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  • Obaseki orders aides not to respond to Oshiomhole’s ‘very hostile’ comments against him

    Obaseki orders aides not to respond to Oshiomhole’s ‘very hostile’ comments against him

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has ordered his aides not to reply what he described as “very hostile statements credited to our revered National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.”

    A statement signed by Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Barr. Paul Ohonbamu said the statement was an onslaught against the governor and government of Edo State and has been trailed by enquiries about the state government’s response to the attacks, from various stakeholders, both within and outside the country.

    Barr. Ohonbamu stated that Governor Obaseki instructed that no state actor, within the Edo State Government, should make any comment whatsoever or join issues on the ensuing hostile comments and discussions.

    He said, “Obaseki said he has chosen to pursue the path of peace and reconciliation in dealing with these issues in the interest of the good people of Edo State and our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

  • Obasanjo declines comments on 2019 general elections, gives reasons

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has given reasons why he would not comment on the outcome of the February 23 presidential election.

    Recall that former president backed the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, in the election that was won by the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Buhari as the winner with 15,191,847 votes to defeat Atiku who garnered 11,262,978 votes.

    Atiku has since rejected and challenged the result in court.

    Obasanjo said speaking about the election would be ”subjudice.”

    The former president spoke on Tuesday at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre Abuja, at the launch of a book written by Abdullahi Shehu, titled ”Election in Nigeria: The Long Road To Democracy.”

    The event attracted the presence of dignitaries, including a former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon; human right activist, Femi Falana; a former deputy president of the Senate, Ibrahim Mantu; Chido Onumah, author of ‘We Are All Biafrans”, among many others.

    ”I will not dabble into the details of what I call current aspect of Prof Shehu’s book because since the emphasis was on the national election, particularly the presidential election, and the presidential election is now taken to court,” Mr Obasanjo said.

    ”I think talking about it would become subjudicive, because it has been taken to court,” he added.

    Obasanjo, however, spoke on Shehu’s book.

    ”The book discusses the election and electoral processes in Nigeria including why there must be a free fair transparent and credible election as predictive autumn of the country.

    ”It reviews the main factors that led to the defeat of the PDP in 2015, and how the APC mismanaged the victory. The main thrust of the book is a comparative analysis of the APC Next Level and the PDP ” Let’s Get Nigeria Working Again”, he added.

    Obasanjo said the author had done justice in reviewing the bedrock of a democratic government.

    ”I think from the review, you would see that the author had done justice in what he set out to achieve

    ”In the introduction in which election is the bedrock of a democratic government, all modern democracy and old elections, not all elections are truly democratic. The measure of a democratic election is that it is transparent fair, credible and acceptable

    ”The problem is who determines these outcomes in the election? And that is where the concerns about a sustainable democracy arises and sustainable democracy, if an election is fundamental and basic to democracy and good governance.”

    The former president further reviewed the part highlighted in the book, as ”Election Integrity.”

    He described an election without integrity as a ”farce”

    ”Then we go to the other part and very important part in which Prof Shehu highlighted very much in this book, and that is election integrity. Without integrity, any election is a farce.

    ”In this regard, an election can further enhance democracy, security, human right and freedom,” he said.


  • Again, Presidency knocks Nigerians for ‘twisting’ Buhari’s ‘Nigerian youths are lazy’ comment

    The Presidency on Thursday lashed out at some Nigerians for allegedly twisting President Muhammadu Buhari’s comment on Nigerian youths.

    Recall that the president’s statement at a forum in London on Wednesday where he described some Nigerian youths as lazy and wanting freebies has been generating controversies on social media and other public discourse platforms.

    Reacting to the controversy through a statement, spokesperson to the president. Femi Adesina insisted the remarks had been twisted by “manipulators” and “mischief makers”.

    Below Adesina’s statement in full:

    PRESIDENT BUHARI COULDN’T HAVE DERIDED ALL NIGERIAN YOUTHS

    At the Commonwealth Business Forum in London on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari gave a keynote address on Making Business Easier Between Commonwealth Countries. The presentation was followed by a discussion, and question and answer session.

    Responding to a question, President Buhari had cause to talk about some Nigerian youths, and he said: ” We have a very young population; our population is estimated conservatively to be 180 million. More than 60 per cent of the population is below the age of 30. A lot of them have not been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria has been an oil producing country, therefore they should sit and do nothing and get housing, healthcare and education free.”

