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  • Impeachment saga: Drama as Speaker Pelosi rips Trumps State of the Union Speech

    Impeachment saga: Drama as Speaker Pelosi rips Trumps State of the Union Speech

    A bitter feud between U.S. President Donald Trump and top Democrat Nancy Pelosi boiled over at his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, with Trump denying her a handshake and Pelosi ripping apart a copy of his remarks behind his back.

    Trump avoided the subject of his impeachment drama in a pugnacious 80-minute speech, but the scars from the battle were evident with fellow Republicans giving him standing ovations while rival Democrats for the most part remained seated.

    The Republican-led Senate was expected to acquit him of charges he abused his powers and obstructed Congress during a vote beginning at 4 p.m. EST (2100 GMT) on Wednesday.

    Seeing Pelosi, the U.S. House of Representatives speaker, for the first time since she stormed out of a White House meeting four months ago, Trump declined to shake her outstretched hand as he gave her a paper copy of his remarks before starting to speak.

    Despite having not spoken to Trump since their last meeting, Pelosi appeared to be taken aback. She avoided citing the customary “high privilege and distinct honor” that usually accompanies the speaker’s introduction of the president to Congress.

    “Members of Congress, the President of the United States” was all she said in introducing Trump.

    When his speech ended, Pelosi stood and tore up her copy of the remarks he had handed her, later telling reporters it was “the courteous thing to do, considering the alternative.”

    Kayleigh McEnany, Trump’s campaign spokeswoman, said of Pelosi: “Her hatred for @realdonaldtrump has blinded her to the repulsive nature of her smug, elitist behaviour.”

    The tension was a sign that little legislative progress should be expected with the presidential election nine months away. The impeachment case has intensified bitter feelings between Trump and Pelosi that have existed throughout his presidency.

    As he began the speech, Republicans from both houses of Congress chanted “four more years” while he stood at the lectern in the chamber of the House.

    Democrats sat silently and some could be seen shaking their heads as Trump declared, “The state of our union is stronger than ever before.”

    Pelosi, who dropped her opposition to impeachment and allowed Democratic lawmakers to seek the charges against him, sat stoically and grim-faced behind Trump and paged through a paper copy of his speech.

    Trump entered the chamber with Democrats experiencing some measure of chaos after technical glitches delayed the results of voting in Iowa on Monday as the party seeks a nominee to face the incumbent Republican.

    Trump presented himself as a big improvement over Democratic President Barack Obama, whom he succeeded three years ago, saying he had bolstered U.S. economic growth and increased jobs.

    “In just three short years we have shattered the mentality of American decline and we have rejected the downsizing of America’s destiny,” he said.

    The House impeachment managers, acting as prosecutors in the Senate impeachment trial, were seated together at the front of the Democrats’ section.

    Many House Democratic women wore white for a second year in a row, a sign of the suffragist movement that won women the right to vote 100 years ago. Several Democratic lawmakers refused to attend the annual speech to protest Trump, such as liberal firebrand Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

    Trump, using the speech to lay out his vision for a second four-year term, said a Democratic plan to expand government-funded health insurance amounted to a “socialist takeover” that would bankrupt the country, cut benefits for those who have them now and provide care to illegal immigrants.

    Democratic presidential candidates and many lawmakers have proposed healthcare plans that would be run by the government, a sharp departure from the current, private system in which millions of Americans receive medical insurance from their employers.

    Trump’s lack of a healthcare plan has left him open to criticism that he has not put enough work into finding a way to reduce rising insurance costs that burden middle-class Americans.

    “We will never let socialism destroy American healthcare!” Trump said.

    Democratic women stood and chanted “HR 3” – a reference to a Democratic bill that would lower drug costs.

    In the Democratic response to Trump’s speech, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in excerpts of her remarks: “Democrats are trying to make your healthcare better. Republicans in Washington are trying to take it away.”

