I CAN’T WORK WITH SARAKI – KWARA STATE PDP CHAIRMAN

Bukola Saraki

The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara state, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, said on Thursday, July 26, that he cannot work with the All Progressives Congress (APC) defectors led by Senate President, Bukola Saraki. 

The Nation reports that he said other members of the party executive committee in Kwara cannot work with the defectors too.

Saraki and the state Governor, AbdulFattah Ahmed, are expected to announce their own defection soon. 

Oyedepo, who spoke on the development during a radio programme in Ilorin, said the national leadership of the PDP has set up a committee to interface between his group and the defectors. 
He said the first meeting is slated for next week.

The PDP chairman, who said he had just returned from a meeting with PDP leaders in Abuja, blamed the party’s national leadership for being allegedly insensitive to the political configuration in Kwara state and allowed themselves to be swayed by funding capacity of the defectors. 

According to him, the option before the leaders is to choose between his group and the one led by Saraki. 

He said: “We have not been opportune to sit down with the Senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the state governor, Alhaji AbdulFattah Ahmed, even though I’m hearing several rumours that I have met with them and that they have offered me juicy positions. "These are all lies, the Senate president despite his humongous wealth, does not have what it takes to buy me. He cannot ever buy me because he cannot buy my integrity. If my bank account is not fat, my integrity account is very fat.

“So they have not met with us but our national body said they have set up a committee to meet with the two sides next week and when that meeting comes up we are going to tell the national leaders that we cannot accept the formula they have put down which is 60:40, 60 percent for a state defecting with the governor and 40 percent for the existing PDP members. "And if they said what of 50:50, or 40:60 or 30:70 or even 10:90, we shall not accept;

we cannot accept any offer. Anything less than our not working together we cannot accept. “So we will tell our national body to choose between us and them and I know that they will not choose us because we don’t have money but we are not worried. We will only know that an end has come to our journey and our relationship (in the PDP).

“If we agree to work with them (Saraki) just imagine myself and (Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed) Maigida standing on the same rostrum pledging to do things for the people. It will be a shame; many people will look at me and wonder what has happened. "So it is better not to be in politics again. Instead of a dog being the treasurer for the lion it is better for both to part ways and go on their separate hunting game.

“The blame is not from the Saraki camp, the blame is from our national leaders in the PDP. Leadership in Nigeria is the conspiracy of the elite to punish the downtrodden.

"When they gave us the party, we inherited nothing and so whatever you see in the PDP today is the product of our efforts. For this alone we should not be interested in defecting from our own house but it is better we do so now and look forward to better future for our dear state.”

RIVERS STATE GOVT ALLEGES SARS THREAT TO WIKE AIDE'S LIFE AS YOUTH PROTESTS

Rivers State Government, RVSG, has alleged threat by men of the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to kill Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on Social Media, Marshal Obuzor.

Rivers Youths after their protest march against SARs Brutality in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

The development Thursday provoked street protest in Port Harcourt by teeming youths in Rivers who called for end to reported recurring SARs brutality and extrajudicial murders across the state.

The SARs Operatives had on Monday, around Mandela Car Wash in Old GRA, Port Harcourt, reportedly entrapped and brutalised Obuzor and inflicted injuries on him with machetes and rods.

The victim, Obuzor, narrated to the protesters, including youth professionals and Rivers leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, gathered at the Port Harcourt Council secretariat, that SARS led by one Sgt Clever Kporoko left him with a ruptured ear.

Medical Examinations by consultants at the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital is said to have indicated that Obuzor would require surgical procedures in France to correct the ruptured ear.

‘In Public view, they used machetes and rods to beat me and seized my phones. They repeatedly threatened to kill me. Even the Government Official who intervened was threatened with death. I was surprised that SARs has gotten to this stage where they don’t care that people are watching”, Obuzor said.

The protesters also matched to the Rivers State Police Command where they submitted the two petitions with assurance from the authorities to investigate the issues and any SARs operative found wanting liable to face the wrath of the law.

Obuzor had told the police authorities that the petition to the Rivers Police Commissioner demanded an end to SARS Brutality across the state, saying that enough is enough.

Adokiye Ogunobere, Publicity Secretary NYCN, Rivers chapter, said, “Rivers Youths write to formally register our protest on the illegal activities of operatives of SARS across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

OBASANJO, ONCE AGAIN, BLASTS NIGERIA’S LEADERSHIP, CONDEMNS SIEGE AGAINST SARAKI , OTHERS

Chf. Olushegun Obasanjo

Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo has again attributed Nigeria’s under-performance to the problem of leadership.

