TheNewsGuru

Tag: 2019

  • Desmond Elliot, Mercy Aigbe, Iyabo Ojo, others endorse Buhari for 2019

    Desmond Elliot, Mercy Aigbe, Iyabo Ojo, others endorse Buhari for 2019

    A cross section of popular Nigerian entertainers on Wednesday were guests at the launch of a President Muhammadu Buhari 2019 campaign platform, Together Nigeria in Abuja.

     

    The event had Buhari, his wife, Aisha, wife of the vice president, Dolapo Osinbajo and the governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun and other government dignitaries in attendance.

     

    In addition, entertainers like, Iyanya, Korede Bello and Mercy Aigbe were presented awards.

     

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BrURHuAnvi9/

     

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BrUWPjHHlDw/

     

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BrUPKU3HVVO/

    Some of the notable entertainers presented included actor cum politician, Desmond Elliot, Mercy Aigbe, Madam Saje, Iyanya, Oga Bello, Woli Arole, Korede Bello, Iyabo Ojo, Big Brother Naija’s Bamike Olawunmi, popularly called BamBam, Broda Shaggi and others.

    Buhari on a deadly mission to wipe out Christians in Nigeria – NCEF

     

  • Vote for credible candidates, Obasanjo tells Nigerians

    Ahead of the 2019 general elections, former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday urged Nigerians to vote for credible candidates who will drive growth and development.

    Obasanjo, who spoke at the 27th annual Owu National Convention held in Iwo, Osun, said credible leadership would promote good governance.

    The former president, who said he would not campaign for any particular candidate, urged Nigerians to vote wisely.

    The Chairman of the Supreme Council of Owu Obas, Oba Hammed Oyelude, said Owu being the largest Yoruba speaking ethnic group in the South West Zone had been contributing to policy development in the country.

    Oyelude, who is the Olowu of Owu Kuta, said the Royal Union of Owu People had been contributing to policy development in the country.

    He called on Owu people to participate in politics in order to contribute to national development.

    Oyelude also called on indigenes of Owu to support and vote for any indigene contesting for any political office.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that dignitaries present at the occasion included Owu monarchs as well as indigenes of the ethnic stock.

  • FG plans N8.9tn budget for 2019

    FG plans N8.9tn budget for 2019

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday in Abuja approved the 2019 Executive Budget Proposals of N8.73 trillion to be presented to the National Assembly for approval.

    The amount is an increase of N305.86bn over the original estimates of N8.61tn presented to the legislature on November 7, 2017 by President Muhammadu Buhari for the 2018 fiscal year.

    However, the planned N8.9tn spending will be about N220bn lower than the N9.12tn 2018 budget, which was passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President.

    The government is also planning to raise a total of N6.32tn as revenue next year to finance the budget.

    The N6.32tn, when compared to the N7.16tn revenue projection approved for the current year, represents a decline of about N840bn.

    The figures are contained in the Fiscal Strategy Paper of the Federal Government, which was obtained by our correspondent from the Budget Office of the Federation in Abuja.

    The document showed that as a result of the planned increase in spending, the fiscal deficit of the government was expected to rise from the current N1.9tn to N2.59tn in 2019.

    Further analysis of the document showed that the ratio of the country’s deficit to Gross Domestic Product was estimated to be at 2.08 per cent by next year.

    It was also revealed that capital expenditure as a percentage of non-debt expenditure had been estimated at 41.28 per cent for 2019.

    In the same vein, capital expenditure as a percentage of the total Federal Government spending is expected to drop from 31.5 per cent this year to 29.57 per cent next year, while recurrent expenditure as a percentage of government spending is being planned to rise from 68.5 per cent to 70.43 per cent.

    Further analysis showed that debt service to revenue ratio might rise from this year’s rate of 30.76 per cent to 36.53 per cent in the 2019 fiscal year, while deficit as a percentage of the total Federal Government revenue might increase from 27.22 per cent to 40.95 per cent.

    Oil production volume, according to the document, is expected to rise from 2.3 million barrels per day to 2.4 million barrels per day, with the budgeted oil benchmark price pegged at $50 per barrel.

    In terms of revenue that will be available to fund the expenditure, details of the N6.32tn projected revenue showed that oil was expected to generate N3.24tn next year as against the budgeted N2.98tn for the current year.

