BREAKING: SENATE DECLARES 2 SEATS VACANT, RETAINS DARIYE’S SEAT

Senate (Hallowed) Chamber

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday, July 17, 2018, declared seats of deceased lawmakers vacant.

The senators - Mustapha Bukar of Katsina North senatorial district and Ali Wakili of Bauchi South senatorial district - died on April 4, 2018 and March 17, 2018, respectively.

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Yakubu Mahmood, said the House of Representatives also declared the seat of late Umar Jibril of Lokoja/Kogi federal constituency vacant.

Speaking at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners in Abuja, Mahmood added that the Obudu 1 state constituency of Cross River state had also been declared vacant.

He said the by-elections for the vacant seats will be conducted in the next 30 days.

Mahmood said: “In the last few days the commission has received an official declaration of vacancies from the National Assembly in respect of Bauchi south senatorial district, Katsina north senatorial district and the Lokoja federal constituency in Kogi state.

“A similar declaration was made by the Cross River state House of Assembly in respect of Obudu 1 state constituency. Consequently, the commission is set to conduct by-elections to fill the vacancies in the four constituencies which have a total of over two million registered voters spread across 3,355 polling units in 234 wards and 22 local government areas.

“Considering the requirement of the law that such an election should be conducted by the commission within 30 days following the declaration of vacancy, we are planning to conduct all the four elections on the same date in all the four states.

However, the seat of a former governor of Plateau state Joshua Dariye was not declared vacant by the eighth Assembly.

Dariye who is representing Plateau Central senatorial district was sentenced to 14-years jail term by a Federal High Court.

Reacting to the Senate's decision, the chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Itse Sagay, stated that it would be wrong if Dariye was still receiving allowances while in prison.

“I don’t think he should be receiving salaries because this would be a major infraction of our laws. Someone who is in prison for fraud which is one of the reasons for disqualifying anyone from contesting should not be receiving salary unless someone is extremely reckless in the National Assembly," Sagay said.

The appeal by the PDP followed Dariye's his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday, September 22.

The party told INEC that Dariye’s action was unconstitutional and should be dealt with appropriately.

ROWDY SENATE AS SENATORS DISAGREE OVER CONFIRMATION OF FERMA BOARD NOMINEES

Senate (Hallowed) Chamber

 

Lawmakers in the Senate disagreed on Thursday over the confirmation of members of the Governing Board for the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

This occurred after Senate President Bukola Saraki read a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari at the plenary in which he sought legislative approval for the appointments of the candidates.

In the letter, President Buhari indicated that the six geopolitical zones of the country were represented in the board.

But the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, raised a constitutional point of order as he objected to the chairmanship of the board.

He cited nepotism and drew the attention of the Senate to previous appointments of the President where the leadership comprised of one section of the country, saying such is contrary to the Federal Character.

The Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, however, called on the lawmakers to see the larger picture where the six geopolitical zones were represented.

This sparked some dissenting reactions from some members, but calm was eventually restored when the Senate President ruled against further debate on the matter.

Senator Saraki consequently referred the matter to the Committee on Federal Character to guide the Senate appropriately on how to address the issue.

The committee was directed to report back to the House on Tuesday next week.

Soon after the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki read a letter from President Buhari on the appointment of former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Tunde Lemo as Chairman, Board of Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, the Managing director and six others as members, the deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu raised a point of order.Senator Ekwerenadu who referred the Senate to section 14(3) of 1999 Constitution, picked holes in the appointments of chairmen of boards without recourse to federal character principle, with a particular zone of the country which us South east being neglected and marginalised.

According to Senator Ekweremadu, the action of President Buhari was totally unacceptable to him because the leadership of these agencies were coming from a particular part of the country.
Ekweremadu who noted that he was not against anyone, but against the non adherence to federal character principle in line with the constitution and for national unity.

At this point, Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan in his intervention said that whenever the government sends a list containing the list of appointments, the government does its work very well.

It was at this point that the hallowed chamber became very rowdy as there were reactions, shouts from the Senators.

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki tried to bring down the tension and the rowdy nature, describing the issue as speculations.