Speaking when he granted audience to a PDP Presidential Aspirant, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Thursday, the ex-President, however, said that he had not lost hope because God had blessed Nigeria with men and women of caliber who can stand their own in the world.

Chief Obasanjo, after listening to the speeches of Turaki and Boni Haruna (DG Kabiru Tanimu Turaki Campaign Organization), said “we are not short of leadership that can perform”.

The former President, who recalled that he consulted widely in 1998/1999 just as Turaki is doing now, revealed that he accepted to be drafted into the presidential campaign because of the need to unite the country.

“Listening to you, I believe you have got the concerns of Nigerians today in the area of security, economy and cohesion. Anybody who will lead Nigeria to the promised land will have my support,” Obasanjo said.

He condemned the siege laid to the residences of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, saying that was “embarrassed” by a number of things happening in the country.

“We are in a position to do better than what we are doing today”, he said.

Obasanjo further noted that what Turaki had been doing is to firm up and stabilize Nigeria’s democracy which, he believed is making some progress.

He explained that the statement he issued in January was not done frivolously, noting that a nation can be destroyed not necessarily when people are doing bad things but when people keep quiet when danger looms.

In his remark, Turaki who described Obasanjo as the ‘Father of Modern Nigeria’, said that it is people like him who speak truth to power that are working assiduously for a united country.

The aspirant stressed that there is need to take up the challenge of rescuing Nigerians from the plethora of problems such as insecurity, poverty, divisiveness and hopelessness confronting them today.

He said that with the support of respected leaders like Obasanjo “we know that we would be able to rescue our country as we have no other place to go.”

BBNAIJA’S CeeC SIGNS ENDORSEMENT DEAL WITH NAIRABET

CeeC and Nairabet CEO Akin Alabi

Big Brother Naija Double Wahala 
housemate, CeeC Nwadiora has added another endorsement deal to her already growing list and this time, it’s with sports betting brand, NairaBET.

The sports betting platform took to their social media platform to unveil their latest ambassadorial addition alongside pictures from the contract signing event.

See tweets:

CeeC also confirmed the endorsement deal with a post shared on her Instagram page with caption;

The most powerful thing you can do right now is to be patient while things are unfolding for you. Another one in the bag, I love my new family!! Thanks @officialnairabet , looking forward to an amazing relationship.

Check out more photos

Photo Credit: @nairabet

GUNMEN ABDUCT 2 PRIESTS, 1 LECTURER IN KOGI STATE

There has been confusion in parts of Kogi as Rev Father Leo Michael, the parish priest of the St Michael Catholic Church, Obajana area of the state, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

Also reportedly abducted, according to the Nigerian Tribune, are a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and a lecturer with the Kogi state college of education, Kabba, Samuel Aronimu.

The details of the abduction of the pastor and the lecturer were still sketchy at the time of this report. 

But the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also quotes his colleague and diocesan chancellor in Lokoja, Peter Adinoyi, confirmed the kidnap to newsmen in Lokoja on Thursday, July 26.

Adinoyi said that the priest was returning to Obajana when he was kidnapped at a spot around the Irepeni village, Okene-Lokoja road. He said the matter has been promptly reported at the Irepeni police station.

The reverend father said that the army and the Department of the State Security (DSS) were also aware of the development. Adinoyi, however, said that the kidnappers, on July 25, called some members of the church to demand a N50 million ransom for the release of their priest.

According to him, the kidnappers later reduced the ransom to N20 million and further reduced it to N8 million. Adinoyi added that the kidnappers gave the church up till 1pm on July 26, to pay the ransom. They reportedly threatened to relocate the priest should the church fail to meet the deadline.

Adinoyi said that the church was unable to meet the deadline for the payment of the ransom demanded. He called on security agents to assist in rescuing the cleric from his abductors just as he decried the incessant kidnapping of the less privileged in the state, describing the situation as unfortunate. 

The spokesperson of the police command in Kogi state, DSP William Aya, said that he was not aware of the incident. He promised to find out and call back, but failed at the time of this report.

I HAVE JUST RECORDED A SONG THAT CAN CHANGE MY LIFE - DAVIDO

Davido, Nigerian Afro-pop singer, says he may have “just recorded the biggest feature” of his career.

During his acceptance speech for the BET best international act award in June, the ‘Fall’ singer told the foreign artistes in the audience that he is open to collaboration.