    Typical of their stock in trade, manipulators and twisters of statements of Mr President, who lie in wait to make mischief, interpreted the comment to mean that President Buhari had taken all Nigerian youths to the cleaners. But elementary English recognizes a wide gulf between “a lot of” and the word “all.” How can “a lot of them,” suddenly transmogrify to mean “all of them?” Mischievous and unconscionable!

    There is no way President Buhari, father of the Nigerian nation in every sense of the word, who equally has biological children of his own in the youths age bracket, pass a vote of no confidence on all youths. It can only exist in the imagination of those who play what the President has described as “irresponsible politics” with everything.

    President Buhari has always applauded and celebrated Nigerian youths who excel in different areas of endeavour, from sports, to academia, and other realms. And he will continue to do so, because he values the youths, and knows that they are the fulcrum on which the future of the country rests.

    Indeed, every country has its share of idle population, and it is the bounden duty of government at all levels, to create an enabling environment for them to actualize their potentials. That is what President Buhari is committed to doing.

    The focal areas of the administration; securing the country, reviving the economy, and fighting corruption, are actually intended to give youths a future and a hope. This much was emphasized in an April 5, 2018 comment by President Buhari, while receiving Letter of Credence from the Head of Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria, when he said: ” Our insistence on probity is to encourage people to be accountable, and accept honesty as a lifestyle so as to secure the future of our youths.’’ The President also said more than 60 percent of Nigerians fall into the age category of youths and deserve to inherit a stable and prosperous country that they can be proud of, adding that the government will work assiduously to prevent waste and the depletion of resources by corrupt Nigerians.

    It is futile for mischief makers to lie in wait, and take a minor part of the words of the President, and turn it into negative commentary, peradventure they could diminish the profile of the President. Nigerians across all walks of life know who is serving them faithfully and truly, and they will always reciprocate such fidelity as occasions demand.

     

    Femi Adesina

    Special Adviser to the President

    (Media and Publicity)

    April 19, 2018

  • Adeshina blasts Nigerians for ‘twisting’ Buhari’s comments on Gaddafi

    Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina has said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s comments on former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, on the killings by herdsmen in Nigeria were misinterpreted to score cheap political goals.

    Buhari had on Wednesday in London told Archbishop Justin Welby that the farmers/herdsmen clashes were made worse by the influx of armed gunmen from the Sahel region in Nigeria and other parts of West African sub-region.

    The president was quoted at the meeting as saying: “The problem is even older than us. It has always been there, but now made worse by the influx of armed gunmen from the Sahel region into different parts of the West African sub-region. These gunmen were trained and armed by Muammar Gadaffi of Libya.

    “When he was killed, the gunmen escaped with their arms. We encountered some of them fighting with Boko Haram. Herdsmen that we used to know carried only sticks and maybe a cutlass to clear the way, but these ones now carry sophisticated weapons.

    “The problem is not religious, but sociological and economic. But we are working on solutions.’’

    The presidential aide, however, claimed the social media and some traditional media outfits misinterpreted the comments for political reasons.

    He said: “Since President Muhammadu Buhari met with the Archbishop of Canterbury in London on Wednesday, and spoke on the likely impact of gunmen trained by former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, on the killings by herdsmen in Nigeria, some people have virtually flown off the handle, ululating as if wailing was going out of fashion.

    “They twisted the meaning of Mr President’s words (yes, some people twist everything, even the words of God; 2 Peter: 3, 15,16). They claimed he was blaming Gaddafi, long dead, for the killings in Nigeria.

    “But let’s see the vacuousness and intellectual laziness in the twist they have given what President Buhari said, out of sheer malice and evil hearts. Sadly, even a Senator was involved in the sickening display of poisonous heart.

    “That’s what you get when small minds get into high places.’’

  • Conte defends title concession comments following win at Huddersfield

    Manager Antonio Conte defended his remarks that Chelsea are out of the title race after his side bounced back from defeat against struggling West Ham to comfortably win away to Huddersfield Town.

    The Blues were criticised after losing to the Hammers on Saturday, a result which led Conte to concede the 2016-17 champions could not win the Premier League.

    However, they moved level on points with second-placed Manchester United after goals by Tiemoue Bakayoko, Willian and Pedro ensured Huddersfield lost for the fifth time in six games.

    Chelsea are still 11 points behind leaders Manchester City, a gap the Italian still believes is too large to bridge.

