PDP NOW MAJORITY IN SENATE AS 15 MEMBERS DUMP APC

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is now the majority political party in the Nigerian Senate following the defection of 15 former members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, announced the defections during Tuesday’s Plenary at the floor of the Senate.

Consequently, the APC now has 48 members, while the PDP members are now 58. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has one member – Victor Umeh from Anambra State, while two seats are vacant following the deaths of their occupiers.

Those whose defections were announced on Tuesday include: Dino Melaye, Rabiu Kwankwanso, Isa Misau, Usman Nafada, Suleiman Hunkuyi, Mohammed Shittu, Suleiman Nazif.

Others are: Barnabas Gemade, Shaaba Lafiaji, Rafiu Ibrahim, Ibrahim Danbaba, Lanre Tejuoso, Monsurat Sunmonu, Adesoji Akanbi and Abdulazeez Nyako

Earlier on Tuesday, Saraki’s Abuja residence, as well as that of the Deputy President, Ike Ekweremadu, were barricaded by security agencies.

“As I am talking to you, I cannot access the street. They have barricaded the road and I cannot say his whereabouts now,” said Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki’s spokesman at the time.

Similarly, Uche Anichukwu, media aide to Ekweremadu confirmed that his principal was barricaded by security agents. “The house is currently surrounded by security agencies since early in the morning,” he said.

The siege was later lifted and both men were allowed to attend Tuesday’s plenary.

Many of the defectors were once members of the PDP, including  Kwankwanso, Gemade, Nyako, Nafada, and had defected to the APC prior to the 2015 general election. Melaye, who had served as a House of Representatives member on the platform of the PDP, left in 2011 to join the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), which later merged with two other parties to form the APC in 2013.

Tuesday’s defection did not come as a surprise to many given that many of the defectors had broken away to form a faction in the APC, called the Reformed APC (R-APC). The law stipulates that one could decamp from one’s political party only if there is a split in the party.

Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the APC, and President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as other leaders of the party have held several meetings with members of the R-APC in order to dissuade them from leaving the party, but the defections on Tuesday show that their pleadings fell on deaf ears.

HOW APC SENATORS WERE WELCOMED TO PDP AFTER DEFECTION (SEE PHOTOS)

Yesterday Some APC Senators defected to PDP at the Red Halowed chamber of the National Assembly. Not less than thirty-two (32) APC senators had defected to the opposition PDP on Tuesday, with another four to the ADC..

And here are few photos of how they were welcomed amidst jubilation and hands clapping, below...

The question now remains, whether all these rounds and circles of defection draws any benefit to the common man on the street.? Who benefits from the defections? The, nation, the people or the politicians? 

JOS MARKET FIRE: I’M DEVASTATED BY LOSSES HARDWORKING NIGERIANS SUFFER - BUHARI

President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the victims of the market fire which occurred on Saturday in Jos, Plateau State capital.

President Buhari said he was “devastated by the scale of economic losses suffered by hard working and ordinary Nigerians who believe in self-reliance to support themselves.”

In the condolence message which was signed on Sunday by the President’s Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari added that every democratic leader will genuinely feel the pains the victims of the fire.

“Trading and agriculture remain the mainstay of these hardworking businessmen and women and every democratic leader would genuinely feel the pains of the victims of this fire disaster.

“With profound sense of empathy, I am touched by the large-scale economic losses suffered by the victims of this fire disaster. The role of these enterprising Nigerians in the economy of our country cannot be underestimated,” the President said.

President Buhari expressed worry at the scale of fire disaster, he added that “I am confident that your enterprising spirit would help you rebuild your lives. May God replenish you with more prosperity.”

He appealed to the local authorities concerned to take every necessary measure to forestall frequent fire incidents, adding that the incidents were taking a heavy toll on people’s means of livelihood and the intervention of all three tiers of government would go a long way to alleviating the hardships.

Shops and warehouses numbering over 200 were on Saturday destroyed by fire at the popular Terminus market in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

Properties worth millions of naira were also lost to the fire which was said to have started in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The cause is yet to be ascertained, even as the traders are left to count their losses.

ANOTHER FEMALE PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANT DECLARED IN ABUJA; ATTRIBUTES VESTED INTEREST TO NIGERIA’S PROBLEM

Mrs Eunice Atuejide
Female Presidential aspirant under the platform of the National Interest Party (NIP).