Saraki then gave Senator Tijani Kaura, APC, Zamfara led Committee on Federal Character time to investigate the issues raised by the deputy Senate President and report back at plenary next week Tuesday, adding that the probe would ascertain if there were such cases or not.

Another round of uproar erupted when the Senate leader, Ahmad Lawan read executive communication for the screening of the Chairman and Commissioners of the Federal Civil Service Commission with Dr. Bello Tukur Ingawa from Katsina as Chairman.

Senator Chukwuka Utazi, PDP, Enugu North came under Order 15 still on the same subject matter saying that the screening should be kept in ambience until the Senate Committee on Federal character comes up with its report.

Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, PDP, Abia North corroborated Senator Utazi, calling for putting on hold the of screening and confirmation.

Senator Obinna Ogba, PDP, Ebonyi also came up with a similar position.

While he was talking, there were shouts from his colleagues and this prompted Ogba to shout back that they were not the ones presiding, but the Senate President.

PRESIDENT BUHARI CLOSED DOOR MEETING WITH VICE PRESIDENT OSINBAJO, SENATE PRESIDENT SARAKI, EKITI GOVERNOR-ELECT FAYEMI, AND SOME GOVERNORS AT THE Villa (PHOTOS)

President Muhammadu Buhari today met  with Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Governors in State House.
Details of the meeting is not yet public but we shall furnish you as they unfold...

WHY I DRIVE A 2008 MODEL VEHICLE — BANKY W

Pop singer, Olubankole Wellington, popularly known as Banky W, has hit back at some women who insulted him for allegedly owning a 1999 sports utility vehicle.

The incident, which happened three days ago, showed the musician being filmed by two women at a grocery store who apparently felt the vehicle he was driving was not suitable for someone in his class, whereas raining insults at him as he was offloading goods into his vehicle.

In response to the “cringe worthy, creepy video” as described by the artiste, he revealed that the vehicle was in fact not a 1999 model but a 2008 own and it was currently on sale to the highest bidder.

“The 2008 Range is up for auction. We’re using the car sale to raise money for a worthy cause, so we’ll start the bidding at one million naira only,” Banky said.

He noted that he still drove a 2008 model SUV due to the need to own a nice home before a newer car.

 “You see, I’ve never found it necessary to own more than one car. Mostly because I can only ever drive one car at a time; and when I bought the car in 2011, I promised myself that I would never buy another car until I owned the home I live in.

“To me, owning a nice car might help me look like I was doing okay, but owning a nice home would help me know,” he added.

Banky said as the car went from being “kind-of-trendy” to being just old, he decided to get a smaller vehicle and remained adamant at getting a nicer model until he got a house of his own.

In reaction, Don Jazzy said: “disgusting shallow minded good for nothing people that will never succeed in life. No, be curse but if that’s how they think then I’m really sorry for them.”

NEW MINIMUM WAGE: TUC SPEAKS ON AMOUNT AGREED WITH FG

Mr Bobboi Kaigama

The President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Mr Bobboi Kaigama, announced on Wednesday that a new amount agreed by the Federal Government and labour to serve as Nigeria’s new minimum wage would be announced next month.

Bobboi, who made the disclosure in an interview with the labour correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said that the committee working on the minimum wage had almost concluded negotiations on the matter.

The Federal Government had set a September date to roll out a new minimum wage for workers, although the Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, was recently reported as “double-speaking” on the issue.

Civil servants in Nigeria are eagerly awaiting a wage increase after years of enduring a wage structure, described by analysts as one of the lowest in the world.

But public office holders in Africa’s most populous nation, including members of the bi-cameral parliament enjoy some of the biggest wages in the world, according to analysts.

Kaigama said that a tripartite committee meeting was holding on Wednesday in Abuja but refused to elaborate on issues being discussed at the meeting.

“The tripartite meeting is holding today but I do not want to pre-empt the outcome or the level we have reached in our discussions, otherwise there will be unnecessary anxiety.

”But by the end of August, I am assuring you that workers will know what the agreed new minimum wage will be”, he said.

On November 22, 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the appointment of a 30-member committee to work out a new minimum wage. He inaugurated the committee on November 27, 2017.