    On the other hand, non-oil revenue is expected to contribute N1.55tn next year as against the N1.24tn budgeted for this year.

    A breakdown of the N1.55ttn non-oil revenue showed that N906.1bn is expected to be collected as Companies’ Income Tax compared to the 2018 budgeted amount of N658.5bn, while N264.1bn is expected to come from Value Added Tax as against N207.51bn projected for this year.

    The Nigeria Customs Service, according to the document, is expected to provide the sum of N324.25bn for the Federal Government next year, which is marginally lower than the N324.86bn set for the agency for 2018.

    Other sources of revenue to finance next year’s budget, according to the document, are independent revenue, which is projected at N890.34bn as against N847.94bn for this year; and special levies of N12.9bn as against N17.21bn in the current fiscal period.

    In the same vein, the sum of N203.37bn is expected to be raised through domestic recoveries, assets and fines as against N374bn this year.

    Similarly, about N168.97bn is being planned to be realised from other recoveries in 2019 compared to N138.43bn for the current year.

    Grants and donor funding are expected to contribute N209.9bn to government’s revenue next year as against the N199.9bn captured in the 2018 budget.

    On the expenditure side, the strategy document stated that out of the projected N8.9tn spending, N2.38tn would go for capital expenditure next year, as against N2.42tn for this year.

    Debt service is expected to gulp N2.31tn next year as against N1.95tn this year, while N3.16tn is projected to be spent on recurrent expenditure (non-debt) as against N3.51tn provided in the current year’s budget.

    Other projections for the 2019 fiscal year are personnel costs of N2.1tn; overheads, N210bn; pensions, N220bn; Power Sector Reform Programme, N251.4bn; service wide votes, N208.6bn; and the Presidential Amnesty Programme, N70bn.

  • 2019: Tinubu attacks PDP, says party not qualified to lead Nigeria

    Former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on TUesday said the PEoples Democratic Party, PDP, is not qualified to lead Nigeria.

    He urged Nigerians to prevent the Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, from coming back to power having left the country in ruins in their 16 years reign.

    “They ruled this country for 16 years from 1999 to 2015; they were planning for 60 years of doing nothing, lack of direction and lack of attention to the economy and the education sector.

    “They are not qualified to lead this country. They left schools in dilapidation, left hospitals without care; they don’t deserve to come back.”

    Tinubu spoke on Tuesday in Abuja while presenting the keynote address at the National Consultative Forum organised by the National Committee of Buhari Support Groups with the theme: “Nigeria on the right track.

    He also inaugurated the membership portal of Council for New Nigeria Initiative at the event.

  • 2019: Benue voters will resist rigging, intimidation – Ortom

    Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has said that the people of the state have resolved to “resist any form of intimidation and rigging during the 2019 general elections”.

    Ortom stated this on Sunday in Jos, while answering questions from newsmen, shortly after a special Church service.

    ”We hear that people are scheming to win elections at all cost; some have openly boasted that they will use force to subvert the people’s wish.

    ”We are on ground and ready to confront anyone with such idea. As long as government is willing to conduct free and fair elections, we are there to support them.

    ”But if anyone attempts to do otherwise, the people will resist that. There is no doubt about it,” he said.

    Ortom, however, appreciated the Federal Government for the prevailing peace in the state and prayed for its sustenance.

    He said that his administration would not hesitate to appreciate the Federal Government when the right was done.

    ”The introduction of `Operation of Whirl Stroke’ has really solved our security challenges in Benue, especially the invasion and attacks by herdsmen.

    ”Some people are trying to change the narrative. They do not want the outside world to hear the truth. The situation gets more shocking when people, who know the truth, choose to say something different.

    ”At the moment, we are happy, but when things are not right, it is our duty to voice it out. We shall continue to do that.

    ”Now, we have appreciated Mr President and the Federal Government for giving us adequate security in the state. If the situation changes tomorrow, we shall shout,” he said.

    Ortom also said that the recent engagement of many youths into various ventures was to prepare them to take over leadership roles in Benue, pointing out that the current crop of leaders would not be there forever.

    ”No matter how lean our resources are, there is every need for us to continue to engage the youths.

    ”That is the motivating factor and I think that has inspired our youths into gainful ventures instead of going into vices like cultism, drugs and so on,” he said.

