FG, APC condemn call for Buhari’s resignation

‘’We are on a rescue mission to resuscitate Nigeria after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) left it in a coma and the noise from the same PDP seems designed to sabotage the rescue efforts. But we are not deterred.’’
With these words yesterday, the Federal Government chided the opposition PDP for asking the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to quit office over alleged poor performance.
The call for Buhari’s resignation also elicited criticism from the APC, a former governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and a former National Secretary of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Kayode Ajulo.
In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described the former ruling party as a shameless irritant which is bent on distracting the government from its rescue mission and returning the country to ‘’Egypt.’’
Mohammed observed that instead of showing remorse and rebuilding itself to a strong opposition

Ondo APC chieftain warns against cancellation of guber primary

The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has been warned against cancellation of the party’s primary, which produced Rotimi Akeredolu as flag bearer for the November 26 governorship election.
Publicity Secretary, Omo’Oba Abayomi Adesanya, said if September 3, 2016 primary were nullified, the party would lose the election.
Adesanya, who spoke with The Guardian in Akure yesterday added that such action could lead to unending crisis.
Akeredolu, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, emerged the candidate after defeating 23 aspirants. Some aspirants, who had earlier congratulated him, however, recanted and petitioned the party’s appeal committee, alleging irregularities on the delegates’ list.
Adesanya said: “Cancelling the Ondo State governorship primary will not be in the best interest

Recession: Nigerians expect much from us – APC

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Timi Frank, has said that Nigerians expects more from the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
A statement by Frank on Thursday in Abuja urged the members of the National Assembly to work with the executive and find innovative ways of resolving the nation’s economic problems.
Specifically, Frank said Nigerians expected more from the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government in the light of the biting economic recession facing the country.
The party’s spokesperson urged the legislators to treat the issue of economic recession besetting the country as a national emergency and come up with recommendations capable of taking the country out of the wood.
He said, “Nigerians are anxiously waiting for the resumption of their representatives to the National Assembly so as to join President Muhammadu Buhari’s team in the struggle to bring succour to Nigerians.”

Ex-minister Diezani forfeits N4.8bn Abuja houses to govt

Detectives have been deployed in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, in the ongoing probe of former Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Of interest are five choice houses believed to be Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s.
The move is all part of the last leg of the investigation of the ex-minister in collaboration with the National Crime Agency in the United Kingdom and of interest are five choice houses believed to belong to her.
Amid the Port Harcourt operation, another asset of the ex-Minister in Abuja, allegedly worth over N500 million, has been confiscated pending her trial.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had earlier seized a mansion worth N3.58 billion from the ex-minister, bringing the haul in Abuja to about N4.08 billion of assets believed to be hers.
The EFCC received intelligence report on the property allegedly acquired by Mrs. Alison-

Edo guber: APGA expels spokesman, others

Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has expelled the Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Paul Okolie and other members over alleged anti-party activities.
APGA said its candidate for the September 28 rescheduled governorship poll in the state, Mr.

Edo guber: Postponement of poll will not affect PDP’s victory – BOT Chair

National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Board of Trustees, BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin, on Thursday, said the postponement of governorship election in Edo would not affect the party’s victory.
He stated this while speaking with newsmen in his home in Nasarawa, Nasarawa state.
It should be recalled that the National Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, postponed the Edo polled from Sept. 10 to Sept. 28 on the advice of security agencies over alleged security threat.
Jibrin said that PDP would win the election on the rescheduled date, and urged the party’s supporters and electorate not to be deterred by the postponement.
He urged them to remain loyal and sustain their confidence in the party.
“Whatever led to the postponement of the election cannot stop the rainy days; what God has planned has already been planned and no man can change the outcome.
“With what we have seen on ground and by all signs we have seen, whether the Edo state governorship election has been postponed 10 times or 20 times, PDP will still win the election.

PDP desperate to bring back corruption – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has slammed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign for allegedly plunging the country into recession.
A statement on Thursday by APC National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, described the latest call as “ridiculous demand by a faction of the PDP.”
Mala Buni, accused the party of seeking to return the country to the the voodoo economics and reckless fiscal policies the country was subjected to during the immediate-past PDP administration.
The statement reads further: “Also, PDP’s silly call for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari is not worth the ink it is written with. Hence the APC will not dissipate energy responding.
“The PDP faction by its demand to return the country to the years where looting of the public treasury was the order of the day, has taken its orchestrated plot to deflect attention from the economic mess it left behind to new insensitive and shameless heights.
“Instead of this charade by the PDP, we advise the PDP and their cronies to apologise to