    Trump offered an upbeat portrayal of his presidency in hopes of persuading Americans to give him another four-year term in the Nov. 3 election.He saluted surprise guest Juan Guaido, the Venezuelan opposition leader, and made cancer-stricken conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh an immediate recipient of the presidential Medal of Freedom, Trump’s wife Melania pinning the ribbon around Limbaugh’s neck.

    Trump also revived his arguments that migrants should be stopped from crossing the southern U.S. border and that so-called “sanctuary cities” where migrants are protected are wrong. His immigration policies are opposed by Democrats.

    Pelosi could be seen shaking her head as Trump spoke of his views on immigration.

    After coming close to a broad conflict with Iran after he ordered the killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, Trump said, “We are working to end America’s wars in the Middle East.”

  • Okada ban: Unrest in Iyana Ipaja as Okada riders, police clash

    Okada ban: Unrest in Iyana Ipaja as Okada riders, police clash

    There has been a riot in Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos State on Wednesday over the ban enforced on motorcycle (Okada) and tricycle (Keke) operators in the state.

    According to a video circulating online from the scene of the occurrence, people were seen running helter-skelter.

     

    The protesters also light bonfires and disrupted business activities in the area.

     

    Nigerians on Twitter have also reacted over the sad occurrence.

     

    Details later…

     

  • Buhari lied: 90% of Boko Haram’s victims are not Muslims – Fani-Kayode

    Critic and former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has branded President Muhammadu Buhari a liar for saying that 90 per cent of Boko Haram’s victims are Muslim.

    Buhari had on Tuesday said 90 per cent of all Boko Haram’s victims in the past years have been Muslims.

    The president, in an article published in ‘Speaking Out,’ a guest opinion column for “Christianity Today”, said that the perception that members of the sect were always targeting Christians in Nigeria was not true.

    “It is the reality that some 90 per cent of all Boko Haram’s victims have been Muslims,” Buhari said.

    “They include a copycat abduction of over 100 Muslim schoolgirls, along with their single Christian classmate, shootings inside mosques; and the murder of two prominent imams.

    “It is a simple fact that these now-failing terrorists have targeted the vulnerable, the religious, the non-religious, the young, and the old without discrimination, ” Buhari said.

    Reacting to this development, Fani-Kayode said Buhari was lying about the matter as majority of communities being attacked were dominated by Christians.

    “This is a lie.The overwhelming majority of communities that Boko Haram targets are Christian.The same with the Fulani militias.

    “The killing of Christians in Nigeria is a common blood sport which shall continue as long as Buhari is President,” he stated.

  • [Video] Female bike rider gets car gift after her viral speech against ‘Okada’ ban

    [Video] Female bike rider gets car gift after her viral speech against ‘Okada’ ban

    The Kokun Foundation gifted a lady identified as Sandra a car, after she went viral in an interview she did to speak against the ban of commercial motorcycles in Lagos.

    Sandra, an OND graduate of Accountancy from College of Technology, is currently on her one-year Industrial Training with one of the bike-hailing company as a ‘rider’ and as such, was affected with the sudden #OkadaBan in Lagos State.

    In the viral video, Sandra earnestly pleaded with the Government to regulate the bike services and NOT ban them because there were so many people who would become unemployed and experience a more difficult life due to the ban.

    Sandra also said she was currently doing the job because she wants to save enough money to sponsor her quest for a Higher National Certificate when the time comes.

    It seems her new benefactor, Kokun, came across the video on social media and decided to ease her pain by giving her a brand new car.

    See the emotional video below:

  • Kaduna failed bomber’s father opens up on true identity of son

    Kaduna failed bomber’s father opens up on true identity of son

    Mr Samuel Ezekiel, father of Nathaniel Samuel, the man who was arrested for trying to bomb a Living Faith Church in Kaduna, has confirmed that his son is a Christian, and not a Muslim as being speculated on social media.

    “No! Not even for a single day has he been a Muslim,” Ezekiel said in his Marabar Demishi village, in Kaduna.