“And as I go on, I wanna talk about Africa. My continent has been so blessed to influence many cultures,” Davido had said.

“Come to Africa, eat the food, wear the clothes. Get ready for me, let’s collaborate. My album drops this year. J. Cole. Yo Quay, I’m waiting on that verse Quay.”

One month later, it appears Davido’s requests were heard loud and clear.

The singer took to Twitter on Thursday to ask for prayers from his fans, saying his new collaboration can change his life.

“Keep me in your prayers,” Davido tweeted.

“I might have just recorded the biggest feature of my career that can literally change my life.

“Also, I finally got a release date for ‘Nwa Baby’. Clear your playlist! Daddy coming!”The DMW head honcho’s last international collaboration was ‘Way Too Fly’, a song with US rapper A Boogie wit da Hoodie.

Davido, just like his Nigerian counterpart Wizkid, is gearing up to headline his own concert the O2 Arena in January.

SEN. TEJUOSO DENIES SARAKI, RETURNS TO APC

Sen. Lanre Tejuoso, who Bukola Saraki, the Senate President, claimed left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday returned to APC on Wednesday.

Tejuoso, representing Ogun Central, announced his return at a meeting between APC Senators and President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock on Wednesday night.

While introducing himself to the President, he said: “Mr President, your son has returned home.” Also at the meeting was Senator Adesoji Akanbi, Oyo South, who Saraki also claimed had joined the PDP.

He emphatically denied the list of defectors as dubious the following day, saying he remains a member of the APC. His showing up at the meeting with President Buhari affirmed his faith in the APC.

Senator Shehu Sani from Kaduna, who has been blowing hot and cold about his political allegiance was also at the meeting, exchanging banters with his colleagues.

Those attending the meeting included Sen. Adamu Aleiro, Bala Ibn Na-Allah, Aliyu Wamako, Ibrahim Gobir, Kabiru Marafa and Abu Ibrahim.

Others were Kabiru Gaya, Barau Jibrin, Abdullahi Gumel, Ahmed Lawan, Ali Ndume, Abubakar Kyari, Baba Kaka Garbai, Aliyu Abdullahi, David Umaru and Abdullahi Adamu.

Sen. George Akume, Francis Alimekhina, Andrew Uchendu, Magnus Abe, Ovie Omo-Agege, John Enoh, Nelson Effiong, Andy Uba, Sunny Ugboji, Hope Uzodinma, Ben Uwajimogu, Yusuf Abubakar and Oluremi Tinub were also in attendance.

Other senators in the meeting were Gbenga Ashafa, Solomon Adeola, Tayo Alasoadura, Ajayi Boroffice , Yele Omogunwa, Fatima Rasaki, Olanrewaju Tejuoso and Yahaya Abdullahi.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, believed to be hobnobbing with the PDP, was among those who were not at the meeting.

With Tejuoso and Akanbi and Sani now firmly identifying with the APC, the party has now increased its majority in the Upper Chamber to 54, enough to dictate the direction of policy.

BREAKING: BUHARI’S IMPEACHMENT PLOT: APC REPS DISOWN SEN. IBRAHIM ON DOGARA’S INVOLVEMENT

Speaker Dogara

Members of the House of Representatives from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC have disowned Senator Abu Ibrahim in his allegation that Speaker Yakubu Dogara was part of a plot to impeach President Muhammad Buhari.

The members at a press briefing on Thursday told House of Representatives Correspondents that the allegation was a figment of Senator Ibrahim’s imagination.

Pledging their unalloyed support to the reelection bid of President Buhari, the members who converged under the aegis of Parliamentary Support Group, PSG, led by Hon. Abdulmumuni Jubril said that Speaker Dogara was with them in the movement.

“That’s just his personal opinion. That’s purely a Senate issue”, Hon. Jubril said in response to a question.

Recall that Senator Ibrahim, a close ally to President Buhari from Katsina State had in a chat with Journalists in Abuja on Wednesday called for the sacking of the both the Speaker and the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki from the APC, saying they can’t be trusted any longer.

He had said ” Saraki and Dogara should resign today or the APC should send them away. They are no longer APC members. The only reason why Saraki and Dogara have not left the APC is that they know that if they leave they will lose their seats.

“But we will force them to leave. Left to me, I will recommend to APC to expel them. They are no longer needed in the party. We will be cured of cancer if they leave. Me as Abu Ibrahim, I am asking Saraki and Dogara to leave APC today. I will meet Oshiomhole (Adams) to expel them. Let them leave APC, Saraki and Dogara should leave APC today.”