A female Presidential aspirant under the platform of the National Interest Party (NIP), Mrs Eunice Atuejide has declared her intention to contest the presidential race comes 2019 general election.

Mrs Atuejire, who made this declaration in Abuja, said her mission to join the race was to rescue the country from the imminent collapse, especially in the area of insecurity which has pervaded many parts of the country.

She, however, lamented that the major problem behind the nation’s growth was vested interest, saying the nation could surmount the hurdles when
people of integrity are elected into the political offices. She also added that the party would not give leadership to aspirants who have nothing to offer its people.

According to her, the true reason the country is not growing as expected after many manifestos are the problem of vested interest. Politicians all have genuine manifestos that can solve the nation’s problems, and we all need to fight this vested interest in Nigeria by consciously fighting for the interest of every Nigerian or our tribes including those ones that are seemingly bad.

“Treat everyone interest with details to allow everyone feels represented to know there is somebody in there fighting for their interest. I promise that my administration would not focus on any ethnic group or religion because nobody’s interest is superior to another person.

“I believe that the complexity of Nigeria can be broken down to a deliberate attempt to keep us divided by the men and women governing us till date. Men and women would are ruled by greed and by an overwhelming degree of selfishness. People who go into government simply to chop their portions of the national cake.

“People who go into government to pay lip service to the manifestos they give the electorates to get them voted into power. Remove these people from power in Nigeria, and we will see how much we have in common and how easy it is to live in peace and harmony with ourselves despite our perceived
difference.” She added.

LADY TRAVELS FROM ABUJA TO “LAGOS” TO HAVE FUN WITH A GUY: SEE WHAT HAPPENED...

A lady who thought she was coming to Lagos to have fun, has revealed her surprise after she claimed she was deceived by a guy she met online. According to her, she met a guy online and decided to visit him in Lagos not knowing he stays in a one room apartment in Ogun state.
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Below are her words according to relationship expert Ben who shared the update. ;
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This guy lied to me about staying in Ikeja, Lagos but Ben he stays in Ogun state in one small room, he even cooks inside the one room, everywhere is just smelling, even my room in Abuja is bigger and neater than this. Now I told him I want to go back but he refused to give me transport saying he is broke he doesn’t have money.
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Since I came, I have been eating yam for the past 3 days now only yam and the yam has finished. Please I need help and advice please. I’m in Sango Bridge sugar, I’m really tired of staying, I want to go back home please I need advice.
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He said he stays in safe contain in Ikeja. I have never been to Lagos before, it was my first time. I didn’t even know I’m in Ogun state until people started saying I’m in Ogun not Lagos. I thought I’m coming to lag to have fun after all he promised me ooooo. I didn’t know I’m coming to suffer”..

PRESIDENCY SAYS NORTHERN ELDERS, OTHERS SELFISH, SHEDDING CROCODILE TEARS

 
The Presidency on Friday came down hard on some leaders who recently faulted the way President Muhamamdu Buhari is handling the nation’s security challenges, describing them as selfish leaders.

Leaders of some socio-cultural organisations led by the Northern Elders Forum, had issued a communique accusing Buhari’s administration of incompetence in handling the security situation in the country.

But the Presidency, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said it considered the communique “as the shedding of crocodile tears by selfish leaders.”

Shehu claimed that the leaders felt alienated after a transparent and accountable system “halted their disproportionate survival on resources of the state.”

He, therefore, urged Nigerians to ignore what he described as the unholy alliance by the groups.

He said the groups were only stepping up their assault on the All Progressives Congress administration as it expands its national dominance and moves closer to securing an outright victory in the elections next year.

He said, “The Presidency notes with dismay that the refrain about President Buhari not doing anything about security in the country had turned into the number one fake news item being peddled in the media.

“The Presidency refers all the purveyors of falsehood to a State House press release published a few days ago and signed by the Special Adviser to President, Femi Adesina, which clearly outlined the government’s major achievements and initiatives in tackling security challenges from January to July, 2018.

“The press release which was titled:

‘COMBATING INSECURITY IN THE COUNTRY: LEST WE FORGET – PRESIDENCY’

listed out ongoing security operations:

(1) Nigerian Army’s Exercise Ayem Akpatuma covering Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Niger States launched in February to tackle cases of kidnappings, herdsmen/farmers’ clashes, among others;

(2) Nigerian Air Force establishment of three new Quick Response Wings (QRW) in Taraba, Nasarawa and Benue States respectively, and deployment of Special Forces personnel.