    Nathaniel Samuel’s true identity has become a controversy in the social media, with some accusing the police of changing his name to deflect anger against Boko Haram or the muslim community.

    Some reports said Samuel had told the Christian leaders who arrested him at the Winners Chapel branch in Kaduna that he was Mohammed Sani, only for the police to parade him as Nathaniel Samuel.

    Nathaniel Samuel: ton Facebook

    Nathaniel Samuel, left with a DJ. Source Facebook

    But a reporter of Daily Trust who visited the father along with the Kaduna state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Joseph Hayab found otherwise.

    Nathaniel was born in 1991 and schooled in the state, his father said. His mother is from Nasarawa state even though she no longer lives with them.

    Mr Ezekiel said his son has been a Christian and not a Muslim even for a single day. He denied that his son bears Mohammed Sani.

    Ezekiel also said he was shocked when he was told that his son carried a bomb into a church because he wondered what would have happened to the lives of people in the church.

    “If he was alone, I don’t care but for the lives that are in the church, I begin to wonder. I shed tears,” he said.

    Reverend Hayab Joseph said he knew the father of the suspect for many years, noting that it’s just that he didn’t know that Nathaniel was the son of Mr. Ezekiel until he visited the house.

    He said CAN is not concerned about Nathaniel’s name or religion but the act of criminality that he would have committed which should be addressed.

    He also expressed disappointment over the failure of the Police to do a thorough check on the suspect’s background, saying that would have saved Nigerians a lot of stress on the identity of the suspect

  • La Liga: Messi criticises Barca sporting director

    Lionel Messi has criticised Barcelona sporting director Eric Abidal for saying players were not working hard under former coach Ernesto Valverde.

    Valverde was sacked in January and replaced by Quique Setien.

    Abidal, a former team-mate of Messi, made the comments in an interview with Spanish newspaper Diario Sport.

    But on Tuesday Messi, 32, responded: “When you talk about players, you have to give names because if not, it gives air to things which are not true.”

    Valverde was sacked when Barcelona were top of La Liga.

    In the newspaper interview Abidal said: “Many players weren’t satisfied or working hard and there was also an internal communication problem.

    “The relationship between the coach and the dressing room has always been good but there are things as an ex-player that I could smell. I told the club what I thought and we reached a decision [on Valverde].”

    Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi responded on Instagram, writing: “Sincerely, I don’t like to do these things but I think that people have to be responsible for their jobs and own their decisions.

    “The players [are responsible] for what happens on the pitch and we are the first to admit when we haven’t been good. The heads of the sports department have to take their responsibilities too and above all own the decisions they make.”

    In his interview with Diario Sport, Abidal also said he thought Messi was happy at the club and a new contract for the Argentine talisman was currently being negotiated.

  • Customs to spend N577m on boreholes, N128m on TVs

    The Senate yesterday approved N238bn budget of the Nigeria Customs Service for the 2020 fiscal year. This followed the presentation of the Service 2020’ budget report by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariffs, Francis Alimikhena.

    Out of the approved sum, N98bn was voted for personnel cost, N15bn for overhead, and N123bn was approved for capital. Details of the budget showed that N128m was set aside for television sets; and N30m for chairs and tables.

    Waste disposal equipment got N3.1bn; scanners, power generating sets, N927mn

    The service will also spend N577m on boreholes and other water facilities; N63 million on the purchase of refrigerators; N173.7m for safe, file cabinets, cupboards and wall clocks while N74m will be spent on photocopiers.

    Before the budget was passed, some senators had dismissed the committee report as lacking details and opposed the budget passage. They said despite getting 7% of its revenue as operational cost, the Customs still collected money from the federation account.

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan warned that the Senate would take punitive measures against agencies of government that were not up to date with their audited accounts.

    Lawan said it was a “sad commentary” that MDAs had not been submitting their audited accounts to the National Assembly, describing the act as unacceptable.