APC challenges Wike to justify how INEC wants to rig re-run elections

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has expressed surprise to hear Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State make another wild accusation to the effect that he had uncovered plans by the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] to rig the forthcoming re-run election in favour of the opposition.
“We were not surprised because such tales coming from the governor fit perfectly well into his usual past time of trading on unfounded accusations just to prepare the ground for launching electoral mischief” the APC said in a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Senibo Chris Finebone, Thursday in Port Harcourt.
Continuing, the party said, “If indeed the governor is serious about his discovery and he was referring to the APC when he made reference to the opposition then we challenge him to make public his findings. The APC believes that it is mere smokescreen by the governor to divert attention from his readiness to deploy from his unholy book of electoral mischief and the APC is ready for him.”
The APC called on the INEC not to be distracted by such diversionary antics, but ensure that every aspect of the forthcoming rerun elections in Rivers State is transparent and credible to

Edo to produce 450mw of electricity by 2017 – Obaseki

Godwin Obaseki

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Edo, Godwin Obaseki, has promised to add 450 megawatts of electricity to the national grid by 2017.
Addressing the Igbo Community Union in Benin on Wednesday, Obaseki said the 450mw would be generated from the ongoing Azura Power Plant which the APC administration attracted to the state.
He said that when completed, the power plant would not only boost business in the state, but increase the number of small and medium enterprises.
Obaseki also reiterated his desire to create a minimum of 200,000 jobs and boost agricultural production in the state if elected.
He said there was no better time to diversify the economy of the state than now that the price of crude oil in the international market had nose-dived.
Obaseki said: “We have moved away from the era of politics of sharing to the era of politics of development.

Edo guber: We’ll not be distracted by APC’s devious plot – Ize-Iyamu

The Edo State PDP governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has urged the Edo people to remain focused and refuse to be provoked by the tricks and devious plans of the All Progressives Congress (APC), advising the electorate to remain resolute in their determination to kick out the APC from the state in the coming election.
The Media Unit of Ize-Iyamu campaign organisation stated this yesterday while reacting to a press statement credited to the Director-General of the Godwin Obaseki Campaign Organisation, Mr Osarodion Ogie, who accused PDP of planning to create tension and possible mayhem in the state ahead of the September 28, 2016, governorship election.
Describing the APC governorship campaign organisation as a consistent liar, Ize-Iyamu campaign organisation said that its candidate would not be distracted by the “senseless alarm,’’ of Obaseki campaign organisation, saying the organisation had succeeded in revealing its evil plot against the people of Edo State.
“We are used to APC’s ungodly strategy; when their leaders are plotting evil against the people

Edo guber: Obaseki pledges equal business opportunities for residents

Indigenes and non-indigenes in Edo state have been promised equal business opportunities, if the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s candidate, Godwin Obaseki, is elected.
The candidate made the promise at a meeting with Igbo Community Union in Benin City.
He said every resident, irrespective of tribe, would have the opportunity to aspire to any position or job in the state.
Obaseki promised that his government would boost the small-scale industry by generating

Senate To Quiz Udoma And Adeosun On Recession

*Says Nigerians know those working and those ‘chopping’
*Adeosun not indicted — Finance Ministry official


ABUJA — THE Presidency, last night, declined to join issues with the Senate over its threat to quiz the Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and her Budget and National Planning counterpart, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, on the state of the economy.


The Senate President, Dr. Olusola Saraki, who issued the warning, weekend, said the two ministers would be made to give explanations on why the economy was in bad shape.

But the Presidency said it would not dabble into the matter as it was directed to the affected ministers in question.

However, a top Presidency official, who preferred anonymity, said while the Presidency would not

Kukah To Buhari: Nigerians Didnt Vote You To Blame Jonathan

Kukah

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah has told President Muhammadu Buhari to stop blaming the immediate past administration of Dr Goodluck Jonathan and rebuild the nation’s economy, which he said is comatose.

Also, Kukah, who was in Akure, the Ondo State capital for the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigerian (CBCN), told the Federal Government not to focus only on the fight against corruption but should put in place policies that would check corrupt practices and improve the standard of living of average Nigerian.

Speaking aside the ongoing conference on Tuesday night, the fiery Catholic Bishop regretted the blame game over the state of the economy and the dwindling living standard of average Nigerian

Buhari Rejects Marketers’ Call On Petrol Price Hike – Daily Trust/Reuters

Nigeria will not increase its gasoline prices, President Muhammadu Buhari told his oil minister and state oil firm head, summoned to his villa last week, sources at the compound said.