“The press release also noted President Buhari’s approval for the establishment of a new Battalion of the Nigerian Army, as well as a new Police Area Command, in Birnin Gwari Local Council in Kaduna State, as part of measures to scale up security in response to the banditry affecting the area.

“We advise Nigerians to read Adesina’s statement if they haven’t yet, or re-read it for better understanding of the efforts to ensure peace in the country.

“It is sad and misleading for anyone to say that President Buhari had not responded to the security challenges in the country.

“No one can honestly say that President Buhari is doing nothing about security. It’s just a fake news item being peddled by selfish politicians with vested interests in keeping Nigerians incensed, and it risks being entrenched as reality if we don’t educate ourselves with the truth.”

AFP SAYS NIGERIA ARMY ‘WANTS TO BE SOLE NEWS SOURCE’

The news agency AFP stands by its report that a second jihadist attack on Nigerian troops in as many days was even more deadly and included an army base being overrun.

It adds that hundreds of troops are unaccounted for after the attack.

The Nigerian military’s dismissive response to this report is typical of its default stance of downplaying or denying losses.

It wants to be the sole source of news from the front line, and pits the media as purveyors of unfounded and unverified claims.

There have been genuine, laudable military successes in this campaign – but the force has also hurt its own credibility with some inaccurate or even untrue accounts.

It claims that residents of north-east Nigeria have nothing to fear, yet it restricts media access to certain parts of the region.

It wants journalists to trumpet its gains against what it considers a rag-tag militia – but also go silent on the continuing attacks on civilians and soldiers.

The Nigeria military describes its “gallant” troops as being in high spirits, yet for years we have had multiple accounts from those on the frontline complaining of being ill-equipped and even poorly fed.

Despite the much-repeated assertion of having defeated Islamist militant group Boko Haram, the insurgency is into its ninth year.

2019: BUHARI, APC, GOVERNORS WOO SARAKI WITH JUICY OFFERS

 
There were strong indications that President Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress and governors are considering juicy offers for the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to prevent his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It was learnt that some prominent leaders of the party, especially the coordinator of the reconciliation initiative, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, might be involved in the negotiation with Saraki.

Tinubu was said to have been briefed about the President’s interaction with Saraki and others.

But Saraki, who bowed well for the President after a meeting at the Presidential Villa, was frank in expressing his mind.

He said he felt humiliated by the party he co-founded and the government he jointly put in place with others.

He was solemn in expressing his disappointment to the President and some APC governors.

Investigation conducted by our correspondent revealed that the President and some APC governors met with the Senate President as a follow-up to the talks with New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) caucus of APC being coordinated in the past few months by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

It was gathered that most APC leaders, governors and other members were unhappy that the party was on the verge of losing Saraki to PDP.

They believed that the defection of such a “political heavyweight” to the opposition might affect cohesion in APC for the 2019 poll.

The consequences of a depleted APC impelled some governors and party leaders to broker understanding between the President and Saraki.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “At least, for the first time, there was a frank session between the President and Saraki.

“He expressed disappointment with his humiliation by the government he fought hard to put in place.

“We were all sober while he relived his travails, because none of us would pray to be in such a situation.

“We understood with him but we felt it was time to forgive and forget in order to move forward.

“As part of preventing Saraki’s defection, we may offer him juicy terms including:

.Automatic return as the President of the Senate in 2019

.More consultation and inclusiveness in key decisions henceforth

.Mutual Executive-Legislature relationship

.Revisiting all issues raised by nPDP Caucus which formed the basis of talks in the past few months

.Reconciling with all aggrieved leaders of nPDP

.Avoiding a repeat of past mistakes which led to his humiliation

“We also appeal to Saraki to shelve moves to defect to PDP or any other party. We agreed that he has a better stake in APC than any other party.”

Asked if Saraki made any commitment, the source added: “There was none yet, but the atmosphere was cordial and hopeful.

“After the meeting, he even bowed well to the President.

“The session was the climax of talks in the past few months. As one of our leaders, we leave the final decision to Saraki to take.

“But one thing was clear from Saraki: he will want all commitments put into writing and documented in case of any breach in the future.

“To some of us who have been wooing him, such a demand is in order. It is a case of once bitten, twice shy.”

Responding to a question, the source said: “The final stage of talks with Saraki will still involve some of our leaders, like Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who is coordinating the reconciliation in the party.