    “You must be realistic. I prefer to tell the truth rather than a good lie,” said Conte after Tuesday’s game.

    “Sometimes I can be too honest but I like to speak honestly with my players and our fans. It doesn’t mean we don’t want to try to catch them.

    “Our path is a great path but for sure there is a team that is in this way. It is very hard, now, to stop them.”

    France midfielder Bakayoko, substituted at half-time in the surprise defeat to West Ham on Saturday, set Antonio Conte’s side on their way by clipping the ball beyond Jonas Lossl after the Huddersfield keeper had slipped in the wet conditions making a clearance.

    Brazil midfielder Willian doubled the lead before the interval with a header before teeing-up Pedro to hammer the third goal.

    Substitute Laurent Depoitre headed a late consolation but Huddersfield were well beaten.

    “It could have been a really horrible night after the third, but our players reacted and got the goal at the end,” said Terriers boss David Wagner.

  • Controversial comments: APC to send delegates to Atiku, might impose sanctions

    Controversial comments: APC to send delegates to Atiku, might impose sanctions

    Sequel to his alleged investments in the party and presidential campaign funds of President Muhammadu Buhari at the 2015 polls and his subsequent sidelining in government, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has perfected plans to send delegates to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to verify and investigate his claims.

    The party noted that all members of the party contributed to its candidates wining the elections at all levels and nothing was expected in return since they were only rendering services in the interest of the nation.

    It noted further that if Atiku was interested in the 2019 elections, he should wait till then to contest rather than making comments that can put the party in a chaos.

    The Organising Secretary of the Adamawa State chapter of the APC, Ahmed Lawan, who disclosed this, said, ‘’Plans by the state working committee to wade into the issue have been delayed by the participation of some members of the state exco, who travelled to Saudi Arabia to observe the hajj.

    “ Some of our members, including the chairman of the APC in the state, are on hajj; we are only waiting for them to return and we are going to discuss this issue. Definitely, our meeting is going to dwell on Atiku, perhaps we may form a committee to reach out to the former vice-president to ask him what his grievances are. Definitely, if there’s anything we can do as a party at the state level, we will do,” Lawan said.

    The party, according to him, has ways of dealing with any of its members, and if it finds sufficient grounds, especially with the rumours associated with the former vice-president, the party will not hesitate to take action.

    While dismissing reported cracks within the party, he said the party was however worried by recent utterances credited to the former vice-president, including his remarks that the party abandoned him.

    “The utterances of the former vice-president only portrayed him as a man whose sole motive for contributing to the success of the party is to profit from it, whilst it ought to have been selfless. We all sacrificed, nobody wanted to get something from it. If you want to contest, you wait for 2019 to test your popularity. If you are very popular, the people will listen to you and vote for you. There’s no need for any utterance which is capable of portraying the party in bad light. We are very surprised that the former vice-president came out to say the party didn’t reward him, which is like saying the party didn’t reward him enough. We all sacrificed, nobody did it because we wanted to get something out of it.”

    On the mode of the planned meeting with Atiku, he said, “When our committee meets him, if definitely what he’s saying is against the party, the party is going to take action on it; but if he lodges his complaints and the party feels there’s merit in what he’s saying, then definitely the party will look into it.

    “But for now, we are waiting for the members of Exco to come back. We will summon a meeting and then take a decision,” Lawan said.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the former Vice President has however indicated his interest in the 2019 Presidential elections when he said last week that he will corruption and Boko Haram insurgence better than the incumbent administration is doing.

  • Alleged inciting comments: Ex-Jigawa Governor, Sule Lamido remanded in prison

    Former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has been remanded in prison custody by a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Dutse, the state capital.

    The Chief Magistrate, Usman Lamin, on Tuesday ruled that the ex-governor be remanded in Dutse prison until May 4 when applications for his bail will be decided.

    In his ruling, Lamin held that he needed time to decide on the application for bail and study the police’s First Investigation Report, FIR, brought as evidence in the case.

    Lamido is standing trial at the court on a four-count charge bordering on disturbance.

    According to the court document, the charges against the former governor was contrary to section 114 of the Penal Code, disturbance of public peace and contrary to section 113 of the Penal Code, defamation of character punishable under section 392 of the Penal Code and criminal intimidation punishable under section 397 of the Penal Code.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Lamido was on Sunday arrested by the police for allegedly inciting his supporters to violence ahead of the upcoming Local Government Elections.