Oil Minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, the head of state oil firm NNPC Maikanti Baru and the entire government have stepped up efforts to keep fuel flowing into Nigeria without repeating the price increase of May and risking civil unrest.

Shortly before the meeting former Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) bosses had said such an increase may be needed.
A steep devaluation of the naira currency has made sales of petrol at government capped prices unprofitable, marketers say. Months of unrest in the Delta region has also cut Nigeria’s oil output and left as little as half the crude available that it needs to swap for refined motor fuel from trading companies.

“Gasoline is the top priority” for NNPC, said one oil industry source who, like many in Abuja was

SERAP Calls For The Prosecution Of Patience Jonathan Over $15m

Patience Jonathan

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given the Attorney-General of the Federation, (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), a 7-day ultimatum to begin the prosecution of the former first lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan over allegation of $15m unexplained wealth “frozen in four companies’ accounts.”

In a statement by SERAP executive director, Mr Tokunbo Mumuni made available to Vanguard, the body urged the AGF to institute criminal proceedings against Mrs Jonathan in line with “public interest, and exercise your powers under Section 174(1) of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999.” Making bold its demand, SERAP asked Malami to “take this step within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter, failing which SERAP will institute legal proceedings to compel the discharge of constitutional duty in this matter.” The body argued that, “Mrs Jonathan is a politically-exposed person under anti-corruption standards.

She is also covered under the definition of ‘public officials’ contained in the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party. Under article 2 of the convention, public

"Igbos, Buhari Needs Your Support To Succeed" - FCT Minister, Musa Bello

Musa Bello

As Igbos ask government for appointments

By Henry Umoru

ABUJA- MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello said that if President Muhammadu Buhari must succeed in taking the country to greater heights, he would require the support and cooperation of the Igbos in the Federal Capital Territory and the nation at large.

Speaking Wednesday in Abuja when a delegation of Igbo Community resident in the Federal Capital Territory paid him a visit in his office, the FCTA Minister who urged the Igbo people resident in the Federal Capital Territory to continue to support the government of President Buhari, stressed that the continued support from all Nigerians irrespective of ethnic, political or religious inclinations was necessary to enable the President achieve his set goals.

Meanwhile, the Igbos who were led on the visit by the Eze Ndigbo of Abuja, Eze Ibe Nwosu appealed to the Minister to include the Igbo people resident in Abuja in Board appointments and other political appointments to give them what he termed, a sense of belonging.

Recession: FG Summons Emergency Session Over Economy

The federal government, as part of efforts towards reflating the country’s economy and pulling it out of recession, has summoned an economic session to brainstorm on the issue.

President Muhammadu Buhari, his vice, Prof Yemi Osinbajo as well as ministers and heads of relevant federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) will today converge on Abuja for a one-day retreat to discuss steps to salvage the receding economy.

The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) had in August, reported that the nation’s economy had slid into recession for the first time in more than 20 years, as it announced a further contraction in the second quarter of the year. According to the NBS, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted by 2.06 percent after shrinking 0.36 in the first quarter.

This has generated anxiety among Nigerians home and abroad, who have urged the current administration of President Buhari to urgently search for ways out of the economic woes confronting the country.

Tension In Ondo APC Over Alleged Plan To Tamper With Primaries Result

Oluwarotimin Akeredolu

***Appeal panel chair smuggled to Lagos

Tension is currently brewing in the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over alleged plan by some section of the party leadership to tamper with the result of the primary election, which produced a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Already, chairman of the Appeal Panel set up to look into the complaints that attended the exercise, Mrs. Hellen Benbager (from Benue State) was said to have been smuggled into Lagos State by some powerful forces ahead of the submission of the panel’s report, with a viewing to influencing the report that would ultimately undermine the result of the ballot.

Sources close to THISDAY hinted that signal from inside sources in Lagos told of the efforts being made to prevail on the Chairman to influence the report, including promises to get her an appointment amongst other added inducements.

Edo guber: Odubu denies rift with Oshiomhole

The Edo state Deputy Governor, Dr Pius Odubu, yesterday denied having any dispute with Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
The Chief Press Secretary to the deputy governor, Mr Kelly Odaro, said: “Our attention has been drawn to the falsehood being circulated by some disgruntled elements on the social media, especially by one Ugiagbe Josh Eseiwi. The reports had it that Odubu was at war with Oshiomhole over the shift in date of the governorship election.
“The said post further suggested that the altercation led to the governor directing his security aides to walk him out of his office”.
According to Odaro: “This statement is entirely false, a figment of the authors’ imagination and a