2019: ASARI DOKUBO DISMISSES FAYOSE , TAMBUWAL, REVEALS PDP’s BEST CANDIDATE

Ex-militant leader in the Niger Delta, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, has advised the Peoples Democratic Party on the choice of presidential candidate ahead of the 2019 election.

Asari, who spoke with Sun believes that only former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has the credentials to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, come 2019.

Speaking on other candidates indicating interest under the umbrella of the PDP, Asari, said mentioning names such as Tambuwal, Sule Lamido, and others shows that the main opposition party is not ready for the election.

His words, “Yes, the PDP is not ready for a fight. If the PDP is ready for a fight, there won’t be talks of Tambuwal candidature, someone who is a governor in APC. He destroyed PDP and ran to APC. They are talking of Tambuwal, who knows him in Bayelsa?

“PDP governors are lobbying a character like that to join the PDP and contest for the presidential ticket. They are talking of Makarfi, a man who could not win Senate election; a man who during the 2015 presidential election allegedly voted for Buhari and showed his ballot paper to the people before putting it in the box.

“Such a man is the one some PDP people are lobbying to get on the presidential ticket.

“Sule Lamido is not different from Buhari. He is one of these arrogant Fulani people who feel they own this country and the rest of us are just like appendages.

“Yes, I was in the SDP with Atiku Abubakar. He is the most liberal of all the people coming from the North. He has his own baggage. Let us look at other people. What are people like David Mark doing that they can’t contest?

“Is it that they are not courageous enough to come and fight? So everybody in the North would abdicate to the Fulani. Other Northerners are even afraid to take their liberty even when we have told them that we have taken our liberty and they should take theirs.”

On Fayose, he added, “Yes, he has signified his intention but it is not going to fly. Who is going to run Fayose’s election for him? Whose money is going to be used?

“The South West does not vote heavily. The percentage of voters is low. Ekiti state where Fayose is governor has one of the lowest voting population.

“The other voters in South West are in the hands of the APC. For me, David Mark would have been the very best for PDP to galvanise the swing nationalities; those people outside Hausa, Fulani and Yoruba and bring them together to join with the Igbo and some other liberal Yoruba people.

“But if David Mark is not there, among the Fulani if the PDP insists on having a Fulani to become its presidential candidate, Atiku is their best bet.

“We also have Ibrahim Shekarau, a very honest and cerebral man. But does he have resources because election demands resources. At the end of the day, a lot of people do not know Shekarau in the South.

“Atiku already has platforms across Nigeria and whatever it is he can fight more. Aside that, he has also talked about restructuring and as an Ijaw man, we want to engage him, what he means by restructuring. If PDP is looking for somebody with a war chest to fight and that would attract a lot of people from the APC, it is Atiku.”

AYODELE FAYOSE WILL FACE CRIMINAL TRIAL AFTER LEAVING OFFICE - EFCC

Gov Ayo FAYOSE             Ibrahim Magul

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has said the outgoing governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, will face criminal trial at the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti at the expiration of his tenure.

The anti-graft agency, made the a statement on Monday, July 16, when reacting to condemnation that trailed a tweet on its official Twitter handle that it would resurrect a poultry scandal involving the governor.

Speaking on the controversy generated by the tweet which has been deleted, EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, told Premium Times that only the court could clear Fayose of his criminal trial after leaving office. “While it is true that there is a subsisting criminal charge against Governor Fayose, the fate of the charge will be determined by the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti, at the expiration of his tenure, not the EFCC,” Uwujaren said.

The statement by the anti-graft agency read: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has observed with interest, reactions to a tweet that purportedly appeared on the Commission’s Twitter handle July 15, announcing the imminent revival of the criminal case against Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State.

"In the opinion of most commentators, the tweet coming a few hours after Fayose’s protege, Kolapo Olusola of the People’s Democratic Party lost the governorship election to his All progressives Congress rival, Kayode Fayemi, betrayed the partisanship of the EFCC in the political contest in Ekiti State.
"Against the background, Commission is constrained to state that the purported tweet does not represent the views of the EFCC.