  • Akeredolu urges Buhari to legalise Marijuana

    Akeredolu urges Buhari to legalise Marijuana

    Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu yesterday urged the federal government to legalise marijuana.

    Akeredolu made the demand on Tuesday when he visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja.

    He said his state intends to invest in marijuana solely for the production of drugs in the country.

    Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the governor said part of the purpose of his visit was to invite the president to inaugurate the newly constructed “N5 billion” Ore flyover and the Ondo state industrial hub as part of the activities marking his third year in office.

    On the issue of Amotekun, Akeredolu said he did not support the creation of the initiative because he wants to secure a second term in office.

    “Ondo state has already done enough in terms of security and does not really need Amotekun to be re-elected for a second term as governor,” a statement by Ojo Oyewamide, his spokesman, quoted him as saying.

    Akeredolu added that his administration has begun the payment of the N33,000 minimum wage to the state workers.

    “Ondo Civil servants are the happiest in the country because their salaries are paid promptly and we have commenced the payment of the new minimum wage,” he said

  • EFCC clears air on Shehu Sani’s alleged detention at ‘underground cell’

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has debunked media reports that suspects were being detained in an underground cell in the commission office.

    The clarification came on the heels of a statement credited to a former Senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial district, Shehu Sani, who accused the anti-graft agency of detaining him in an underground cell for 30 days.

    Head of the zonal office, Mr Aminu Aliyu, while leading journalists round the facilities said that such cell does not exist in the commission.

    Aliyu added that the tour was an avenue for journalists to have an insight into the commission’s operations as against some negative insinuation in certain quarters.

    He said that some of the suspects preferred coming back to the cells after arraignment in court than being taken to prison.

    “As you can see for yourself, we do not have underground cells here. Most of the suspects begged the judges to be taken back here because of the facility on ground.

    “They eat normal food and three times a day, we have a clinic here where detainees are first treated in case of an emergency.

    “If anyone of you thinks all these have been arranged, you are welcome to come at any time you chose, to spend time with us and see for yourself.

    “If you want to visit any of our facilities across the country, you don’t need to give us prior notice of your coming. You can even arrange it as a group of reporters if you don’t want to come alone,” he said.

    Journalists were taken round the detention facilities located at the basement of the Idiagbon House, a four-storey building at the Wuse II, Abuja headquarters of the commission

    Journalists were also shown the female and Male cells, in house clinic for emergency cases but were not allowed to interact with the detainees.

  • China’s Coronavirus not as dangerous as Nigeria’s Lassa fever – NCDC DG

    Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, has said despite global concerns about the outbreak of Coronavirus, the disease is not as deadly as the media has painted it.

    He said Lassa fever could be more deadly than Coronavirus.

    Ihekweazu stated this when he addressed members of the House of Representatives Committee on Health Services in Abuja.

    The disease was discovered in China but has spread to about 23 other countries across the globe.

    The NCDC chief said there was no need for travel restriction to and from China due to the fear about the virus.

    He told the lawmakers that the nation was faced with a more deadly disease in Lassa fever than the Coronavirus.

    According to him, Coronavirus is a global disease with far less effect than Lassa fever.

    Ihekweazu said about 364 cases of Lassa fever had been identified in 23 states with 47 deaths.

    The NCDC noted that there might be more of such cases as a result of environmental issues in the country.

    The director general said about one per cent of those affected by Coronavirus had died, adding that the victims were mostly aged persons or those with health-related issues.

    He said human-to-human transmission of the virus had been reported in only three countries outside China.

    Ihekweazu explained that there had been a coordinated international response to the disease, stressing that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had warned against imposing travel and business restrictions against China due to the outbreak of the disease.

    On Lassa fever, the director general said there were no vaccines to control the disease.

    He said the centre was working with some development partners to develop a vaccine for Lassa fever, adding that the first stage of its tests will begin soon.