PDP chieftain berates Buhari over comments on past governments

Muhammadu Buhari

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in the North, Alhaji Shuaibu Idris Mikati, has condemned President Muhammadu Buhari’s pronouncement that the 16 years of its rule was a waste and failure.
He urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) government to fix the economy instead of lamenting over the past.
Mikati spoke yesterday at a press briefing in Kaduna State while listing the achievements the nation recorded under the 16 years’ rule of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his successors.
According to him, it was not politically expedient for Buhari to have concluded that the reign of the opposition PDP in government was “a monumental failure”.
He said: “No doubt there are issues, there were issues and there are still issues even as we speak with this present government. When President Buhari came out publicly to say that 16 years of PDP was a waste, I think he is not being fair. Leaders and elders when they want to speak should be careful not to make a blanket accusation. There were periods when the then governments of PDP did extremely well for Nigeria.”
Highlighting the achievements of the PDP, Mikati said: “When Obasanjo was in power for eight years at the centre, we had over $10 billion in excess crude account. Obasanjo midwifed the birth of Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) in Nigeria whereby today, we have almost $2 billion.
“When Obasanjo left in 2007, there was over $60 billion in our foreign reserves. From foreign reserves to excess crude accounts to sovereign wealth funds, we had over $60 billion. When we had the challenges of 2008 when the economy was about to collapse what saved this country was those savings.”

No plans to redeploy election officials in Edo – INEC

Mahmood Yakubu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is not making any move to rejig the posting of election officers for the rescheduled governorship election in Edo State.
While reacting to allegation made by the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the effect that it is under pressure from the Governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to remove some election officers, INEC said such cannot be possible.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, said yesterday that the commission does not take instruction from any governor or political party.
“That must be a rumour, it is not true and can never be true. INEC operates under a body of laws and is independent, it does not take instruction from government or anybody to withdraw an electoral officer. So it is not true, no governor can influence INEC.
“There is no opportunity for any governor or political party to put pressure on the commission for it to redeploy or remove any electoral officer, that is not possible. I do not why the PDP is making that allegation but I can assure Nigerians that it is not possible and can never be possible. Something like that is never allowed.

Oshiomhole has lost the confidence of Edo people – Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has berated Governor Adams Oshiomhole, over his penchant for lies and inconsistencies, because he is in a panic mood over the rejection of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in his state.
Wike stated that it was completely untrue that he and his Delta State counterpart, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, mobilised militants to Edo State.
The governor further denied the false allegation by Oshiomhole that he sent N2billion to the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate.
Speaking when he granted audience to state the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) at the Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday, Wike said it was shocking that at his age, Oshiomhole still believes in drama and lies.
IPAC comprises of all registered political parties. Only the APC was absent at the solidarity visit by the registered political parties to Wike.
The governor said he was shocked by Oshiomhole’s allegation because on the day of the campaign, he met with the outgoing governor alongside other APC governors at the Benin airport where they all embraced.
“Oshiomhole even cornered me and said ‘don’t mind these people, they don’t know that we meet and talk,”’ he said.

Refineries Flop After Gulping N264 Billion

Nigeria has spent N264 billion on maintenance of its four refineries since 1999 when the country returned to democracy, Daily Trust investigation has shown.

But this massive spending has not been able to put the refineries back on production line, analysts say. As a result Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer imports most of its petrol for domestic use.

The four refineries located in Port Harcourt (two), Warri and Kaduna have a combined capacity to refine 445,000 barrels of crude per day.
They have over the years suffered what one analyst described as “total disrepair and comprehensive paralysis in the past three decades.

Bottomless pit In spite of billions claimed to have been spent by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) over the last 16 years on Turn around Maintenance (TAM), the country’s refineries have remained comatose, industry reports showed.

INEC’s, security agencies’ neutrality not guaranteed – Wike

Nyesom Wike

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has raised the alarm that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies may not be neutral in Edo governorship election.
Wike spoke when members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council visited him at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
He condemned Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s allegation that he and Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State had mobilised militants to disrupt the polls.
He explained: “What I told Edo people that has set Oshiomhole in panic mode was that the voters would not trust the neutrality of these important institutions. I still stand by my words that Edo people must be vigilant so that their votes would count.”
The governor said it was worrisome that Oshiomhole had alleged that they donated N2billion to

Edo guber: Butchers back PDP’s Ize-Iyamu

Members of Edo state butchers Association of Nigeria have declared support for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in September 28th 2016 governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
The state chairman of the Association, Sunny Omokaro made the disclosure at an interactive session with members of the Association in Benin City.
According to him, “You will agree with me that the suffering in the state is terrible and the citizens