As a law enforcement organization the Commission is apolitical and was not involved in the recent Ekiti election. It therefore has no reason to gloat over the political misfortune of any candidate or political god-father. "While it is true that there is a subsisting criminal charge against Governor Fayose, the fate of the charge will be determined by the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti, at the expiration of his tenure, not the EFCC." 

Meanwhile, Prof Itse Sagay (SAN), the chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), has allegedly said that Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state has committed grievous sins in the last four years and will surely account for his actions someday.

According to Daily Independent, Sagay said Fayose through his language, attitude and actions has been sinning against God especially by wishing death upon President Muhammadu Buhari during his illness. The senior lawyer said Fayose had committed a lot of sins in office; in his attitude, in his language, in his behaviour and actions.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRIDE PRICE, DOWRY AND DOWER

It's disheartening that people misuse BRIDE PRICE, DOWRY AND DOWER most often. Hence the need to clarify these words and help people understand and use correctly. First let's talk about bride price.

BRIDE PRICE  is a payment of specified amount of money or other acceptable consideration, by the groom (husband) or his family to the bride's (wife's) parents for the sole reason of formalizing traditional marriage. The money paid is called BRIDE PRICE.

DOWRY is the wealth transferred from the BRIDE'S (wife's) family to the groom (husband) or his family, ostensibly for the bride. In some societies, an amount of money or property that a woman's (wife's) parents give to the man (husband) she marries. In some cultures, the wife give gifts of wrapper to the husband after payment of the bride price. That gift from the bride to her husband is what is known as DOWRY.

Similarly, DOWER is the gift or property given to the bride herself (not her parents), by the groom (husband) at the time of marriage, and the said gift or property remains under the ownership and control of the bride (wife) only. It's a marriage gift from the husband to his bride. Some husband's give gifts of car, land or house to the bride after payment of bride price to her parents. That gift is what is called DOWER.

EKITI GOVERNOR-ELECT FAYEMI CELEBRATES WITH GOVERNORS AFTER HIS VICTORY AT THE POLLS. PHOTOS

The All Progressives Congress, (APC) candidate in the Ekiti governorship election, Dr Kayode Fayemi, won the governorship election according to the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission in majority of the 16 local councils in the state.

The former minister won in 11 out of the 16 local government areas of the state, polling 197,459 votes, and edging out his closest rival Olusola who got 178,121 votes by 19,338 votes.

Fayemi along with his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi were joined by governors of Ogun, Kebbi and Jigawa states; Ibikunle Amosun, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Badaru Abubakar and others to celebrate the election victory.

EDEN HAZARD HINTS REAL MADRID MOVE AND DISCUSSES CHELSEA EXIT

Eden Hazard

Having starred for Belgium at the World Cup, the playmaker has suggested it might be time to 'discover something different'

Eden Hazard cast fresh doubt over his Chelsea future as the Belgium star appeared to confirm his interest in a move to Real Madrid.

New Blues boss Maurizio Sarri faces a battle to keep the forward, who believes his World Cup performances warrant him the Golden Ball and the right to choose his next destination.

The 27-year-old signed off from a successful campaign in Russia with his third goal of the tournament as Belgium beat England 2-0 in the third-place play-off in St Petersburg on Saturday .

About his future at club level after the game, Hazard told reporters they already know his preferred destination amid reports he could be a potential replacement for the departed Cristiano Ronaldo in Madrid.

"After six wonderful years at Chelsea it might be time to discover something different," Hazard said.

"Certainly, after this World Cup, I can decide if I want to stay or go, but Chelsea will have the final decision.

"You know my preferred destination."

Afforded a free role in behind Romelu Lukaku, Hazard was one of the most influential players at the World Cup.

After helping the Red Devils surpass their previous best of fourth, he feels his performances should earn him the title of the tournament's best player.

"Deserving it… well, it would be showing off to say I deserve it but yes, I do think I deserve it with my performances in the matches," he said about his chances of securing the Golden Ball.

"But there are other players in the World Cup, some who will play the final tomorrow, so it is not really important for me.

"If I get it I will be very happy and if I don’t get it I will be happy with the World Cup we have played".