  • BREAKING! CAF withdraws AFCON 2019 hosting rights from Cameroon

    BREAKING! CAF withdraws AFCON 2019 hosting rights from Cameroon

    There are reports that Confederation of African Football (CAF) has withdrawn the hosting of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from Cameroon.

    It was learnt that the decision was taken at the CAF Extraordinary Executive Committee meeting held in Accra, Ghana on Friday.

    It was gathered that the decision was taken after a report by the last inspection team to Cameroon stating that there is “a significant delay as far as the delivery of infrastructure is concerned.”

    Details later…

  • Detained activist, Deji Adeyanju to remain in prison till 2019

    Detained activist, Deji Adeyanju to remain in prison till 2019

    Human rights activist Deji Adeyanju has been remanded by the Nigerian Police for protesting against the security outfit.

    Adeyanju, who was arrested on Wednesday by the police, was summarily arraigned alongside Daniel Abobama and Boma Williams at Karshi Magistrate Court, Federal Capital Territory, shortly after his arrest.

    The police arrested the Kogi-born activist at about 10.55am on Wednesday at the Force Headquarters, while he was leading a peaceful protest against the alleged undue interference of the Nigeria security agencies in the political processes.

    Adeyanju had also in recent times lambasted the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, calling for his sack over the recent killing of soldiers by Boko Haram in Nigeria’s northeast region.

    He has also used the social media to chastise the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, over his indictment by a House of Representatives report on Nema probe.

    Those were all tendered against Adeyanju and others, as exhibits in court.

    The Police said they were charging them for “criminal offences of Joint Act, Criminal defamation, Disturbance of public peace, Threat to public security and safety and inciting public disturbance under the Penal Code Law.”

    Though the lawyers to the suspects were equally in court during the summary arraignment on Wednesday, they were unable to meet up with the bail conditions for their clients.

    They were to be remanded in Keffi, Nasarawa State, till January 21, 2019 for continuation of trial.

  • Rivers, N’East, problematic areas of 2019 elections – Abdulsalami

    The National Peace Committee has identified Rivers State and some states in the North-East as problematic areas areas of the 2019 general elections.

    The committee, which met with Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, in Abuja yesterday, however, promised to intervene in the areas and ensure peaceful conduct of the polls.

    Chairman of the peace committee and former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who spoke at the end of the meeting, also disclosed that the committee would meet with national chairmen and secretaries of registered political parties today, to listen to them.

    His words: “In particular, we have problem in Rivers State, and there are some other areas where problems are emerging. So, we will try to see how we can solve the problems

    “I’m worried about the security situation in the North-East and it is necessary that we try to contain violence there in order for INEC to go there and conduct election.

    “You should know that INEC will not send people to endanger their lives in order to conduct election and, in actual fact, no agent or no political party will endanger the lives of its people in any conflict area.
    “So, we hope we will be able to contain that violence before the general elections.”

    The former head of state promised to help sanitise the political arena.

    According to him, INEC has assured the committee of its readiness for the general elections, but called for issue-based campaign by political parties.

    He emphasised the importance of peace during the election, adding that “there must be peace before we have a country, there must be peace before we (could) conduct election.”

    The former head of states promised that the committee would ensure there is decent electioneering campaign and that there are no hate speeches, no name calling and undesired utterances by politicians.

    “We are going to meet with the chairmen and secretaries to all political parties tomorrow (today) in order to discuss and also listen to them and see how we can make progress.

    “After the meeting with the political parties, we are going to draw a Memorandum of Understanding of peace and tranquillity and this we hope will be signed by all the presidential candidates and the chairmen of the registered parties.

  • 2019: Dickson, Clark raise alarm, say security agencies now extension of APC

    Bayelsa State Governor, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, and the Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, have raised the alarm over the increasing abuse of security agencies by the ruling political party, the All Progressives Congress, and the Federal Government.

    A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, quoted Governor Dickson and the Elder Statesman as raising the concern when Pa Clark paid him a condolence visit on the death of his mother, Ma Goldcoast Dickson, in Abuja, on Friday.

    The governor said Nigerians were deeply worried about the conduct of the security agencies across in the country.

    According to him, the security agencies were disturbingly metamorphosing into an extension of the ruling party, the APC, ahead of the 2019 general election.

    Governor Dickson condemned the recent assassination attempt on the Deputy Senate President, Prof. Ike Ekweremadu, and the police invasion of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.