OFFA ROBBERY: AGF MALAMI CLEARS SARAKI, SAYS POLICE LACK EVIDENCE AGAINST SENATE PRESIDENT

Senate President, Bukola Saraki

Nigeria’s Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami, has told the police that there was no evidence that linked Senate President Bukola Saraki and Kwara State Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed to the armed robbery attack that left 31 persons dead in Offa, Kwara State, in April. 

Mr Malami advised in a June 22 letter to the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, that the police would need to ramp up their investigation and also painstakingly explore all critical areas before identifying the Senate President as a suspect in the carnage, much less filing charges against him.

Yusuf Abdulwahab, Mr Ahmed’s chief of staff who was amongst state officials arrested for allegedly conspiring with the prime suspects, was also cleared, with the prosecutor saying “no evidence is credible enough to sustain any charge based on any offence known to law against him.”

The attorney-general’s office said only six prime suspects should be charged to court for armed robbery and murder which could draw capital punishment upon conviction. Olalekan Alabi, a personal assistant to Mr Ahmed, was also recommended for trial, but only on lesser charges of illegal possession of arms.

Mr Saraki hinted at the existence of the letter on Monday night as part of a fierce response to Mr Idris' latest summon to him. The Senate President said the invitation, which he was asked to honour by 8:00 a.m. today, was unnecessary because the Director of Public Prosecutions had already informed the police that there were no sufficient bases to keep dragging him into the armed robbery investigation.

“I am aware that following a request made by the Police on June 13, 2018 to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) of the Federation had written a legal advice dated June 22, 2018, in which he stated on page 5, paragraph (f) that “For the Senate President and the Kwara State Governor, this office is unable to establish from the evidence in the interim report a nexus between the alleged office and the suspects,” Mr Saraki said in the Monday night statement.

At least five banks were raided and substantial amount of cash carted away when armed robbers stormed the polytechnic town on April 5. The police initially said 17 people were killed in the attack, including nine police officers, but continued to revise the figure upwards, apparently as some of those receiving treatments for critical wounds were passing on.

PRESIDENT BUHARI UNHAPPY OVER APC CHAIRMAN'S COMMENT AS AMAECHI DENIES CALLING OSHIOMHOLE "BAD LUCK"

President Buhari & Adams Oshiomhole

MINISTER of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi on Thursday denied ever saying that the All Progressives Congress, APC, national Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was a bad luck to the party.

This is as ministers have frowned at the comment made by the APC national Chairman where he had threatened to expel cabinet members who disobeyed his directives from the party.

But the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that any misgivings between the party and cabinet members will be resolved amicably.

Meantime, Comrade Oshiomhole was at the Presidential Villa, to see the President after the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting at the Council Chamber.

Presidency sources revealed that President Buhari was not happy with the comment by his party’s national chairman where he said that if the President was condoning indiscipline from his cabinet he was not going to condone it.

“The President was not happy with the comment of the APC Chairman because it portrayed the President as inefficient,” the Presidency source had said.

While berating the Labour Minister for not carrying out his directive that he (Ngige) should inaugurate the board of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, Oshiomhole said, “If the minister refuses we will suspend him from the party. You know we must return to internal discipline.

“For me it is the height of mischief for any minister, you cannot purport to be honourable minister and you act dishonourably and nobody is greater than the party.

“And if the President condones disrespect for his office, I will not condone disrespect for the party. And when we expel the minister we will prevail on the president that he can’t keep in his cabinet people who have neither respect for his own decisions nor have respect for the party.”

Speaking while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC, meeting, the Minister of Transportation who interjected from the question to the Minister of Information on what was the position of the council on the face off between Oshiomhole and Ngige, said that there were many fake stories going around.

Amaechi said, “How do you know it is true, I saw in social media this afternoon where they said I said the Chairman is a bad luck. I never said so . I have never said such a thing. They quoted me that I was attacking the Chairman.”

On his part, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said, “Two weeks ago, we launched a campaign against fake news and it is one of the most dangerous phenomenon we have today.

“We don’t know who said what and until we know and the ministers confirmed this statement credited to them.It is a difficult time really. I can assure you if there is any problem between the party Chairman and any of our ministers, it will be resolved.”

On whether the defection of 15 senators and 37 House of Representatives members from the APC to the opposition political parties was discussed at the FEC meeting, Mohammed said, “no it was not discussed at FEC and secondly Mr President has already given our position which is that this is a democracy, people are free to make choices .”