    Following his arrest, Lamido was taken to neighbouring Kano State, where he was kept in police custody.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Lamido on Tuesday, was driven to Dutse for his trial amid heavy security.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the former minister of foreign affairs had however stated that he was being persecuted for declaring to run for the 2019 presidential elections.

  • Executive/Legislative faceoff: APC warns Sagay, other appointees to stop unsavoury comments

    Executive/Legislative faceoff: APC warns Sagay, other appointees to stop unsavoury comments

    The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has urged the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, PACAC, Itse Sagay, to henceforth recognize the independence of the National Assembly as a separate arm of government and henceforth put a stop to his unsavoury comments on its members.

    The party, in a statement on Wednesday, by its spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, said its call is based on efforts being made to resolve the rift between the Executive and the National Assembly.

    Apart from Sagay, the APC also asked all government appointees to “stop making statements that may further worsen the relationship between the two arms of government and derail the Party’s effort to make peace”.

    The party on Wednesday said it acknowledges the fatherly role being played by President Buhari to resolve outstanding issues with the National Assembly, by setting up a high-level committee led by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

    “We believe the comments attributed to Prof. Sagay are uncalled for, regrettable and could further complicate the relationship between these vital arms of government.

    “Our expectation would be that as a Law Professor of repute, Prof. Sagay would appreciate the need to not denigrate the institutions of democracy, be it the Executive, Legislature or Judiciary,” the party said.

    It also said as an appointee of the President, it expects the don to key into his principal’s temper and help him to make friends that would make his job easier and not make enemies of people who, by virtue of the position they occupy under the nation’s law, are critical to the running of government and the nurturing of democracy.

    The party said it objects to Sagay’s call on the Senate to withdraw invitation extended to him.

    “As someone appointed by our government, we find this kind of posturing unacceptable and potentially injurious to the peace efforts by the party.

    “The party wishes to reiterate its earlier position admonishing all elected or appointed officials of our government to desist from utterances that may endanger efforts to build harmonious relationship between the two arms of government. Prof. Sagay should not operate outside this admonition,” the party said.

    The party also expressed happiness with the meeting it had with the Senate Caucus on Tuesday and said is confident that all the issues raised will be addressed. It also urged the National Assembly to further intensify its efforts to ensure timely passage of the 2017 budget.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Sagay had last week criticised the Senate for refusing to approve the 27 Resident Electoral Commissioner, RECs nominees sent by President Buhari.

    Sagay said the Senate would regret its decision to threaten the presidency.

    However, in a defence, the Senate said its decision is based on the president’s refusal to effect its recommendation on the removal of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.

    The decision of the Senate did not go down well the Sagay hence his outburst against the Senate.

    The Senate however passed a resolution asking its committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate the comments made by Sagay.

    The Committee subsequently invited the PACAC chairman to appear before it.

    However, the Sagay on Tuesday wrote to Senate President Bukola Saraki asking him to direct the committee to withdraw its summon on him or he would sue them.

    Sagay said his criticism was anchored on Section 171(1) of the Constitution, which empowered the President to appoint any person to hold or act as head of any extra-ministerial department.

    He said though he was not served with any summons, he deemed it fit to join issues with members of the Senate on the violation of his fundamental right to freedom of expression.

    The rights, he said, were guaranteed by Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    He also said Section 88 of the Constitution under which the Senate purportedly summoned him is subject to other provisions of the Constitution, including Section 39, which guarantees freedom of expression.

     

  • Instagram adds features people have been waiting for

    Instagram adds features people have been waiting for

    Instagram on Tuesday announced a slew of long-requested changes to the popular photo-sharing platform, including new options for users to turn off comments and remove followers from private accounts.

    The company said in a blog post that the new tools are part of its efforts to encourage “positivity” and make the app a safe and “welcoming place for everyone”.

    The updates, coming in the next few weeks, include two new comment control features that give users the ability to turn comments off on any post and like comments by tapping a heart icon.

    Instagram has also enabled a feature that lets private account holders remove followers.

    “In the past, once you approved a follower, there was no simple way to undo that decision without blocking them,” Instagram CEO, Kevin Systrom, wrote in the blog post.

    Users can also anonymously report posts from friends who they believe may be about to harm themselves. An Instagram team will review the reports and connect the reported user to groups that offer help.