“In fact, Tinubu has been briefed on the outcome of the meeting at the Villa and why he has to play a key role too.”

Some of the major complaints on nPDP are:

Grudges on the conduct of state congresses

Alleged refusal of the party leadership to stamp its feet on parallel congresses in some states

In the constitution of the Federal Executive Council, (FEC) the New PDP block was generally sidelined as virtually no position was conceded to it. The only member of FEC that belonged to former New PDP block comes from a state that contributed virtually no vote to the APC in the 2015 presidential election.

There has been no significant patronage and appointments to executive positions in various government agencies such as Chief Executives and Executive Directors of government agencies and parastatals as members of our block of the party continue to helplessly watch as these positions are shared by the erstwhile CPC, ACN, ANPP and even APGA blocks of the party and those who have no party at all.

In appointments into boards of various government agencies, very few former New PDP members were patronised. These are, however, not commensurate with our contributions to the growth and victory of the party.

When members of the former New PDP block showed interest in running for the offices of President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, they were subjected to a vicious and relentless political opposition as if they were not legitimate members of the APC family.

During the party primaries preparatory to the 2015 general elections, most of the promises made to sitting members of the National Assembly, who belonged to the former new PDP in terms of a level playing field were reneged upon or observed more in breach.

There has been general lack of consultation, non-recognition and even persecution of former New PDP members and leaders by the party and government. For example, some of our leaders are denied the security cover necessary to visit their constituencies even though they are elected representatives of the people in a government they sacrificed so much for.

Harassment, intimidation and persecution of former New PDP leaders by the government is still an ongoing affair. We do not want to overstate the obvious by cataloguing names of former new PDP stalwarts that are targets of this political pogrom.

2BABA (TUFACE) SUES BLACKFACE FOR 50 MILLION NAIRA OVER “AFRICAN QUEEN”

Prominent Nigerian artiste Innocent Ujah Idibia, ordinarily known as 2baba has put a 50million naira claim on his previous companion and bandmate Blackface.

Blackface blamed 2baba for taking his tune from him after their band plantashun boiz separated.

2baba and Blackface Naija have been battling via web-based networking media throughout the years on the first proprietor of the tune “African queen”.

In May 2017, 2baba undermined to sue Blackface with legitimate activity except if the last apologized for criticism of character.

Be that as it may, after some time 2baba still pushed forward with his dangers and sued Blackface.

Blackface shared a claim picture on instagram which was requesting that he show up in court. He composed on his inscription:
“2face idibia @official2baba and his director Efe Omorogbe @efeomorogbe sued me for 50Million They assert I didnt compose #letsomebodyloveyou and #africanqueen and what else?? Pretty much time me and my #legalteam petitioned for #mydefence After which I will discharge my collection #risingsun (defendervol2) #BFNfans #BFNmovement #goodoverevil #lightoverdarkness 🙏.”

A post shared by Mr BFN (@blackfacenaija)

HND, DEGREE HOLDERS TO GET EQUAL SALARIES

The Federal Government has approved the regularisation of the dichotomy between holders of University degrees and Higher National Diploma (HND) in all the Services.

This followed the meeting of the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Board (CDFIPB), on July 11, chaired by the Minister of Interior, retired Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau.

A statement from the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Abubakar Magaji, said: “The Board has directed that all officers with HND to be upgraded to COMPASS 08, which is the salary Grade Level for holders of degree certificates at entry point. While the nomenclature for the HND holders will start with the rank of Senior Inspector, the Degree holders are with the rank of Assistant Superintendent II”.

The Board also approved the commencement of the 2017 promotion exercise for all the Services with effect from July 17, while the establishment of the Institute of Domestic Security, aimed at strengthening inter-agency cooperation among other functions was also approved by the Board to boost internal security mechanism in the country.

In another development, the government approved the re-organisation of the Nigeria Immigration Service, in line with the provision of the Immigration Act which stipulates the establishment of the Directorate of Immigration.

The directorates, which would each be headed by a Deputy Comptroller-General, include human resources management; finance and accounts; planning, research and statistics; passport and other travel documents; investigation and compliance; border management; migration as well as visa and residency.

The Minister noted that the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration places a high premium on the welfare of its workforce.

He, however, urged personnel in the Services to reciprocate such gesture through improved performance and dedication to duty, in line with the Executive Order on the Ease of Doing Business to revamp the economy.