    He described the action of the police authorities, who sealed off the House òf Assembly, as an assault on the democratic order, which he said should not be encouraged.

    Dickson stated further that the recent posting of eight police commissioners to Bayelsa State within a shockingly short period of three months only showed a sinister plot to destabilize the peace, security and stability of the state ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    He called on the relevant authorities and the security agencies to conduct themselves in a way that would promote the nation’s democracy rather than putting it in jeopardy.

    “We are all concerned about the conduct of security agencies ahead of the 2019 general elections. In fact, all lovers of Nigeria and democracy are concerned about the conduct of the security agencies.

    “The agencies have become an extension of the ruling party, which should not be. The abuse of the security forces constitute a threat to the security, democracy and stability of the country.

    “I condemn the recent assassination attempt on the life of the Deputy Senate President, Prof. Ike Ekweremadu. It is totally reprehensible.

    “I also condemn the invasion of the Akwa Ibom State House òf Assembly. It was a desecration of the democratic order.

    “In Bayelsa, we have had no fewer than eight police commissioners in the last three months. It won’t take you long to know that there is a sinister game going on to destabilize and create instability in the state that we have worked so hard to stabilize. We urge the security agencies to conduct themselves in a way that would stabilize democracy.

    “The greatest challenge we have ahead of the 2019 election is the conduct of the security agencies. That is the concern of all well-meaning Nigerians.
    Politicians and people in government need to know that there is a country to govern after elections.

    “Let us not in the quest for election, destroy these critical agencies of state and the career and reputation of these officials. When you politicize these agencies, you threaten the careers of these people who are professionals in their own right,” Governor Dickson said.

    Governor Dickson warned against subjecting control of security agencies to non-state actors in the country.

    Speaking also, Pa E.K Clark condemned the erratic transfer of eight police commissioners to Bayelsa State in three months.

    He said that he was not surprised at the conduct of the police as they recently invaded his house in Abuja even at his age of 91 in a purported search for arms.

    He cautioned a former governor of Bayelsa, who is a Chieftain òf the APC, who he accused of being behind the instigation of the politics in police postings to the state to stop making himself a laughing stock.

  • 2019: NANS threatens to vote out Buhari over ASUU strike

    2019: NANS threatens to vote out Buhari over ASUU strike

    The National Association of Nigerian Students has threatened to vote against President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 if he refuses to meet up with the demands of the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union.

    NANS Spokesman Azeez Adeyemi, spoke to journalists in Abeokuta yesterday after a peaceful protest over the alleged refusal by Federal Government to meet ASUU demands.

    He said: “Mr. President, NANS is giving you this for free that, come 2019, we are going to show you the road through our votes to Daura if after today’s (yesterday’s) nationwide protest , you still not respect the voice of over 50 million Nigerian students.

    “We hereby call on the federal government to implement the demands of ASUU and COEASU, because, we have resolved not to go back on this struggle”.

    Adeyemi also expressed concern over the state of tertiary institutions across the country, accusing the Buhari-led government of budgeting low funds for the education sector.

    “Our universities, polytechnics, colleges of education laboratories are no more updated, no research apparatus, our lecture rooms are dilapidated. Education that our mates got for free, food that you got from our cafeteria for free during the study is what you want to sell for us, we will resist it. Quality education and not just education is our property, we won’t buy it, and you cannot sell it to us”, he said.

    Similarly, in Minna, Niger State, students in a peaceful protest tagged: “Save Education Rally” decried incessant strikes in the education sector and called on the federal government to shift ground on the matter.

    They carried placards with inscriptions such as “FG should meet up their agreement with COEASU”, “Nigerian students are tired of unstable education”, “Save education save the future”, “stop mortgaging our future”, “Education is the future we have”, “No nation can survive without good education”.

    NANS Zone A Coordinator, Umar Faruk Lawal, said there was endemic decay in the sector which required urgent intervention, adding that although the agreement which led to the ongoing faceoff was reached before the current administration assumed power, government is a continuum.

    He urged the federal government to refrain from treating the issue with levity.

    “We are not happy with the federal government, all our institutions are shut down, we are not happy with the way things are going in the education system. Nigeria students should be called back to the classrooms.

    “We are not happy that all our institutions are shut down by ASUU, COEASU and NASU. The Federal Government should look into the sector and do something about it. The students are not happy sitting down at home”, he said.