 outstanding and unsolved killings of journalists in the Philippines alone while in countries like Russia, 38 journalists had been murdered since 1992 while other cases remain unsolved.

Worldwide, those who control State power and powerful men are known to have ordered the assassination, maiming and jailing of journalists in the course of doing their legitimate job, trying to expose corruption and fraud as well as other illegalities committed against the people and the State. A quick reminder is that apart from the traditional role of educating, entertaining and informing the people, the media is constitutionally empowered to perform specific and vital functions, as captured under Section 22 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended), which provides that the press, radio, television and agents of mass media would at all times, be free to uphold responsibility and accountability on the part of the government to the people.

By this role, the press serves as a watchdog of government actions and inaction as it relates to governance, transparency and accountability. This sacred duty ensures that there is freedom of expression and of the press. When such attacks are targeted at journalists, the assailants are hardly ever brought to justice; it is often seen as part of the dangers linked with the job, apart from the poor remuneration and the high risk associated with journalistic practice. Recently, the Saudi Arabian journalist, Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside its consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Reliable evidence suggests that it was an orchestrated murder that saw the arrival of hatchet men at the Turkey’s airport from Saudi Arabia on the day he was killed.

It is widely believed that Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, a major critic of the fearless journalist could have ordered the high profile murder of the innocent man. Khashoggi’s death is another sad reminder of the fact that journalists are endangered species and victims of human rights abuse. Similarly, security agents arrested the Premium Times journalist, Samuel Ogundipe for his alleged report on a letter sent by the Inspector-General of Police to the Vice president detailing actions of the former director of the Department of State Services, DSS.

Many individual and corporate organisations have already condemned the military action and assault on the Daily Trust journalists. In a letter sent to the Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the International Press Institute, IPI, had described the arrest of journalists and siege of the newspaper’s offices in Maiduguri and Abuja as an attack on media and freedom of expression in the country.

“The authorities have provided no evidence that the information published by the Daily Trust would endanger military lives or the security of military operations to an extent that would outweigh the freedom and responsibility of any independent newspaper to inform readers of significant developments of public interest, of which the Nigerian government’s response to the activities of terrorist organisations is undoubtedly one,” says IPI’s Executive Director, Ms. Barbara Trionfi, who blamed army’s actions as inappropriate and disproportionate and an attempt to silence independent media in the country. From the unconvincing excuse given by the military, many Nigerians are of the opinion that the attack was simply an attempt to silence the press. Not only that, it is an act of military brutality; a common feature by overzealous military personnel against hapless civilians in the country. Military personnel are fond of brutalising civilians and innocent Nigerians. This behaviour is unacceptable under democratic rule and they should be called to order.

In this case, the military has acted ultra vires by becoming a judge in their own cause. To avoid a repeat, those found guilty in the raid should be punished so as to serve as deterrent to others. Furthermore, the journalists working tools seized by the military should be released to the newspaper without further delay. In addition, the Nigerian Army should tender an official apology to the management of Daily Trust for the misadventure. The renewed call for adequate insurance cover for media personnel amid growing insecurity in the land should be intensified. Journalists should always be protected, appreciated and accorded due respect in the society.

Mr. Kupoluyi wrote from Federal University of Agric., Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Source:
www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/embarrassing-military-brutality/

Tokyo stocks closed lower Thursday, weighed down by a firming yen, but banking shares gained to provide some support for the overall market.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index dropped 0.20 percent, or 40.48 points, to 20,402.27 while the broader Topix index rose 0.35 percent, or 5.43 points, to 1,543.20.

A reported US criminal probe into Chinese tech giant Huawei was also seen weighing on the market, along with general profit taking, analysts said.

The Nikkei began the day in positive territory, following healthy gains made on Wall Street.

But trade on the Japanese index slowed as the yen gradually crawled up — although the currency stayed within a narrow band — and investors searched for fresh news.

A stronger yen hurts exporters and often drives down the Tokyo market.

The dollar stood at 108.92 yen, compared with slightly lower than 109.05 yen in New York.

Investors closely monitored escalating tension between Washington and Beijing, particularly after a fresh news report said the US Department of Justice was in the “advanced” stages of a criminal probe that could result in an indictment of Huawei.

“The report about the criminal probe into Huawei puts heavy weight on the market, which is already concerned about… US-China relations,” financial firm Resona Holdings said in a note to clients.

“But we believe it would have only limited impact on the US-China trade negotiations.”

Resona also warned of further downside risk for stocks if more US data disappoints investors.

Concerns over the possibility of fresh American tariffs on automobiles also drove down the market, SMBC Nikko Securities said in a note.

However, Tokyo financial shares managed to rise, following banking gains on Wall Street, the brokerage said.

Okasan added that investors continued to look for new trading cues and put the market within a narrow range.

Among major losers, Fast Retailing, which operates the Uniqlo brand, ended down 2.42 percent at 50,840 yen.

Takeda Pharmaceutical lost 0.93 percent to 4,281 yen.

But Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group added 0.81 percent to 570.5 yen, and Mizuho Financial Group rose 0.17 percent to 175.3 yen.

Tech investor SoftBank Group added 0.92 percent to 7,770 yen. Nintendo jumped 3.79 percent to 33,150 yen.

Source:
guardian.ng/business-services/tokyos-nikkei-closes-down-on-rising-yen-huawei-worry/

Shortly after the Vice-presidential debate in December, I noticed a few groups parroting the drivel that President Muhammadu Buhari need not attend the presidential debates because they make no difference to the votes he will get.

While credible research shows that debates do not necessarily change people’s voting decisions, to think that reasoned exchange has no use in a democracy is unrelenting ignorance. Nigerians, like all democracies, need the planned debates. Debates indicate if a candidate is fit and proper for the varied chores of the office sought because its preparation is akin to a marathon. One who represents their thoughts well at a debate is partly ready for office. Candidates for office should know it is not enough for them and their campaign committees to bombard us with online videos and inelegant posters that carry no substance while they dodge hard questions.

This Saturday and next Saturday, two presidential debates will take place, and all Nigerians should take them seriously enough without the sneering cynicism of “who debate ‘epp’?” Expectedly, a lot of Nigerians will tune in to the debates as they are televised expecting fireworks. Alas, it might turn out anticlimactic. Since 1999, Nigeria’s presidential debates have had the troubling history of the leading candidates never facing each other; either, the incumbent or the main challenger runs from the battle. It started with Olusegun Obasanjo fleeing from Olu Falae; Buhari himself fled from Obasanjo in 2003. In 2011, Umaru Yar’Adua was absent, and in 2015, neither Buhari nor incumbent Goodluck Jonathan participated in the debates.

How exciting the 2019 debates will be, depends on Buhari’s appearance at the events because he is the incumbent that other contenders want to unseat. There are strong indications already that Buhari will not appear for the debate and if he will not, Atiku might not want to waste his energy debating those who do not pose much threat to his candidature.

For Buhari to hand over his campaign to someone else to run, there is a possibility he does not have the necessary physical stamina to withstand the rigours of the electioneering. Also, given that elections in Nigeria are not won based on the “work” of winning voters through ideas, but the work of “mobilisation” with dollops of stomach infrastructure and petty cash, he might not be that bothered. Buhari has shown scant regard for strategic symmetrical communication with Nigerians since he became President. Curiously, his popularity has not tanked in his strongholds. Why should he change now?

Another possibility is Buhari sending an emissary (most likely, Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice-President; the Bola Tinubu rumour is just rumour). If he sends Osinbajo or any other APC chieftain, the organisers should refuse to countenance a surrogate so as not to set a precedent where “mercenaries” will stand in for presidential candidates who do not want to swot their homework. If Buhari does not think this debate is worth his time, they should leave his space on the podium blank as a testimony to his legacy as the general who ran away when he had to face a war of ideas with his own peers!

Contemporary media technology has facilitated a more participatory system of democracy where constituents make more significant contribution to the rituals of electioneering. No longer is registering one’s voice in processes like debates an exclusive preserve of select elite shuttered in a room where they come up with soft questions for aspirants. For good or bad, the Internet and its concomitant social media have flattened access to candidates. Even Buhari, the most elusive President in Nigeria’s history, has social media accounts.

In this spirit, I have crafted 12 questions as my contribution to the coming debates. I know the organisers have their own questions already prepared, but I enjoin other Nigerians to send in questions that the debaters might get asked as well. Whether the candidates get to answe

Warri-Based Business man, Ken Bramor, recently took acquisition of a brand new 2019 Bentley Mulsane.



Ken Braimor gained prominence in 2017 when he gave out 2 brand new Toyota Camry cars souvenirs during his wedding to a popular Lagos-based Interior designer, Ehi Ogbebor.

The number plate of the luxury car is captioned “Ibuere”. named after his daughter with Ehi Ogbebor.

See photos of the Bentley below:
Source:

autojosh.com/warri-based-billionaire-ken-bramor-acquires-a-2019-bentley-mulsane/

The chairman of the Abuja chapter of NANS, Mojeed Omolaja, stated this in Abuja on Wednesday, at a one-day conference organized by Online Publishers Association of Nigeria with the theme: “Free Press and objective reporting in the 2019 election year.”

Omolaja also distanced the FCT chapter of NANS from the faction of NANS led by one Akpan Daniels Bamidele, who was said to be a student of Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

The Bamidele-led NANS had visited President Muhammadu Buhari, where he endorsed his re-election.

Omolaja insisted that the NANS officials who paid a courtesy call to the President were not fair, adding that the FCT chapter of NANS stood for integrity.

He said, “We in the FCT here are not part of those who went to eulogize the President; we stand for integrity and anything we get right in FCT will be got right in all the states of the federation because we lead and others follow.

“The Nigerian students will not vote in the forthcoming election if academic activities do not resume in the universities.

“In this forthcoming elections, we the FCT chapter of NANS that controls other chairmen in other states have deemed it fit not to participate in the election until when ASUU calls off the strike because they can’t be playing with our future.

“Their children are going to school abroad and we are here and they still want their children to come and rule over us with their lackadaisical attitude towards our education.

“It is quite unfortunate that at this point in time students are at home doing nothing.

“The major reason we are at home is that ASUU is on strike and we expect the Federal Government to meet their demands because this incessant issue is a catastrophic setback to the students.

“Imagine somebody spending seven to eight years to finish a four-year programme. It is not done abroad. Is it because our parents don’t have the financial muscle to send us abroad?”
source:
nnu.ng/post/asuu-strike-what-will-happen-if-academic-activities-don-t-resume-before-elections-nans-reveals

Arsenal and Super Eagles legend, Nwankwo Kanu has given reasons Nigeria will win the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Egypt.

One of Kanu’s reasons was the fact that all of Gernot Rohr’s squad play week in and out in their various clubs – which he described as a “bright future” for the Super Eagles.

“We keep praying that 2019 will be better than 2018. But we have to celebrate our heroes while they’re alive. That reminds us of the late Stephen Keshi, Amodu Shuaibu, Samuel Okwaraji, that’s why the women’s teams seem to complain. Let the ‘female’ teams do better than they have done before in previous World Cups,” Kanu told Brila FM.

“As for the Super Eagles I hope they win the Nations Cup, that’s what I tell people. The players are making me happy – Mikel Obi, Alex Iwobi and others are playing well, that’s why I’m not panicking. I can’t start pinpointing any players’ names. I believe they’re going to win the 2019 Nations Cup.

“The future is bright for the Super Eagles. We have players playing week in and out there in Europe,” Kanu stressed.

Nigeria will tackle Seychelles on March 23 in their last AFCON qualifiers fixture before facing the 2019 AFCON hosts Egypt in a friendly both at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.

This year’s AFCON will be held from 15 June to 13 July 2019.

Source:
dailypost.ng/2019/01/16/2019-afcon-nwankwo-kanu-reveals-country-thatll-win-trophy-egypt-gives-reasons/

VICE—PRESIDENTIAL candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the February 2019 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on women to deliver Nigeria from poverty and allow genuine prosperity to reign.

This is even as wife of the PDP presidential candidate, Mrs Jennifer Atiku also urged women to save Nigeria from the shackles of poverty, saying: “It is only the women who can remove the country from poverty.”

Both personalities spoke at the South-South/South-East and Arewa Women in Diaspora, event to welcome the wives of PDP presidential and vice presidential candidates, Dr. Jennifer Atiku and Mrs. Margaret Obi respectively to Lagos at the FHA Field, Festac Town, organised by Rita Orji, member, representing Ajeromi Ifelodun federal constituency in the House of Representatives.

Obi told the women that since the current Federal Government came to power, unemployment had nose-dived to 21 million, insisting that the government could not keep its pact with those who put it into office and called on the women to vote the umbrella at the election.

On her part, Mrs. Atiku urged the women to use their Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, to remedy the situation, since it was the women that were feeling the pangs of distress in the land, adding, however, that though “it is true that there is hunger in the land, it is only the women who can change the situation in the land today,” and called on “every woman to vote the umbrella all the way.”

Source:
www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/obi-atikus-wife-urge-women-to-deliver-nigeria-from-poverty/